Balk or Pitch Clock Violation

[zoops]

Top 6th May 3rd Georgia vs. Missouri, Burnett batting, bases loaded in case someone wants to clip it.  There had been a 'reset' earlier in the at-bat.  Pitcher appears to start to come set but stops.  Batter was not alert to the pitcher when this happens.  Ball 4 is called and PU appears to give the point to the eyes that the batter was not alert.  Just curious if this supersedes the balk?  I suppose since the violation causes the BR and everyone to advance a base, the balk is ignored?

[grayhawk]

If he started to come set before the batter was looking at him, then that would essentially have happened before the start/stop, so the violation should be the call. If somehow PU didn't notice the batter wasn't ready, then the balk would be the right call. Funky situation, for sure.

[Replacematt]

6 hours ago, zoops said:

Top 6th May 3rd Georgia vs. Missouri, Burnett batting, bases loaded in case someone wants to clip it.  There had been a 'reset' earlier in the at-bat.  Pitcher appears to start to come set but stops.  Batter was not alert to the pitcher when this happens.  Ball 4 is called and PU appears to give the point to the eyes that the batter was not alert.  Just curious if this supersedes the balk?  I suppose since the violation causes the BR and everyone to advance a base, the balk is ignored?

For this to be a ball, there had to have been a warning to that pitcher already in that game.

Assuming that is the case, then the violation would result in the balk being ignored. 

[zoops]

Makes sense with the "preliminary motion" verbiage in the rule I guess:

11.    If a pitcher starts a preliminary motion or a motion to deliver the pitch
before the batter is alert and ready to hit, the umpire shall call “Time” and
issue a warning the first time a pitcher does this. A pitcher shall only receive
one (1) warning.

[Replacematt]

20 minutes ago, zoops said:

Makes sense with the "preliminary motion" verbiage in the rule I guess:

11.    If a pitcher starts a preliminary motion or a motion to deliver the pitch
before the batter is alert and ready to hit, the umpire shall call “Time” and
issue a warning the first time a pitcher does this. A pitcher shall only receive
one (1) warning.

Yes. It has been beaten into our heads that a pitcher starting to come set before the batter is alert to the pitcher is a violation.

[Replacematt]

21 hours ago, grayhawk said:

If he started to come set before the batter was looking at him, then that would essentially have happened before the start/stop, so the violation should be the call. If somehow PU didn't notice the batter wasn't ready, then the balk would be the right call. Funky situation, for sure.

And one that, to officiate effectively, requires PU to make an immediate call.

The offense isn't going to notice the violation, but they'll notice the balk, and if PU isn't on it immediately, they are going to think the defense got away with one.