NFHS Rule: Hand/mouth/Ball?

No runners: ball to batter. With runner(s): balk.

The key on your question is the pitcher is on the rubber when he commits the act. If he were not on the rubber when he went to his mouth and without wiping subsequently engaged the rubber, it would simply be a ball, even if there were runners on base.

Rule citation please. I was looking for doing it while on rubber with runners but it was silent

6-1-3. That's the reference given by 6.2.1.B(b). Who knows what happens if the pitcher is in the windup position. There is nothing like FED.

quote:

Originally posted by dash_riprock:
6-1-3. That's the reference given by 6.2.1.B(b). Who knows what happens if the pitcher is in the windup position. There is nothing like FED.

I may be misreading the issue, but I'll answer it how I'm reading it.

If the pitcher is in the windup and attempts a pick-off from the rubber but throws the ball out of play, it's a balk.

quote:

Originally posted by yawetag:

quote:

Originally posted by dash_riprock:
6-1-3. That's the reference given by 6.2.1.B(b). Who knows what happens if the pitcher is in the windup position. There is nothing like FED.

I may be misreading the issue, but I'll answer it how I'm reading it.

If the pitcher is in the windup and attempts a pick-off from the rubber but throws the ball out of play, it's a balk.

The issue was going to the mouth, but you're right. In fact, it's a balk as soon as he attempts a pickoff (assuming there is a runner).

A pitcher that goes from his mouth to the ball without a wipeoff, then engages the rubber, is guilty of defacing the ball. Penalty...a ball. The umpire should call it then before a windup or stretch.

A pitcher that goes from mouth to ball without a wipeoff while engaged on the rubber is guilty of a balk.