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  #19 (permalink)  
Old Mon Jul 28, 2008, 01:58pm
rei
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Quote:
Originally Posted by L.A. Umpire Guy
As usual, a bunch of umpires can't agree on what constitutes a balk, or can't seem to explain why something isn't a balk.

So, please try to explain how a right-hander lifting one's left, or lead foot, WITH ONLY A RUNNER AT FIRST, without delivering a pitch, is not deception, and therefore a balk.
I think you are playing lawyer a little too much with "step directly towards a base".

Much like Tim C used to play lawyer with the the ol' "rub dirt on the white of the mitt and it isn't white anymore and therefore legal".

Traditionally, it is lifting the foot AND stepping towards the base that has to be satisfied. With lefties, it is almost impossible for them to lift their leg and NOT balk because lifting it causes the foot to go towards first base slightly. But, we don't play lawyer on that one, thus, we are not going to play lawyer on the righty lifting his foot and stepping directly towards first base. It IS a legal move, always has been, end of discussion.
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