Quote:
Originally posted by bossman72
A few questions about the RHP "shoulder turn to first" balk:
1) What rule is he breaking when he does that?
2) Say a pitcher is in the process of bringing his hands together to come set, and he turns his shoulders to first, then comes set with his shoulders pointing towards home. illegal?
3) Pitcher is set. He turns his shoulders toward first, then turns them back and in the same motion delivers home (no pause after the shoulder turn). illegal?
4) This one is slightly hard to describe, but i'll try. Pitcher comes set with his shoulders pointed towards first (not directly towards first, but like a few feet up the line), and his hips and feet are set as they normally are. Is this a legal set position even though his shoulders are turned toward first?
I appreciate you guys helping me out with these.
bossman
PS- this site is a great resource for all umpires!
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The prior answers were assuming FED rules; I'll give you the OBR take.
1. 8.05(b) - feinting a throw to 1B from the rubber, without throwing.
2. As long as he does it slowly and deliberately, it is generally not interpreted as a balk in OBR.
3. Again, as long as the shoulder turn is slow enough to not be judged a feint to 1B, then this would generally be allowed in OBR.
4. This is known as an "open stance," and is legal.