Fed Balk ruling

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

The FED case play on this only discusses the pitching hand hanging down.

Same concept I think - starting to come set and stopping.

[john5396]

I don't have my casebook with me, but as I recall the case play does say "slight" or "small", so the PU has rules backing for the call. That said, I think 2-3 inches of movement is pretty slight.

[thumpferee]

We had a similar discussion at our meeting last night. We were discussing the "gorilla" arm. With the ball in hand, there could be intent if the arm was moving to deceive. But if the ball was in glove, we saw very little deceit there.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by thumpferee

We had a similar discussion at our meeting last night. We were discussing the "gorilla" arm. With the ball in hand, there could be intent if the arm was moving to deceive. But if the ball was in glove, we saw very little deceit there.

Deceit is legal if done within the rules.

FED says you can't swing the arm.

[bob jenkins]

SITUATION 2: While in the set position, F1 has his pitching hand hanging straight down in front of his body, swinging back and forth, as he gets the sign from the catcher. RULING: This is not legal and is an illegal pitch or a balk if there are runners on base. While this “gorilla” stance is legal if the pitching hand is stationary, it is illegal if the arm is swinging back and forth. (6-1-3)

Emphasis added

[thumpferee]

Where does it say anything about the glove, as in the OP?

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by thumpferee

Where does it say anything about the glove, as in the OP?

It doesn't. But in my mind as they consider the swing as a start of the motion to get to set and as you have to bring your hands together to get to set then moving the glove is also part of starting the motion.