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One last time. The pitcher asks for a new ball and is given one. He is facing center field and rubs up the ball.
He just happens to be standing on the rubber and drops the ball with men on base. Are you going to call that a balk?
From what you say, you are. I'm not, simply because the pitcher was not in a legal pitching position when he dropped it. OBR 8.01 describes only two legal pitching positions, 8.01(a) and 8.01(b).
Adendum.
Just checked JEA and 8.05(k). Jim Evans states, "If a pitcher has STARTED HIS DELIVERY when the ball slips out of his hand, rule 8.01(d) should be enforced......" G.
[Edited by Gee on Jun 4th, 2001 at 09:09 AM]
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