52 COMMENT: Requires the pitcher, while touching his plate, to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off his free foot without actually stepping or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk. A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base and is required to throw (except to second base) because he steps. It is a balk if, with runners on first and third, the pitcher steps toward third and does not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. It is legal for a pitcher to feint a throw to second base. (d) The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play. (e) The pitcher makes an illegal pitch; A quick pitch is an illegal pitch. Umpires will judge a quick pitch as one delivered before the batter is reasonably set in the batter's box. With runners on base the penalty is a balk; with no runners on base, it is a ball. The quick pitch is dangerous and should not be permitted. (f) The pitcher delivers the ball to the batter while he is not facing the batter. (g) The pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher's plate. (h) The pitcher unnecessarily delays the game. (i) The pitcher, without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher's plate or while off the plate, he feints a pitch. (j) The pitcher, after coming to a legal pitching position, removes one hand from the ball other than in an actual pitch, or in throwing to a base. (k) The pitcher, while touching his plate, accidentally or intentionally drops the ball. (l) The pitcher, while giving an intentional base on balls, pitches when the catcher is not in the catcher's box. (m) The pitcher delivers the pitch from Set Position without coming to a stop. PENALTY: Majors/AAA/AADivisions-NO PENALTY: Apitherapy action by the pitcher construed as a balk bythe umpire shall be declared a no pitch. The ball is dead, and no runner shall advance. NOTE: Any action by the batter or any member of the offensive team, including the coaches, that, in the opinion of the umpire-in-chief, causes a pitcher to commit an illegal pitch or balk shall result in the pitch being declared a no pitch. The ball shall be dead, and no runners shall advance. PENALTY: "O"Zone Division - The ball is dead immediately. All runners on base shall be entitled to advance one base without liability to be put out. DYB APPROVED RULING: In cases where a pitcher balks and throws wild, the ball is dead. The runner(s) are advanced in accordance with the "O" Zone balk rule. DYB APPROVED RULING: A runner who misses the first base to which he is advancing and who is called out on appeal shall be considered as having advanced one base for the purpose of this rule. Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner. If there is doubt in the umpire's mind, the "intent" of the pitcher should govern. Note: (a) Straddling the pitcher's rubber without the ball is to be interpreted as intent to deceive and ruled a balk. (b) With a runner on first base the pitcher may make a complete turn, without hesitating toward first, and throw to second. This is not to be interpreted as throwing to an unoccupied base.
