Bob makes no sense Garth. We are talking about a step off from the set, not a step backward from the windup. Two different things. The step backward from the windup is written in the windup rule. In fact, the windup rule clearly states that the pitcher should not "raise either foot from the ground, except in the actual delivery of the ball to the batter,..."
They seem to be saying that the raising of the leg in windup indicates, and in fact demands, that the pitcher pitch.
Since from the set, the pitcher can also raise his leg to throw to a base or pitch, it logically follows that the raising of a leg indicates a throw to a base or a pitch. Since the pitcher in this case does it while stepping off, it means that he made a motion associated with a pitch (or a throw to a base) and did neither. Since the motion occured while not in contact that makes it a balk?
What other reason could there be for lifting the leg like that? There isn't one. The intent is clear, to deceive.
Hummm....
Quote:
Originally posted by GarthB
"Now I know why baseball rules are so !#@%$ed up. Because baseball umpires can't follow simple logic and those are the same guys that wrote the rules."
Wrong. Twice. It was not umpires who wrote the OBR. And just becuase one disagrees with you does not condemn them to being unable to follow logic.
Bob makes sense. If you were less emotionally invested in your position, you would see that.
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