Stretch to set

[largeone59]

R3. Pitcher is on the rubber taking his signs. He then stands upright and brings both feet close together, but keeps his hands at his sides (then pauses). He then brings both hands together in front of his body (feet completely still) and comes set, then delivers.

Is the move i described a balk?

I know you have to come set in a continuous motion, but when is a pitcher defined as "coming set?" Is it when he starts to bring his hands together, or when he moves his legs in the above stitch?

OBR please.

[ozzy6900]

Originally posted by largeone59
R3. Pitcher is on the rubber taking his signs. He then stands upright and brings both feet close together, but keeps his hands at his sides (then pauses). He then brings both hands together in front of his body (feet completely still) and comes set, then delivers.

Is the move i described a balk?

I know you have to come set in a continuous motion, but when is a pitcher defined as "coming set?" Is it when he starts to bring his hands together, or when he moves his legs in the above stitch?

OBR please.

Wow, I had to think about this and it hurts when I do that!

I have to say that this is a balk because it is not one continous movement. Here is OBR 8.01 (b) with my emphisis on the section where it states "one continous motion".:

************************************************** ******
OBR 8.01 (b) The Set Position. Set Position shall be indicated by the pitcher when he stands facing the batter with his entire pivot foot on, or in front of, and in contact with, and not off the end of the pitcher's plate, and his other foot in front of the pitcher's plate, holding the ball in both hands in front of his body and coming to a complete stop. From such Set Position he may deliver the ball to the batter, throw to a base or step backward off the pitcher's plate with his pivot foot. Before assuming Set Position, the pitcher may elect to make any natural preliminary motion such as that known as "the stretch." But if he so elects, he shall come to Set Position before delivering the ball to the batter. After assuming Set Position, any natural motion associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without alteration or interruption. Preparatory to coming to a set position, the pitcher shall have one hand on his side; from this position he shall go to his set position as defined in Rule 8.01 (b) without interruption and in one continuous motion. The whole width of the foot in contact with the rubber must be on the rubber. A pitcher cannot pitch from off the end of the rubber with just the side of his foot touching the rubber. The pitcher, following his stretch, must (a) hold the ball in both hands in front of his body and (b) come to a complete stop. This must be enforced. Umpires should watch this closely. Pitchers are constantly attempting to "beat the rule" in their efforts to hold runners on bases and in cases where the pitcher fails to make a complete "stop" called for in the rules, the umpire should immediately call a "Balk."
************************************************** *********

So with this, I have to say if F1 brings his feet together then stops before he brings his hands together, that should be a balk with runners on.

[jumpmaster]

ozzy nailed it.

I have had this happen in 3 games this year. AA Legion, Senior Babe Ruth and Babe Ruth.

[Paul L]

Standing upright and bringing both feet close together seems to be a natural preliminary motion. It ain't doing the hokey-pokey with his free foot, since he ain't shakin' it all about. The rule doesn't say that "the stretch" has to be a continuous, uninterrupted motion, or that each pitcher's stretch must look like what umpires are used to. Specifically, the rule doesn't say that the pitcher has to bring his feet and hands together at the same time, only that when he moves his second hand away from his side, he must go to the set position without interruption and in one continuous motion. This pitcher seems to have complied with that requirement.

The rule (redacted): OBR 8.01 (b) The Set Position. Set Position shall be indicated by the pitcher when he stands facing the batter with his entire pivot foot on, or in front of, and in contact with, and not off the end of the pitcher's plate, and his other foot in front of the pitcher's plate, holding the ball in both hands in front of his body and coming to a complete stop. ... Before assuming Set Position, the pitcher may elect to make any natural preliminary motion such as that known as "the stretch." ... Preparatory to coming to a set position, the pitcher shall have one hand on his side; from this position he shall go to his set position as defined in Rule 8.01 (b) without interruption and in one continuous motion.

The sitch: "R3. Pitcher is on the rubber taking his signs. He then stands upright and brings both feet close together, but keeps his hands at his sides (then pauses). He then brings both hands together in front of his body (feet completely still) and comes set, then delivers."

So ... After standing upright and bringing both feet close together, the pitcher has both hands at his sides. He then comes to the set position without interruption and in one continuous motion. Why is this a balk?

[Dave Hensley]

It may be a preliminary motion, but it is a motion that is preliminary to the joining of hands in set position, and it is required to be continuous, without hesitation. As described, the move is a balk.

[Kaliix]

Was watching the end of the Yankee game tonight. R1, 2 out, 2 strikes, 9th inning. Randy Johnson does exactly what was described in the first post. He was leaning in to take the signs and then stood straight up with his hands at his sides. As soon as he brought his hands together and stopped...Balk!

He then struck out the batter for strike three...