What's the call?

[mbyron]

Originally posted by David B
Very good points from everyone.

I wasn't as clear as I should have been about the arms. He actually started his motion just like a pitch.

That's why as BU I could not really tell that and did not call anything.

Thanks
David [/B]

Let's be careful here: references to "his motion" are sufficient but not necessary to call a balk. He could use somebody else's motion off the rubber and still be guilty of a balk. The language of 8.05g is "makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch." I was taught to interpret this as saying that if in my judgment the motion looked like a pitch -- even if it is not pitcher's "usual" motion -- then it's a balk when he's off the rubber. In other words, stress "naturally associated with" rather than "HIS" pitch.

In fact, the pitcher can change his motion on every pitch if he wants to, so it's silly to try to compare one motion with the next. I've even had a base coach say: "he changed his motion, that's a balk!" It's at moments like that when I begin to have more sympathy with Tee's philosophy of "rats." (not that he invented it, just that he's a prominent advocate...)