Quote:
Originally posted by DG
Now I am confused about what constitutes a technical balk and what does not. Regional differences may vary, but in these parts bringing the hands together and stopping is not called a balk. No runners are fooled and no coaches expect a balk to be called. If a coach wants to protest the non-call he will win, if I am UIC, because I know the rule. But I have never seen a coach complain. If I call it, I will have to explain it, every time.
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DG: Stepping off with the wrong foot IS a balk by official interpretation. (PBUC and MLBUM both agree.) It's a black letter balk in FED and NCAA. I never call that one, and nobody complains because they know what the pitcher is doing. They also think I know all the rules, so....
Now, when that pitcher steps off with the wrong foot and raises his arms simultaneously: "That's a balk." For sure.
Let me conclude my part in this thread: If the umpires in your association don't call the hand movement a balk, that's different from your association telling you NOT to call it a balk. If they do that, they're wrong and unethical.
I would call it, and I would explain it carefully to both coaches in every game. There would be a groundswell of opinion in favor of the book because a pitcher gains a great advantage over a well-coached runner when he can move both hands without pitching.
After I talked to a few coaches, the players would ALL become well-coached.
Look, you KNOW it's a balk. The FED book is very clear and very certain. And it's been a balk since 1993! This is the thirteenth season since the rule was adopted: How can that information not have surfaced in your neck of the woods? (grin)
It's called in Texas, Illinois, and Washington, we know, because posters from those areas have said so.
It ought to be called in your area.
BTW: Do they use the DH where you work? (another grin) I know some FED umpires who hate that rule, and ....