You make the call?

[JMV JustMyView]

You are the plate umpire what is the call?

*Bottom 9, tie score
*Runner at 3rd with 1 out
* 2-1 count on the batter
*The pitcher goes into his windup and just before he releases the ball the batter steps out of the box without permission from the plate umpire. The pitcher sees this so he stops his delivery without throwing the ball. What is the call? I am betting most folks get this wrong. I will give you guys time to guess.

[zeppelincajun]

Balk?

[Jacob81]

False start

[sportsfanatic21]

Gotta be a balk

[CajunVic]

https://baseballrulesacademy.com/off.ing-the-pitch/

[cajundiehard]

Balk

[cajundiehard]

Or - is the batter charged a strike or even an out for leaving the box w/o permission from the ump?

[JMV JustMyView]

By rule a batter can not cause a balk. A balk is a result of an illegal action by the pitcher while any base is occupied. If after the pitcher starts his windup or comes to a set position with a runner on, he does not go through with his pitch because the batter has inadvertently caused the pitcher to interrupt his delivery, it shall not be called a balk. Both the pitcher and batter have violated a rule and the umpire shall call time and both the batter and pitcher start over from scratch.

No pitch is the correct call if the pitcher didn't throw the ball. Most umpires would call a balk which is the wrong call. As a baseball coach you should always teach your pitcher to throw the ball regardless of what a batter does.

[JMV JustMyView]

Or - is the batter charged a strike or even an out for leaving the box w/o permission from the ump?

No out is charged but if they batter backs out without permission and the pitcher throws the ball the umpire will call a strike.

[CajunVic]

We all know he stole the answer from Vic . . .

[NOCajun]

No out is charged but if the batter backs out without permission and the pitcher throws the ball the umpire will call a strike.

What if the pitch is not a strike??

[CajunVic]

https://baseballrulesacademy.com/off.ing-the-pitch/

For those too lazy to click on the link:

Batter steps out of the box during the pitch.
If the batter steps out the batter’s box during the pitch and the pitcher delivers the pitch, a strike is called on the batter. If there is a runner on base, and the batter leaves the batter’s box with both feet during the pitch and the pitcher delivers the pitch, two strikes are called on the batter. If the pitcher doesn’t deliver the pitch there is no penalty for the batter or pitcher.

[CajunMarineBBK]

If I remember it does not matter it will be called a strike.

[JMV JustMyView]

What if the pitch is not a strike??

The umpire will call a strike as he has no strike zone to go by.

[JMV JustMyView]

If I remember it does not matter it will be called a strike.

Correct.