Time of Pitch | Time Pitch

In baseball, the time of pitch is that instant when the pitcher has begun his pitching motion and, by the rules, has committed himself to throwing the pitch. This instant thus occurs before the pitcher actually releases the ball. Once a pitcher commits himself to throwing a pitch, it is illegal for him to return to his set. If that happens, he is charged with a balk, and any baserunners are allowed to advance a base.

A baserunner's time-of-pitch base is the base which he has last legally reached at the time of pitch.

Baseball concepts (Baseball glossary)

Field	Backstop Baseball diamond Batter's box Batter's eye Bullpen Dugout Foul territory Foul pole Infield On-deck circle Outfield Strike zone Warning track

Equipment	Bat Ball Glove (defense) Batting glove Batting helmet Cap Doughnut Stirrups Uniform Uniform number Shin guard Protective cup Batting cage Pitching machine

Game process	Innings Extra innings Out Seventh-inning stretch Batting order Run On-deck

Batting	At bat Plate appearance Hit and run Sacrifice bunt Sacrifice fly Slap bunt Baltimore chop Bunt Foul ball Foul tip Ground rule double Hit Infield hit Hit by pitch Strikeout Single Double Triple Home run Inside-the-park home run Checked swing Walk-off home run Lefty-righty switch Double switch Line drive Batting count Sweet spot Pull hitter Hitting for the cycle

Pitching	Balk Beanball Breaking ball Brushback pitch Changeup Curveball Fastball Full count Inside pitching Knuckleball Passed ball Pitch count Pitchout Quick pitch Shutout Slider Spitball Strikeout Striking out the side Wild pitch Time of pitch No-hitter Perfect game

Baserunning	Balk Bases loaded Caught stealing Left on base Scoring position Small ball Squeeze play Stolen base Tag up Walk Contact play

Fielding	Double play Force play Hidden ball trick In-between hop Triple play Unassisted triple play Pickoff Wheel play Catch Fourth out Rundown Tag out Appeal play Assist Infield shift Wall climb Fielder's choice Defensive indifference

Miscellaneous	In flight Infield fly rule Bench-clearing brawl Pepper Safe Uncaught third strike Interference Golden sombrero Ground rules Instant replay Baseball jargon Slump Bench jockey Dead ball

Famous quotes containing the words time and/or pitch:

“Where did we ever get the crazy idea that in order to make children do better, first we have to make them feel worse? Think of the last time you felt humiliated or treated unfairly. Did you feel like cooperating or doing better?”
—Jane Nelson (20th century)

“I can’t earn my own living. I could never make anything turn into money. It’s like making fires. A careful assortment of paper, shavings, faggots and kindling nicely tipped with pitch will never light for me. I have never been present when a cigarette butt, extinct, thrown into a damp and isolated spot, started a conflagration in the California woods.”
—Margaret Anderson (1886–1973)