Here's a wacky one for the books...

I tend to agree....

[SIZE=-1]5.11[/SIZE][SIZE=-1] After the ball is dead, play shall be resumed when the pitcher takes his place on the pitcher's plate with a new ball or the same ball in his possession and the plate umpire calls "Play." The plate umpire shall call "Play" as soon as the pitcher takes his place on his plate with the ball in his possession.[/SIZE]​

 

I appreciate the sentiment about 'live ball - dead ball'. But in my original post, I gave the NCAA rule that applies to this:

Rule 9 Section 3 - A balk shall be called when the pitcher (while not in possession of the ball) stands with either foot or both feet on any part of the dirt area (circle) of the mound during a hidden-ball-play attempt.

Notice the rule doesn't require that the ball be 'live'. As I understand it, the reason for that rule being specifically stated is to prevent the very situation that occurred.

 

Makes all the difference...

While the rule doesn't mention the ball must be live, it still must be live for the rule to apply. Take a look at all the other rules concerning balks, etc. They don't mention the ball must be live either, but it must be. The verbage "during a hidden ball attempt" is clarifying the rule, so you don't have someone trying to claim a "balk" when the pitcher happened to be standing on the mound while the ball was being thrown back to him or to someone else for that matter (it is not in his possession, right). The scenario that was give at the beginning of this post was not a balk, nor an out, it was a dead ball with a little excitement scattered around it. Nothing should have mattered until the umpire put the ball back in play, which he would only do after a time out, when the pitcher toed the rubber and the batter stepped in the box.

 

Rule adjustment

Actually this year for the first time the NCAA has put that rule into the points of emphasis:

[FONT=TimesNewRoman,Italic]

Hit by Pitch Rule. ​

[/FONT]This rule has been clarified by the committee for this season. The batter must make an attempt to avoid the pitch. If a pitch [FONT=TimesNewRoman,Italic]freezes [/FONT]a batter and he is not able to avoid a pitch and the pitch is clearly in his batter’s box, first base is awarded. If a pitch hits the batter outside the vertical lines of the batter’s box and the hitter makes no attempt
to avoid the pitch, the batter remains at the plate and the pitch is called a [FONT=TimesNewRoman,Italic]ball [/FONT]or [FONT=TimesNewRoman,Italic]strike[/FONT].
Another way to look at this rule change, if a batter hits the ball with any part of his body by moving his body part towards the pitch, the batter will be kept at the plate and the pitch called a ball or strike, depending upon the pitch’s location. If the ball hits the batter as the batter is attempting to avoid the pitch, the batter is awarded first base. This guidance should assist umpires and coaches with the adjudication of this rule.​

 

Good to have you back

Good stuff Mr. Blue. Thanks.

 

Poor decision

Here's one my partner and I screwed up. This is an example of Jim Evans favorite saying: "its always easier when you get it right the first time".

Bottom of the 7th, 1 out, R2. 5-3 Visiting team winning (home team gaining a little steam)... Pitcher comes set. Starts is delivery to the plate, batter asks for time, umpire does not grant time, pitcher stops his delivery and doesn't throw the ball - Home plate calls a balk.

This should have been an easy call for home plate - he should have at that point granted time, not called a balk, as he did. As the field umpire, I should have called time and corrected home plate, but I did not - I just figured it was his mess, he should clean it up. So the head coach of the team in the field came out, made his arguement - that the batter requesting time cannot cause the pitcher to balk, Home plate called me in asked me if I heard the batter call time (assuming if I heard it, the pitcher heard it). I told him I did and we have to send the runner back.

Of course this is the right call, but once you screw it up, its hard to fix without someone getting upset, especially the fans.

 

Clarification

Big D, I thought that the "No Balk Call" applied only if the batter stepped out of the box. Does the batter calling time apply the same way?

 

Thanks, Cope...I do recall reading the NCAA point of emphasis on hit by pitch, now that you bring it up. I also recall the same article refering to either a team in the Super Regional last year or the CWS that had their players upper body clearly into the strike zone and being hit by pitch and making the call difficult for the plate umpires. I remember watching the games, but still can't recall (getting old ain't for sissys). I am sure this clarification through the NCAA has somewhat stemmed from that.

I was primarily refering to MS and HS games...now remember, no Cope on the field....lol

 

The actual wording in the book is the batter putting his hand up for time. However, common sense tells you that if the batter requests time verbally and its loud enough for the pitcher to hear it.... same thing. There was no other reason for the pitcher to stop his motion, no steal, no fake bunt, didn't slip on the mound... See where I'm going with this? Whether the batter steps out of the box, raises his hand or verbally requests time, it cannot cause the pitcher to balk... Its really protecting the pitcher and I think it should.

 

Before this year, the NCAA point of emphasis was on batters "rolling" their elbows/knees into pitches. Its always been a rule if the batter is hit while in the strike zone, not only does he not get 1st, but the pitch is a strike. Now the NCAA is going as far as saying they can't stand there like a statue either...