OBR: Balk called when play is not live

[mr umpire]

Since balks cannot occur during a "dead" ball situation and this is one of baseball's few "do-overs", how would you handle this situation? I am just looking for a consensus to be consistent.

Ball is "dead"(bang, F1 shot it and buried it). R2. Before play is "live", F1 supposingly commits a balk and is called by PU(his head was up his a$$ at the time). Now, as BU, do you allow the balk and wait until play has stopped since R2 could try for HP in OBR? Then, call TIME and talk to your partner.

Or, would you call TIME immediately to check if the ball is "live" even though the BU realizes the PU never said "Play"? Or, if PU did say "Play" and F1 has not engaged the rubber yet or delivered a pitch with F2 or the batter not ready?

Now, I am of the thought to let it "play out" and then call TIME to talk to PU. My reasoning is he may not have realized F1's foot is still behind the rubber or whatever reason play is not "live" yet. Also, it is easier to send R2 back than to figure out where to put him.

I ask this since it may happen one day just as I described. I have already had an instance where the defense tried the "hidden ball" trick and PU said "Play". As soon as I realized F5 had the ball and F1 was behind the rubber and, as soon as my partner said "Play", R3 stepped off and F5 tagged him. Defense was leaving the field immediately when I had to correct them and let them know the ball was still "dead" since F1 didn't have the ball and engaged the rubber with it.

[ump_24]

Since balks cannot occur during a "dead" ball situation and this is one of baseball's few "do-overs", how would you handle this situation? I am just looking for a consensus to be consistent.

Ball is "dead"(bang, F1 shot it and buried it). R2. Before play is "live", F1 supposingly commits a balk and is called by PU(his head was up his a$$ at the time). Now, as BU, do you allow the balk and wait until play has stopped since R2 could try for HP in OBR? Then, call TIME and talk to your partner.

Or, would you call TIME immediately to check if the ball is "live" even though the BU realizes the PU never said "Play"? Or, if PU did say "Play" and F1 has not engaged the rubber yet or delivered a pitch with F2 or the batter not ready?

Now, I am of the thought to let it "play out" and then call TIME to talk to PU. My reasoning is he may not have realized F1's foot is still behind the rubber or whatever reason play is not "live" yet. Also, it is easier to send R2 back than to figure out where to put him.

I ask this since it may happen one day just as I described. I have already had an instance where the defense tried the "hidden ball" trick and PU said "Play". As soon as I realized F5 had the ball and F1 was behind the rubber and, as soon as my partner said "Play", R3 stepped off and F5 tagged him. Defense was leaving the field immediately when I had to correct them and let them know the ball was still "dead" since F1 didn't have the ball and engaged the rubber with it.

If PU calls a dead ball balk, I am also going to proceed with the assumption he is a PU who does not put the ball in play.

As BU here, I am staying out of this. He put himself in the mess, he will get himself out of it. If he comes to me, there's not much I can do to help, other than to advise whether or not the ball should have been in play.

On the other hand, if I am PU and BU calls a balk without a live ball, I'll immediately pop out from behind the plate:

"Hold on guys, the ball wasn't in play."

[semper_fi_72]

If PU calls a dead ball balk, I am also going to proceed with the assumption he is a PU who does not put the ball in play.

As BU here, I am staying out of this. He put himself in the mess, he will get himself out of it. If he comes to me, there's not much I can do to help, other than to advise whether or not the ball should have been in play.

On the other hand, if I am PU and BU calls a balk without a live ball, I'll immediately pop out from behind the plate:

"Hold on guys, the ball wasn't in play."

Do not forget to notify the Assignor not to pair you with him again in the future. ;)

[bobjenkins]

Since balks cannot occur during a "dead" ball situation and this is one of baseball's few "do-overs", how would you handle this situation? I am just looking for a consensus to be consistent.

Ball is "dead"(bang, F1 shot it and buried it). R2. Before play is "live", F1 supposingly commits a balk and is called by PU(his head was up his a$$ at the time). Now, as BU, do you allow the balk and wait until play has stopped since R2 could try for HP in OBR? Then, call TIME and talk to your partner.


As BU, my hand is up until F1 is on the rubber (and it needn't be both hands high over the head as if I'm calling"time" to begin with). So, PU won't put the ball in play. If he does, then I step in then and state that the ball is still not live.

So, the situation never happens.

[ump_24]

As BU, my hand is up until F1 is on the rubber (and it needn't be both hands high over the head as if I'm calling"time" to begin with). So, PU won't put the ball in play. If he does, then I step in then and state that the ball is still not live.

So, the situation never happens.

That wouldn't be necessary with 100% proper mechanics, as BU engages his "set" position when F1 steps on the rubber.