Quote:
Originally posted by batterup
8.05j refers to a pitching position. 8.05k does not refer to a pitching position for a reason. It is not part of the rule. Historically I could go into the reasons why but let me simply state this.
You umpire games according to the level of the game. "Gee" says he doesn't do Fed games but he brings up a situation you would see in high school. Unknowingly standing on the rubber, looking at centerfield, rubbing the ball. And I suppose he was also wearing a batting glove.
I have never seen a pitcher do that in the college level or up. If he did I would probably call it a balk and both I and the pitcher would have a good laugh.
"Abergman"'s original question was at the Legion level. I hope he's not confused by all of this. He's looking for help at that level and we're talking about moves, (rubbing ball looking at centerfield while on the rubber) that should be corrected at instructional level baseball.
Legion is not an instructional league.
It is a ball when not on the rubber and in the dirt area when you lick your fingers. It is a balk on the rubber, not because the rules prohibit licking your fingers on the rubber but because you can't make those kind of stupid moves, (known as feinting or deceiving the runner), while you are on the rubber.
And lastly, if 8.05k was only to be applied when in a legal pitching position, it would say that instead of while touching his plate.
|
----------------------------------------
First off, just because I do not do FED rules does not mean I do not do HS games. Fed rules are banned in Boston, we use OBR.
Second, Wetting fingers is only mentioned in the OBR one time. That is in OBR 8.02(a). Penalty BALL. It is not even mentioned in 8.05 where the balks are discussed. Please enlighten me where you get the balk idea from.
Third and final point. You ask why 8.05(k) doesn't go further with the rule.
That could be said of a ton of other rules and that is why the OBR is so confusing. For that reason we have authoritative opinions and official rulings to the OBR. I posted Jim Evans' Authoritative opinion on the dropped ball. That is enough for me. G.