Replay Review and the Seven-Minute Balk Call

[Lindsay]

A botched pickoff attempt and balk call against Toronto in Kansas City turned into a seven-minute delay as 2B Umpire and acting Chief Marvin Hudson consulted Replay Review for a rules check, affirming the crew's original ruling to award Royals baserunner Rosell Herra second base on Blue Jays...

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[Jimurray]

4 hours ago, Gil said:

A botched pickoff attempt and balk call against Toronto in Kansas City turned into a seven-minute delay as 2B Umpire and acting Chief Marvin Hudson consulted Replay Review for a rules check, affirming the crew's original ruling to award Royals baserunner Rosell Herra second base on Blue Jays...

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This occurrence brought up a FED difference that I haven't seen in the 2011 BRD and wonder if it has been added to @Senor Azul's more current version. OBR and NCAA balk any dropped pitch or pickoff with runners on whether it crosses the foul line or not. FED, with runner/s, only balks a dropped pitch that does not cross the foul line and calls it a ball if it crosses the foul line. A FED dropped pickoff seems to be treated the same way but the reference is confusing.

[Senor Azul]

Well, you got me, Mr. Jimurray. I can’t find any discussion of a slip vs. throw in the BRD or any case play in FED dealing with a slip during a pickoff attempt (see case play below dealing with a slipped pitch attempt). But I have the following--from the 2013 Wendelstedt manual (p. 106):

It is a balk when…

The pitcher, while touching his plate, accidentally or intentionally drops the ball, or the ball slips from his hand during the delivery; and the ball does not cross the foul line.

…If, in dropping the ball, it crosses either foul line, it should be considered a pitch, and it is not a balk. If a catcher or other fielder were to field the ball before it could cross a foul line, it should be called a balk. This does not include if it were still possible for the batter to hit the pitch, however, other penalties under defensive interference may apply.

It is a balk when…In throwing to first or third base, the pitcher drops the ball (or it slips from his hand) and the ball does not reach an area where the umpire adjudges that a play is being made on the runner (he didn’t throw to the base).

 

2015 FED 6.1.2 Situation A:  With no runners on base, F1 starts his windup or preliminary motion and the ball slips from his hand.  There is no infraction provided F1 delivers a pitch within 20 seconds after he received the ball. If F1 fails to do so, the batter is awarded a ball. If there had been a runner or runners on base, dropping the ball while in contact with the pitcher’s plate is a balk if the ball did not cross the foul line. Each base runner shall be awarded one base.

 

[Senor Azul]

From the 2017 Jaksa/Roder manual (p. 146): A slip (as opposed to a pitch or throw) is a released baseball, intended to be a pitch or throw, but that lacks both aim and momentum. Any intended pitch that slips out of a pitcher’s hand and crosses (or, if it is touched, would have crossed) a foul line is a ball. An intended pitch that slips and does not cross a foul line is a balk if there is a runner, and no pitch if there is not a runner. (6.02b Comment) An intended pickoff throw (in-contact) to first or third base that slips is a balk if it does not reach the foul line or a fielder within reach of a tag attempt at the base. However, it is not a balk if a pitcher drops the ball or allows it to slip after a step to second base, which does not require a throw.

It is a balk if a pitcher who is in-contact steps to first or third base…but does not complete the throw to that base. This includes an attempted in-contact throw that slips out of the pitcher’s hand and does not reach the foul line or a fielder within reach of a tag attempt at first or third base.

 

2015 FED rule 6-1-4:  ART. 4 . . . Each legal pitch shall be declared by the umpire as a strike, ball, fair or foul hit or a dead ball. A pitch dropped during delivery and which crosses a foul line shall be called a ball. Otherwise, it will be called no pitch. A pitch dropped during delivery with at least one runner on base would be a balk if it does not cross a foul line.

FED rule 6-2-4 . . . Balk. If there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a pitcher while he is touching the pitcher’s plate is a balk:

a. any feinting toward the batter or first base, or any dropping of the ball (even though accidental) and the ball does not cross a foul line;

 

 

 

[Jimurray]

Thanks @Senor Azul. Much parsing to do there. Literal rule or WUM or JR interps. Pitch or pickoff slipped/dropped. Failure to throw directly to 1B unless it crosses the foul line and becomes a pitch? Too much for a Friday night.

[Jimurray]

So, with R2 a pitcher looking in for the sign drops the ball: BALK. Pitcher turns and steps toward 2B and aborts his throw seeing no one covering and ball slips out due to the aborted throw. NOT a BALK.