Quote:
Originally posted by Carl Childress
Quote:
Originally posted by DG
"It is now legal for a pitcher to turn his shoulders to check a runner if he is in the set position and in contact with the pitcher's plate."
"Turning the shoulders after bringing the hands together during or after the stretch is also a balk."
Please someone explain this to me. Would the pitcher not be in set position when he brings his hands together after the stretch? These two sentences seem to contradict.
|
DG:
What many people call the stretch position is properly called the set. (Remember, a pitcher doesn't have to stretch. But he must come to a stop.) With that in mind...
You're not a FED umpire, or you'd get this right away. Here, from one of my articles over on the paid side, is information about a pitcher turning his shoulders:
1988: Rumble to Referee: Moving the shoulders after intentionally contacting the pitcherÂ’s plate is a balk. The BRD carried that as an official interpretation in the 1989 edition, the first published by Referee Enterprises..
1990: The same interpretation appears in the case book (6.1.1g)
1992: The case book ruling is a Point of Emphasis.
1993: For the first time in the rule book FED prohibits turning the shoulders while intentionally in contact with the pitcher's plate.
1997-1998: The infraction is once again a Point of Emphasis.
According to Bob Pariseau from San Francisco, that was part of the "dumbing" down of FED umpires: They can't tell the difference between a feint (quick moving of the shoulders to fool the runner) and a check of the runner (anything slower than a feint). So we'll take it out of their hands. Now they don't have to judge what shoulder movement is a feint. Any shoulder movement is a balk.
The problem was that Brad Rumble didn't realize that NCAA and OBR call it a balk when the pitcher swings his shoulders after he's come to the pause in the set position. He ruled it was a balk anytime.
Just so we're clear: Now before coming to the pause in the set position, the pitcher may turn his shoulders (slowly, grin) to check a runner. If he does it after the stop, it's a balk.
But the FED always does something wrong, it seems. They've decided it's a balk if the pitcher while in the wind-up position, swings his shoulders to check runners.
Why? That can't fool anyone because it's illegal for a FED pitcher to attempt a pick-off from the wind-up.
As I am wont to say, "Lah me!"
|
I am a FED umpire, among other things, and I have always been amazed that FED wanted balks for something that would not be at any other level. When I think of stretch, I think of those movements prior to coming set. Now FED says you can turn shoulder when set but not after bringing the hands together during or after the stretch. After the stretch is set in my vocabulary. If stretch=set and you can turn when set, but not during or after the stretch, then I remain confused because after strecth=set.