Balk question

The pitcher for Cherryville on a couple of occasions with no runners on base starts his movement towards the plate with full extension before he decides he does'nt want to release the ball and holds on to it. should'nt this be a balk?

 

A balk is called only with runners on base.

An illegal pitch can be called resulting in a "ball"

 

here are a few other scenarios:

1. left handed pitcher with runner on first. runners goes on first movement and lefty inside moves to second base to get the runner. Balk?

2. rhp with runners on first and third. runner at first leaves early. pitcher inside moves to second to get the runner. Balk?

3. rhp with runner on second. runner trying to time pitcher to plate takes off before pitcher delivers the ball. pitchers picks to third base getting the runner. Balk?

 

No balk unless runners are on base. It's ugly, just a no pitch.

 

Thanks for the clarification. Nothing was ever called in the game. I know it has to be illegal to deceive the batter on which pitch the pitcher will actually let go of. I have seen some similar moves with no base runners on that the umpire called a BALK and gave the pitcher a ball.

 

This being the case a pitcher can make this move often and the batter now has to wonder what pitch the ball will be released on.

 

1. balk
2. balk
3. balk

That base has to already be occupied by a runner to throw there and not be a balk....right?

 

True. Pitcher must step off of rubber and become a position player to do that.

 

according to an long-time umpire in our area none of these are balks. however, these would be balks on the college and professional level. he said a pitcher can pick to an unoccupied base in order to drive a runner back to the base in which he came from.

 

Here is a balk situation that is rarely called;

One common misconception is that only pitchers can commit balks, catchers can as well but it is rarely enforced. A balk can be called against a catcher if the catcher does not stay in the catchers box until the pitcher delivers the ball.