Tagged With "balk"

A high school-level pitching question about addressing the pitching rubber. Runner on third (R3) and our RHP is on the mound, but off the rubber. While standing behind the pitching rubber, he decides he'll pitch from the wind-up position. He steps forward with his left foot, then with his right. Field umpire calls a balk. R3 scores. I ask for an explanation and ask if it was his hands or motion that was deceptive. Like, "did he start and stop". He tells me it is how he is "addressing the...

https://youtu.be/0CvF8nQvfQQ

I think the umpire must have taken the requirements to disengage the rubber and mistakenly applied them to taking the rubber. As described, the umpire was wrong. And, while this *might* have contributed to a run scoring (the umpire didn't put the runner on third to begin with, and we don't know what would have happened if the umpire hadn't ruled a balk), the umpire didn't "cost" you the game.

What about this sequence. RHP "engages" with rubber with his left foot by stepping forward, pauses with hands together (ball in right hand - ball/hand in glove), then steps forward with his right foot. Could it have been interpreted that his initial step started the motion - which he then stopped. Should not matter that he just happened to start the motion with the "wrong" foot. This would be compared to the RHP hving the ball in glove and right hand by his side stepping up with his left...

OBR 8.05(g) - The pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching his pitching plate. Since RHP tend to place their right foot on the rubber first and deliver by moving their left foot first I suppose that could be interpreted as a natural pitching motion. If this is the thinking the umpire may have poorly explained that this was his rational. Without seeing the play it sounds like a reach - but it is the most plausible thing I could see in the rules.

After growing up and maturing some I'm actually a little embarrassed to admit this but when I played in college we had a "pick off" move that according to the rule above was a balk but we were NEVER called on it. Runner on first or second and RHP totally ignores the runner after getting ball and walking around mound once. Gets onto the rubber right foot then left foot. Takes the sign and still hasn't looked at the runner. He "starts" his deliver by raising his hands up and stepping back with...

Coach, I had the same thing happen to me in a JV game in my first year of umpiring high school ball. The pitcher raised his hand up in the air and kind of wiped his chin with his shoulder as his arms came up and stepped off with his right foot at the same time. The runner from first broke and was picked off. I did not call a balk but the play haunts me to this day. It has never happened again since but I always watch for it. He got me. The offensive team coach never said a word.

I've seen that move used as low as 11u. Some umpires call it a balk and some do not. If the umpire seems inexperienced some kids will do it.

Maybe its something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnx4vFQWO-I

Yes. The pitcher never came to a complete stop.

Yes, no question

Yes, according to the rules, no according to most high school umps I’ve seen!lol

I say he came to a stop then slowly creeped up before his motion. But it is according to whether we are pitching or hitting. LOL.

I would likely NOT have a balk on this. But, R2 can take off for third as the joined hands begin to come up -- that's the start of the pitch.

I'm surprised at this. I know you know the rules well enough where my assumption is that you're seeing an actual stop, yet I don't see anything remotely close.

No balk. nice field... what is with all that racket???

I got a little confused on the noumpere reply on two parts. #1 - this was addressed by Matt13 in outlining that for no balk to have occurred, that the pitcher would have had to "stop" at some point (come set) after joining this throwing hand with his glove hand. He does change the direction of the movement somewhat, but to say he stopped, and then of course started back, is not really what I see. #2 - not exactly sure what was meant by taking off for third at the "start of the pitch". Let's...

@army54 having trouble following in my mind. Sounds like RHP decided in mid-pitch to spin around from 1st to 2nd to 3rd (instead of just wheeling to 2nd and starting the rundown). I would have paid to see that one Or maybe I'm just imagining it wrong, lol

This is not a balk. Pitcher is permitted to throw to an unoccupied base in order to stop an advancing runner. He does not have to disengage pitching rubber.NFHS. Still must step to the base he is throwing to.

OK, This one is really bugging me. First time I have seen it in live play. I'm a coach of 13u-14u players, coaching my youngest of 3 sons, so have been coaching for 15+ years, and was an umpire in college for High School ball. Situation: My team's runners on Second and First, 1 out, tied game. The Play: Second base runner has a wide lead at second. The pitcher has already tried to pick off the runner at second through two legal spin moves, the runner retreating to second base safe, all good...

Agree with what you said regarding the original situation. Would have to see it, but I think maybe a balk if he hangs the leg toward 2nd, but keeps leg up and then just shifts toward 3rd base and throws there. Umpire lore says it's hard to balk to an occupied 2nd base, but this might be an exception. He's fine if he steps directly toward 2nd base. He doesn't even have to make a "fake throw"; the act of stepping toward 2nd base is considered to be the "feint." Once he has made that step...

In my mind this is a balk. NFHS 6.2.4 (b) and (f) ART. 4 . . . Balk. If there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a pitcher while he is touching the pitcher’s plate is a balk: b. failing to step with the non-pivot foot directly toward a base (occupied or unoccupied) when throwing or feinting there in an attempt to put out, or drive back a runner; or throwing or feinting to any unoccupied base when it is not an attempt to put out or drive back a runner; The pitcher did not...

I Reread the rule. If the non pivot foot crosses back edge of the pitching rubber he can not throw to third. The rule specifies 2nd base only exception. He must go to second or home. World Series steal of home the other night. Kershaw steps off the rubber, which is fine. Even if he does not, it is not a balk, but then becomes a pitch.

Thank you for all the quick feedback! @ReluctantOsFan 's explanation was what we thought as well. Ironically, after even doing more research, it appears that it would have been OK if the pitcher spun to second base, front foot going to the ground towards second, then *not* throwing to second (which is legal), and then since he is now a fielder, could have thrown to third base. I will admit, the opposing pitcher in this case was very, very good with his pick off moves, so kudo's to him. -Jon