I want to know if it counts as a ball to the batter or if it is a no pitch because i have seen it happen and nothing be called.

It's a big nothing.

Nothing happens...the pitcher just re-starts...same as if a pitcher "trips" with no-one on...no play!!

OUT OF THE RULE BOOK:::

Rule 8.01(d) Comment: A ball which slips out of a pitcher鈥檚 hand and crosses the foul line shall be called a ball; otherwise it will be called no pitch. This would be a balk with men on base.

to answerman..This rule is for a ball slipping out of the pitchers hand and crosses the foul line...NOT the pitcher just stopping his windup...nothing happens = no pitch = no play with no runners on base.

AND...If no runners are on base and the pitcher commits an otherwise balkable action, several consequences may result. Most balks are deceptive to runners but not to the batter; these infractions are ignored when no runners are on base. When a pitcher commits an illegal action that is confusing to the batter, time will be called and the game will restart with a normal pitch; there is no further penalty.

the ball has to be above his chest in order for it to be a balk

No, its only a balk if someone is on base.

This is because the only reason a pitcher does this is to try to catch a player stealing. Therefor, there is a) no real reason to do this when no one is on base, and b) no advantage to it.

i think that nothing happens, but I don't know. I'm still mourning the Mets.

I'm no expert but a balk can only be called when there are men on base.

It is called a balk if the pitcher makes a move toward the plate and stops, changes direction or throws elsewhere. With noone on, the batter would be awarded 1 ball on the Ball/Strike count.

all instances of the balk refer to runners on base except one

Under rule 8.01 (a) 3 it mentions the balk without talking about runners. but since the only penalties for a balk is the advancement of runners, it is essentially not a balk.

apparently thisplace is full of people who are not very skilled at reading what they copy and paste.
He tells you that nothing happens, but in the rules he copied and pasted it says clear as day it is either a ball or no pitch when no one is on base. If it is actually considered a balk, it is ruled a ball. If they decide that no balk occured, then it is a no pitch.

no it is not a balk, it is not a ball...if he doesn't pitch it it is a no pitch...hence nothing happens and teh "no call" is the right call

Balk