Balk Question

Is he a left-handed or right-handed pitcher?

Sorry he is a RH pitcher.

Let me make sure I have the situation correct.

You have a runner on third. The pitcher, assumingly in the set position, takes his signs from the stretch and then comes set. Your runner breaks for home and the pitcher, with his pivot (right) foot on the rubber steps toward home with his non-pivot (left) foot and throws the ball.

If that's the case, then the pitcher completed a legal pitch. The pitch, as long as it crossed the foul lines, would be judged a ball or strike and the play at the plate would be safe or out.

No he was not in the stretch position.....he had both feet on the rubber, with toes pointed toward the catcher, getting ready to go into the windup.

In the scenario it is a legal pitch as long as it wasn't a quick pitch (i.e. was the batter ready to hit) So the pitcher threw a pitch, the catcher caught it and then tagged the runner out before he reached home.  As long as the catcher didn't interfere with the batters opportunity to hit the ball the runner is out.

The foot position determines the pitching position (windup in this case).  Once he started he continued to throw to the plate.  That's a pitch even though it may not have looked like a classic windup

That's the thing though, he never started his windup....his first movement was him moving his left foot forward.....he never brought his left back or to the side to start his windup....the umps originally called it a balk, then after a 5 minute protest from the opposing coach, the home plate ump reversed the call.

Coach, a pitcher in the windup position is not required to take a step to the side:

During delivery, he may lift his non-pivot foot in a step forward, a step sideways, or in a step backward and a step forward, but he shall not otherwise lift either foot.

The step backward or sideways is optional (hence the "may").

Thank you I wasn't sure because I've never seen it before....I wasn't upset that they called it a balk, I was upset because the field ump originally said the pitcher flinched before throwing to the plate but changed his mind after the animated protest from the opposing coach. Thanks again.

I had the plate for a call just like this a few weeks ago.  The 14U pitcher had just taken the sign and the runner broke.  F1 was in a panic.  He stepped forward and threw the ball to the catcher like an infielder.  I had a strike and an easy tag at the plate.  The offensive coach was upset but he didn't know what he wanted to object to. 

If there was a flinch, then that would be a balk.

I had a similar play on Saturday.  I'm behind the plate with a runner on 2nd.  I see the pitcher set up to throw from the wind up.  R2 saw the pitcher in the windup position and started creeping for 3rd.  I had everything in front of me of course.   so I saw F1 start up with his hands.  When R2 boke the defensive team called out to the pitcher and he stepped back and threw R2 out.  However I had a balk as F1 had started a movement associated with throwing a pitch. 

Don't be too quick to call that balk.  From the windup, the pitcher is allowed to bring his hands together and pause.  He is still permitted to step off.

Am I misapplying this rule:

8.01 Legal pitching delivery.(a) The Windup Position. The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, his entire pivot foot on, or in front of and touching and not off the end of the pitcher's plate, and the other foot free. From this position any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration....

Depends.  When you say you saw F1 "start up with his hands" where were his hands when he started them up?  If they weren't together, and all F1 did was bring them together in front of his body, he was not yet committed to pitch and could still legally step off.

See the paragraph immediately following the one you posted.

OK, here is what I have immediately following what I'd previously posted:

 He shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in his actual delivery of the ball to the batter, he may take one step backward, and one step forward with his free foot.
When a pitcher holds the ball with both hands in front of his body, with his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and his other foot free, he will be considered in the Windup Position.
Rule 8.01(a) Comment: In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his “free” foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber.
From the Windup Position, the pitcher may:
(1) deliver the ball to the batter, or
(2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or
(3) disengage the rubber (if he does he must drop his hand to his sides).
In disengaging the rubber the pitcher must step off with his pivot foot and not his free foot first.
He may not go into a set or stretch position—if he does it is a balk.

So I think I got it right but I'm not sure it was for the reason I thought.  F1 started his motion with his hands together in front of his body.  He never dropped his hands down to his sides and just threw to 3b.  So starting his motion with his hands going up is not a balk, but not dropping his hands down to his side prior to stepping off was a balk? 

Sorry Dash, I'm getting more confused as we go along.  Lets go back to the simple ruling that F1 was in the windup position and started up with his hands, a natural movement that was part of his delivery and that under 8.01 committed him to pitch.  

I hear what you're saying, but if F1's motion (with his hands) was only bringing his hands together in front of his body, he is then allowed to pause.  From that pause, he can still legally step off.

Thanks, I believe I understand your point.  He could have just been getting into his windup position rather then starting his motion. 

I was really tuned in because I saw the pitcher was in the wind up position instead of the stretch and also could see R2 was starting to creep waiting for F1 to start his motion.  The runner broke a little early but F1 defintely raised his hands from in front of him up over his head as part of his delivery.  He then stepped back and threw over to third. I've got a balk. 

My partner at C didn't realize he was in the wind up position (?).  We conferenced and agreed on the call after I'd killed the play and awarded third. 

Sorry to hijack this thread but I think I get a deeper understanding of this situation. 

As you describe it, I agree with the balk call.

This thread caused me to think of the following question: Lets say that the pitcher begins a legal pitch from the wind up and the runner on 3B breaks for home. What would be the proper call if the catcher, after hearing his teammates yell that the runner is coming, comes out of his crouch, reaches forward to catch ball and apply tag, but in doing so, interferes with the batters ability to hit (or bunt) the ball?

Just a dad in Jersey

OBR, NCAA: Catcher's Interference and Balk--Batter gets 1B, all other runners advance

FED: Catcher's Obstruction--Batter gets 1B, runners advance if stealing or forced

Dash is right under pro rules -- just moving both hands together is not a commitment to pitch.  Under HS rules, moving both hands at the same time is a commitment to pitch, so you would be correct.