RHP takes the rubber in the windup position. Takes his sign. With his glove in front of his chest and his hands together then he drops his glove about 1 foot and stops. Then he begins his delivery.
Is this a balk or is his moving his glove down considered a pump?
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Does he do this every time he is in the wind up? Even without runners on?
My thoughts -
The start of the pitch begins with any movement that is normally associated with a pitching motion. In my opinion, the pitch starts when he move the hands from the chin to the chest and pauses.
Now I do not see a pause in-and of itself as a balk. However, once the hands move down from the chin, the pitcher is committed to throw to the plate.
If the pitcher does this every time or not is not a question that needs to be answered. Illegal is illegal, repeating an illegal motion on every pitch does not make it legal.
I believe that there is something that says the pitcher - once started - must make a continuous motion, but I am not sure that applies to the windup, the stretch or both. Gotta look that up tonight.
The balk is there to protect the runner from deceitful motions of the pitcher. If the pitcher is committed to the plate once the hands lower from the chin, then the pause, does not impede the runner in any way.
Also, I may be assuming something here, but if the pitcher is in the wind up - then there are probably no runners on. Not a situation to balk.
Would be interested to hear others on this.
The reason I asked about runners being on and if he does this every time is because the pitcher is not allowed to intentionally deceive the base runner. If he does it when no runners are on then obviously he isn't trying to deceive them. And don't forget that pitchers regularly pitch from the windup when 3b is occupied. Also I'm sure you know that a balk can be called with no runners on.
PW posted:The reason I asked about runners being on and if he does this every time is because the pitcher is not allowed to intentionally deceive the base runner. If he does it when no runners are on then obviously he isn't trying to deceive them. And don't forget that pitchers regularly pitch from the windup when 3b is occupied. Also I'm sure you know that a balk can be called with no runners on.
Semantically speaking, saying the pitcher cannot deceive the runner is incorrect. The pitcher cannot deceive the runner by committing an illegal movement. He can certainly deceive the runner - as long as he does it legally. As an umpire it matters not if the pitcher deceived the runner - it only matters if he did something illegal.
As for a balk with no runners on - not really. Some rule sets allow for an illegal pitch, which is typically awarded as a ball to the batter. In OBR it's nothing unless it is a quick pitch or one delivered from off the rubber.
A balk penalty is to advance runners one base. Can't do that without runner's on.
By rule, in HS baseball (played under FED rules), when both hands move together, that is the start of the pitch. Once the pitcher does this, he cannot legally come to a stop.
Here's this interp from a few years ago:
SITUATION 20: With R1 on third base, the pitcher is in the windup position. At the top of his motion, he pauses for two or three seconds and then delivers. RULING: The umpire shall declare a balk and score R1 from third base. After a pitcher starts his motion to pitch, he must continue the motion without interruption or alteration. (6-1-2)
The OP varies only in degree (where the pitcher was when he stopped). Will (or should) this be called strictly? I'd say no -- but the umpire who does so would have the rules on his side.
noumpere posted:
...The OP varies only in degree (where the pitcher was when he stopped). Will (or should) this be called strictly? I'd say no -- but the umpire who does so would have the rules on his side.
I'm curious what level of play this is actually. My thought is that if this motion has made it up to HS without anyone stopping it, then it may not be as egregious as we are assuming?
Gentleman, thank you for all the great responses. The level of play was Varsity, all be it not an extremely high level of play in comparison. I had the plate and felt that once he started his motion down he should continue without interruption. I did not call anything and instead spoke with my partner in between innings. He felt he was legal and that this was a pump. We decided to let him continue as he did do it every time. On a side note the pithere was a reliver.
I think the quoted case book situation by Noumpere describes this accurately.
Came across this today. Though it was right in line with the topic.
http://bleacherreport.com/arti...m_campaign=editorial
Just goes to show what an "abnormal" delivery that looks like a balk is actually legal.
NewUmpire posted:Came across this today. Though it was right in line with the topic.
http://bleacherreport.com/arti...m_campaign=editorial
Just goes to show what an "abnormal" delivery that looks like a balk is actually legal.
Note that this is legal in OBR -- but probably (technically) illegal in FED ("hybrid stance").