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First, Greg, I am unaware of any specific OBR rule stating the turning of a shoulder is a balk. If there is, please enlighten me. Therefore, my continued comment is in regards to Fed.
Per Fed rule 6-1-1, turning the shoulders while on the pitching plate is a balk---agreed. I don't know which or whose previous post you were referring to in your initial post, nor do I know what "a half wind up" is. I would only offer the following:
If the pitcher from the wind up has started his delivery motion, he may turn his shoulders as much as he cares to provided he delivers his pitch in a continuous motion. He cannot be balked from the wind up for turning his shoulders after he has started his pitch.
Before he has started his pitch he must be on the rubber. Some pitchers may turn their head to look at a runner causing slight movement of the shoulders. Is movement of the shoulder the same as "turning the shoulders". I think not. The body is not a statue. When judging this for a balk, allow the degree of shoulder turn to be a determining factor in arriving at your decision. Even then, you may be undecided. In that case, the final decision should be whether or not you felt the pitcher was attempting to deceive the runner in making him think he may throw to the base.
Don't be overofficious. Know the rules, but if they couldn't see a shoulder turn from the dugout and stands, it probably didn't happen. Some may even say if they didn't see it from Cleveland, it probably didn't happen. Did the pitcher gain an advantage?
Just a recommendation,
Freix
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