[Cubbies87]

2-28-3: "Time of the pitch is when the pitcher has committed himself to delivering the pitch to the batter. For the windup poisition, the 'time of the pitch' occurs when the pitcher...(b)with both hands at his side, first starts any movement with both arms or leg(s) prior to the pitch..."

6-1-2: "...The pitcher assumes the windup position when his hands are: (a)together in front of his body; (b)both hands are at his side..."

6-1-2: "...After he starts his movement to pitch, he must continue the motion without interruption or alteration."

6-2-4: "If there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a pitcher while he is touching the pitcher's plate is a balk...(d)failing to pitch to the batter in a continuous motion immediately after any movement of any part of the body such as he habitually uses in his delivery..."

I have seen many pitchers take the rubber for the windup with both arms at their sides. Shortly thereafter, they then raise both arms in front of their chest to another legal starting position, together in front of their body, and they pause again. It is difficult to say whether they take signs with both arms at the side or with both arms together in front because the pitcher is looking towards the catcher for both, and is pausing about equally.

Does the motion from the side to the chest satisfy the "time of pitch" because it is a motion with both arms? If so, does it require the pitcher to continue pitching to the batter without stopping? Would it be a balk if there were runners on? Would it be an illegal pitch (w/o debating the FED interpretation dilemma) if there weren't any runners on?