[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Dave Reed
Quote:
Originally posted by Illini_Ref
Jaksa/Roder make clear that an illegal pitch is one that is intended to deceive the batter.
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Here is the Jaksa/Roder quote I believe you are relying on for the above interpretation:
It is a balk if a pitcher:
...
(15) tries to deceive a runner or the batter by imitating and throwing a pitch while not in contact with the rubber, or by quickly stepping on the rubber and pitching without taking a sign. Such actions constitute an illegal pitch.*
*If there is an illegal pitch with no runners, and the batter acquires first, the illegal pitch is disregarded. Otherwise, it is a ball.
I think if you read it carefully, Jaksa/Roder is referring only to a pitch made while off the rubber, and a quick pitch, which is perfectly consistent with the OBR definition of Quick Pitch, for which the penalty (with no runners) is a ball is added to the count.
The infraction West penalized is not, however, an Illegal Pitch, and there is no OBR rule basis for him to assess a penalty of a ball. The remedy for the infraction he had a problem with, as with so many infractions in OBR, is "hey, don't do that." Failure to comply with his instruction would be ejectable, but there is no basis for the penalty he assessed.
Although I haven't seen the motion in question, based on the description here all I can say is I guess West never umpired a game pitched by Hideo Nomo.