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I call that balk, but.....
I generally do not call it without first having whispered to the catcher to call time out and go out and tell the pitcher that he cannot do that.
Straddling AND taking signs IS a balk.
I had a catcher tell me that he was "scratching" and not giving a sign. Too bad, bonehead. If you made it appear close enough to giving a sign that I called it - it was violating the spirit of the rule to such an extent that calling it was required.
Think about it this way.......you don't call it and the runner is picked off - the coach sees the sign taken while straddling. What reason do you give for NOT calling the balk?
The rule is there for a reason. Call it.
Since pitchers are sometimes unaware of the rule - or they have had prior umpires ignore the violation, I give the "secret, friendly, warning to the catcher. That usually makes the violation go away.
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