Quote:
Originally posted by CraigD
Why wouldn't this be a balk in OBR? Is it just a "don't do that"?
8.01(b)
"Prepatory to coming to a set position, the pitcher shall have one hand on his side;..."
[Edited by CraigD on Apr 10th, 2005 at 03:13 AM]
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This provision of 8.01(b) is interpreted loosely: it certainly allows, for example, that the pitching arm is behind the back when the pitcher leans in for the sign.
This looseness extends to the gorilla arm in OBR, as it used to but no longer does under FED. You could read the new FED restriction as a new interpretation of what "have one hand on his side" means (if that phrase appears in FED - don't have the book with me).
Under OBR gorilla arm is not even a "don't do that" (DDT? that has a nice ring to it). It's not regarded as a violation, and so requires no umpire intervention whatever.