balk or not?

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by steveo
ok...i've heard to sides of this...tell me what you think.

R1 count and outs dont matter.

Right handed Pitcher is in the stretch, while recieving his sign he turns his shoulders to look at R1. Is this a balk? I'm pretty sure in high school it is, but what about OBR. I've heard both sides from coaches...that the pitcher can do anything until he becomes set, and i've heard that they can not turn their shoulders while engaged on the rubber.

Thanks.

OBR says nothing about "turning the shoulders". It's a balk to feint a throw to first -- whether it's before the stretch or after.

As a practical matter, more movement is allowed before the stretch (there's less deceit, the runner typically isn't going anywhere anyway) than after.