Do you have a balk?

If he began his motion to pitch and came to a complete stop after doing so, that is a balk at all levels.

As an umpire, take "attempt to deceive the runner" out of your vocabulary. There are plenty of legal ways to do so--we only worry about illegal actions by the pitcher.

Thanks Matt.  I will do that.

JWC1022 posted:

Thanks Matt.  I will do that.

Yeah, it comes up occasionally. It's just a matter of recognizing that there is no rule against deceiving the runner. 

that's an "easy chicken"...............balk balk balk........

must be a continuous motion to deliver to plate or throw to a base.

Keep yourself out of trouble - if a coach asks what was done quote to the best of your recollection what the rule indicates.  See 6-2-4d for this one...  Similarly if they fail to stop - it's "no discernible stop, coach" (discernible like beauty is in the eye of the beholder). The other one that's tricky is the 45 degree thing - the best thing to indicate there is failing to step directly toward a base or as some say failing to gain ground toward the base to which you are throwing.

The one our association picked on this year - having the pitching hand down at the side or behind the back because some coach was able to protest that a balk should have been called on a pitcher when he held/hid the ball on his front hip without a balk call and picked off a runner. When questioned, the umpire must've indicated it's legal to keep it there. 

Matt13 posted:

If he began his motion to pitch and came to a complete stop after doing so, that is a balk at all levels.

As an umpire, take "attempt to deceive the runner" out of your vocabulary. There are plenty of legal ways to do so--we only worry about illegal actions by the pitcher.

I completely agree that this should be called a balk.  However when I was watching the WBC championship game Stroman did this several times.  He would just stop his delivery with his leg hanging in the air.  Any reason that this would not be called?  Same with going from stretch to set position, just about every pitcher would hitch 2 or 3 times before coming set.  Why are these things being allowed?

Team Zona posted:

Matt13 posted:

If he began his motion to pitch and came to a complete stop after doing so, that is a balk at all levels.

As an umpire, take "attempt to deceive the runner" out of your vocabulary. There are plenty of legal ways to do so--we only worry about illegal actions by the pitcher.

I completely agree that this should be called a balk.  However when I was watching the WBC championship game Stroman did this several times.  He would just stop his delivery with his leg hanging in the air.  Any reason that this would not be called?  Same with going from stretch to set position, just about every pitcher would hitch 2 or 3 times before coming set.  Why are these things being allowed?

Were there runners on?

Usually in going to the set, there's still something moving. As long as the hitch doesn't interrupt the movement to the set position, it's legal.