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Old Thu May 06, 2004, 07:32am
Gee Gee is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 305
Not a balk. Let's look at the rule:

"(b) The Set Position. Set Position shall be indicated by the pitcher when he stands facing the batter with his entire pivot foot on, or in front of, and in contact with, and not off the end of the pitcher's plate, and his other foot in front of the pitcher's plate, holding the ball in both hands in front of his body and coming to a complete stop."

As you can see, the rule only requires the free foot to be IN FRONT of the rubber. The side restriction is limited to the pivot foot.

A lot of young pitchers are taught to open up their set so they can get a better look at first without turning their shoulder which under some rules is considered a feint and a balk.

The reason that you see so many interps on the balk is due to how different areas, different leagues and different Rules handle it. The only person that can clarify this for you would be your associations Rules interpreter for the particular league and under the rules of that league you are concerned with.
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