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Originally posted by ozzy6900
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Originally posted by DG
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I think the PENALTY is referring to the shoulder turn, prohibited by 6-1-1, since 6-1-1 also says the pitching regulations begin when the pitcher steps on the rubber. I can't find a case book play on this.
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Partially right, the interpertation includes taking the signs off the rubber. Our question always was "So when is the catcher really throwing out the signs?" To be honest, I enforce from when the pitcher makes intentional contact with the rubber (FED) and go from there. I still call it don't do that in FED.
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In OBR it is an infraction of 8.01 but it is
not a balk, as someone also pointed out.
In FED it is but it ain't.
Before the rule made it into the OBR, to throw off (annoy) batters, the pitcher would take his signs from behind the rubber, step onto the rubber -- and take them again!
Sometimes, when that happened, the batter stepped out of the box. So the pitcher stepped off the rubber, and the dance started again.
The rule was designed to prevent such delays.
Nowadays, the pitcher takes his sign from the coach, steps onto the pitcher, and pitches. My advice: If the pitcher does not delay (take them again from the catcher, for example) forget about it.
But if he does delay, make him stop: Tell the catcher not to crouch until he's on the rubber.
[Edited by Carl Childress on Jul 9th, 2004 at 02:55 PM]