Going to mouth

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by northbendon

Pitcher going to mouth wipes off while on rubber with no runners on ...ball on batter... with runners on from the set balk... What if from windup like if a runner on third... ball on batter or balk ?

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NorthBendon:

1) I just returned from my Spring Break umpiring trip to Florida with MTD, Jr., just in time to watch the start of the Kansas-Austen Peay game: ROCK CHALK JAY HAWK!! KAAAAYYYY UUUUUU!! And my books are in the van, but I know the answer to your question with regards to NFHS Baseball Rules.

2) I am going to edit your question so that you situation can properly be discussed.


Play #1: F1 engages the Pitcher's Plate in the Wind-up Position and has yet to bring his hands together. It does not matter whether there are no Runner(s) on the Base(s) or Runner(s) are on the Base(s), as long as F1 wipes his hand before touching the ball, no rules infraction has occurred.

Play #2: F1 engages the Pitcher's Plate in the Set Position (and from the wording of your question I assume that he is still in his Pre-Stretch Position. a) With no Runner(s) on the Base(s) this is an Illegal Pitch and a Ball is awarded to the Batter. b) With Runner(s) on the Base(s) this is a Balk. More importantly, it is not the act of going to the mouth that is not the infraction of the rules in Play #2. The infraction is starting his Stretch and not going to the Set position in one continuous motion.

Since we have not unpacked the van yet, I cannot quote the exact Casebook Plays but there are two Casebook Plays that cover your situation.

MTD, Sr.