PITCHER GOING TO HIS MOUTH
Rule 6.02(c)(1): Should the pitcher go to his mouth while off the 18-foot circle, he should wipe off before contacting the ball, as to do otherwise could possibly violate Official Baseball Rule 6.02(c)(4).
THROWING TO AN UNOCCUPIED BASE
Rule 6.02(a)(4): Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(4) provides that the pitcher be charged with a balk if, while in contact with the pitcher’s plate, he throws to an unoccupied base except for the purpose of making a play. EXAMPLES: (1) Runners on first and second, pitcher in set position. Runner breaks for third base…
STEPPING TO A BASE
Rule 6.02(a)(3): The pitcher, while touching the rubber, must step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off his free foot without actually stepping, it is a balk. In stepping to a base, the pitcher must lift his entire non-pivot foot off the ground and bring it…
PENALTY FOR A BALK
Rule 6.02(a) Under Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a), the penalty for a balk shall be: The ball is dead (when play stops), and each runner shall advance one base without liability to be put out unless the batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise and…
BALK REGULATIONS
Rule 6.02(a): A balk shall be called audibly (“Balk!” or “That’s a balk!”) and by pointing laterally at the pitcher. However, the ball is not dead automatically when this call is made. The ball becomes dead only when the umpire calls “Time” following the call of balk, and the call of “Time” is to be…
CALLING “TIME” AFTER A BALK
Rule 6.02(a): The penalty for balk allows the play to proceed without reference to the balk if the batter and all runners advance one base on the pitch following the balk (i.e., the actual pitch and/or action caused by the batter hitting the ball). The umpire shall not call “Time” until play stops following the…
OBSTRUCTION AND INTERFERENCE PLAYS— APPROVED RULINGS
Rules 6.01(h)(1), 6.01(h)(2), 6.01, 5.02(c): (1) Runner on first base; batter-runner gets in rundown between home and first. Can obstruction be called going back to home? Ruling: No, unless the obstruction is intentional. NOTE: In situations where the batter-runner gets in a rundown between first and home, if the batter-runner retreats and reaches home plate,…
BATTER-RUNNER OBSTRUCTED BEFORE REACHING FIRST BASE
Rule 6.01(h)(1): When the batter-runner is obstructed before reaching first base, it is not always the case that the batter-runner will be awarded first base on this type of obstruction. For example, if the batter-runner is obstructed before reaching first base on a fly ball or line drive that is caught, the batter-runner is out….
OBSTRUCTION MECHANIC
Rule 6.01(h): There are two types of obstruction and a different mechanic is used with each type. 1.) The first type of obstruction (Official Baseball Rule 6.01(h)(1)) deals with cases when the runner is obstructed WHILE a play is being made on such runner. Examples of this type of obstruction include: (1) Runner is obstructed…
SPECTATOR INTERFERENCE
Rules 6.01(e), 6.01(e) Comment: The umpire shall call spectator interference by first signaling and calling “Time” (both hands overhead) to halt play and then grasping the left wrist with right hand (held above the head) to indicate spectator interference. …
