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Originally Posted by Don Mueller
If you are simulating a set position from off the rubber how do unsimulate?
You can't step off the rubber and then break your hands, you're already off the rubber, you can't legally make a pitch. So as soon as you break your hands you've started the pitching motion and balked.
If a pitcher is in the set position and moves his pivot foot forward off the rubber with no other movements, do you have a balk, even if his hands haven't broke?
If so, then why is it different if a pitcher is straddling the rubber, simulating the set position and then moves his pivot foot to the rubber?
You can't be off the rubber and fake a stretch and set. It's deceptive and a balk. I think 8.05g includes preliminary pitching motions as well.
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If you are not engaged with the rubber and both hands are together infront of the body, then you break your hands, how can this be a balk. The pitcher has done nothing illegal, he wasn't in contact. To pick off a runner, the pitcher has to break his hands and step toward the base. So just breaking the hands is nothing. You have to combine multiple actions that commit the pitcher to pitch, break hands, lift free foot (to deliver pitch), pull arm back to get momentum going forward. The essence of 8.05g is that the pitcher can not simulate the motion of pitching from off the rubber.
There are many things in baseball that are deceptive, but they are not illegal and definately not balks. Baseball is a game of deception.
Take for example the following:
1) The hidden ball trick: So long as the pitcher is not on or astride the rubber, it's legal.
2) The fake throw to pick off a runner: Pitcher disengages rubber, fakes throw to 1st, runner dives, 1st baseman fakes runner by running off to get an "apparent" overthrow, runner takes off for 2nd, pitcher throws to 2nd and gets the runner - perfectly legal.
3) 2nd Baseman or Shortstop, slapping thier gloves behind the runner to distract him.
Back to the discussion, be sure to read the entire rule 8, not just the little tidbits. Get yourself the Jacksa/Roder manual and read up on balks, get the Jim Evans Balk Video and watch it over and over again until you know the rules and can recognize a balk when it occurs.
