Quote:
Originally posted by Dave Hensley
Apparently some umpires have difficulty understanding what is and what is not a mechanically legal act of deception.
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Frankly, Dave, most of the senior umpires that I know and respect from my past times at the boards who commented on this seemed to agree that they thought it would not be a balk including Bob, Garth, JJ, and David. (Let's face it....how often have you seen a ruling go against Bob?....lol).
I've always respected your knowledge and thoughts and still do, but your position (which agreed with Evans) surprised me on this. Congratulations on getting this one right.
Still, I think my example shown of a pitcher doing something totally within the pitching directives and where he has obvious intent to deceive is highly analagous to the situation we've been discussing here.
In my analogy, the runner is expected to know the rule that the pitcher need be on or astride the rubber without the ball. In the discussed situation, the runner should also know that once the pivot foot rises from the set position a legal pitch cannot occur. So, when the pitcher is not on or astride the rubber, AND when the pitcher's pivot rises from the set position----THERE IS NO DECEPTION OUTSIDE OF THE RULES---even if there is intent to try to deceive.
So, let's add one for Evans to rule on.............
After a foul ball F3 keeps the ball while F1 takes the rubber and U1 declares play. As R1 steps off the 1B he is tagged by F3............
Is this a balk, or is this nothing since the ball was never legally put in play? Certainly there is INTENT to deceive the runner.........
Are we now driven in our decisions merely by a pitcher's INTENT to deceive without providing respect to the rules? I'd bet a dollar to a doughnut that most umpires I'd question on this would agree the once the pivot foot rises from the set position the pitcher cannot pitch---and with that in mind, that no deception exists. It's merely a crappy move.
Where do we start expecting the players and coaches to know the rules.......
Suppose, in OBR, you call a balk but the pitch is delivered and batted for a hit to left center. The defense stops playing because they heard you call balk, but the offense continues to score. Do we "undo" the defense's error because they don't know the rules........
Of course not, they are expected to know the rules of the game.
IMO, every runner should know that once the pivot foot in the set postion (something easy to determine) starts rising to whatever height, the pitcher can no longer deliver a pitch. I don't see deception---despite a pitcher's desire to try to deceive.
Still, Dave.......I'll accept Evans' ruling.
I'll chalk it up along Rick Roder's one time statement that he'd give credit to a runner for touching a missed base after that runner was retired............
Remember that one ?????????????
Even the authorities make poor decisions at times........
Just my opinion,
Freix