What action by a baseball pitcher would result in a ball being declared during a game?
a. The pitcher takes too long to throw the ball.
b. The pitcher throws the ball too fast.
c. The pitcher lifts his pivot foot in a step backward off the pitcher's plate which must be in or partially within the 24-inch length of the pitcher's plate.
d. The pitcher throws the ball too high.
Final answer:
In baseball, a ball would be declared if the pitcher lifts his pivot foot in a step backward off the pitcher's plate, known as a balk. Other options presented in the question would not necessarily lead to a ball being declared.
Explanation:
In baseball, a ball can be declared when a pitcher commits an illegal act as defined by the rules of the game. Specifically, the action described in option c, where the pitcher lifts his pivot foot in a step backward off the pitcher's plate which must be in or partially within the 24-inch length of the pitcher's plate, would result in a ball being declared. In baseball, this is known as the balk. It violates pitching regulations and often results in the base runners advancing to the next base.
Pitchers have to make a balance between throwing speed, accuracy, and adherence to rules while throwing a ball. In the question's other options, a. pitcher taking too long to throw the ball is not a violation. Throwing too fast (option b) is not a reason either as there's no upper limit on pitching speed, but does impact the pitcher's accuracy and control. Lastly, throwing the ball too high (option d) may give a ball, but it's not necessarily reflective of any rules violation. It could simply be a bad pitch.