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  #1 (permalink)  
Old Sat Apr 28, 2001, 02:57pm
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FED Rules Please.
Situation 1

B1 on first. F1 has his shoulder turned towards first during his prelimenary motions until he comes set. I call a balk right away. Right call or not? He did not actually turn his shoulders when he came set. On the contrary,his shoulders where already turned as he was coming set.

Situation 2

B1 on first and B3 on third. F1 taps his foot towards third and then goes to first. It looked strange to me but I didn't call it a balk. I think I should have called a balk because he really didn't step towards third; he just tapped his foot in a direction towards third before going to first.
Also, does he have to be off the rubber when he makes this third to first move? Does he actually have to throw to first after faking to third?

Situation 3
B1 on first begins to steal. While on the mound F1 turns his non pivot foot and body towards second but does not actually step towards second(He also does not fake a throw there). He then run towars B1. I called a balk because he did not step towards second or fake a throw there. He only did a jump-step turn towards second and then ran towards B1 with the ball in his hand, but actually didn't step towards the base. His foot and body just pointed in the direction of second. Is this considered a legal step or a balk?

Situation 4
B1 on first and B3 on third. B1 begins heading towards second. F1 seeing this, turns his non pivot foot and body towards second but does not fake a throw. I call a balk because he did not fake the throw. Am I right or wrong? Also, he really didn't step towards second, he just jumped and turned towards second. Would jumping and tuning in the direction of the bag without stepping towards it be considered a legal step towards the bag or a balk?

Situation 5

Finally, can F1 step and then fake a throw towards an occupied/unoccupied bag in an attempt to put out a runner or does he have to step and fake the throw at the same time?(I am assuming that he does have to fake a throw in order for a balk not to be called) Also, the coach said it is legal to step towards the runner who is the act of stealing. He is wrong isn't he?

[Edited by Gre144 on Apr 28th, 2001 at 09:27 PM]
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Old Sat Apr 28, 2001, 05:48pm
Michael Taylor
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Situation 1

It sounds like F1 is standing in an open stance meaning his foot is slightly towards firt so he can see the runner without turning his shoulder. This is fine. From there he can come set either open or closed (his lead foot towards the plate). Once he closes his stance he can't turn his shoulder open again. If he does it's a balk.

Situation 2

The tap towards third and back to first seems like a balk. From your description it doesn't sound like he broke the rubber. I don't have a FED book handy but in OBR 8.05 note it says he can't,while in contact with the rubber, step toward third and in the same motion turn back to first and throw there. If he makes the same type move but breaks the rubber then he's fine.

Situation 3

If he turned toward second and then ran toward the runner he had to land and that would have to be in the direction of second. He doesn't have to make a fake at all. This sounds like nothing to me.

Situation 4

See three. Here again in the turn he has to put his foot down somewhere and it sure sounds like toward second to me. He doesn't have to make the fake.

Situation 5

This question is a little ambiguous. If you have R1 and he breaks toward second the pitcher may turn and throw to second to make a play. I'm not sure what you mean by stepping toward the runner is.

I hope I've understood what you were asking and if not try another explaination.
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Old Sat Apr 28, 2001, 10:09pm
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Quote:
Originally posted by Michael Taylor
Situation 1

It sounds like F1 is standing in an open stance meaning his foot is slightly towards firt so he can see the runner without turning his shoulder. This is fine. From there he can come set either open or closed (his lead foot towards the plate). Once he closes his stance he can't turn his shoulder open again. If he does it's a balk.

Situation 2

The tap towards third and back to first seems like a balk. From your description it doesn't sound like he broke the rubber. I don't have a FED book handy but in OBR 8.05 note it says he can't,while in contact with the ruthe direction of second. He doesn't have to make a fake at all. This sounds like nothing to me.

Situation 4

See three. Here again in the turn he has to put his foot down somewhere and it sure sounds like toward second to me. He doesn't have to make the fake.

Situation 5

This question is a little ambiguous. If you have R1 and he breaks toward second the pitcher may turn and throw to second to make a play. I'm not sure what you mean by stepping toward the runner is.
bber, step toward third and in the same motion turn back to first and throw there. If he makes the same type move but breaks the rubber then he's fine.


Situation 1
Are you saying that F1 can actually start off with his left shoulder directly pointed towards first at the point that he comes set?

Situation 2
What does it mean to break the rubber? Does it mean that he can't have any part of his foot on the rubber when he fakes the throw to third? It always appears to me, looking from home plate, that the pitcher has at least part of his foot on the rubber when he does the third-to first pick off move.

Situation 4

According to Fed 6-2-4b he has to either throw or feint a throw to the base. Am I misunderstanding this?

Situation 5
What I mean is as follows. B2 breaks towards second. He is halfway between first and second when F1 steps directly towards him. Is this step legal since it is towards the runner and not the bag?

[Edited by Gre144 on Apr 28th, 2001 at 10:14 PM]
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  #4 (permalink)  
Old Sun Apr 29, 2001, 12:12am
Michael Taylor
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__________________________________________________ __________
Situation 1

Are you saying that F1 can actually start off with his left shoulder directly pointed towards first at the point that he comes set?
__________________________________________________ __________

Situation 1

Actually by open I mean his foot is slightly closer to first than normal. This makes it easier to see first. Imagine his lead foot directly in line with the plate. Now figure how much he has to open his shoulder to see the runner and move that angle down to his foot. It's usually only about 6 inches off line.

__________________________________________________ __________
Situation 2

What does it mean to break the rubber? Does it mean that he can't have any part of his foot on the rubber when he fakes the throw to third? It always appears to me, looking from home plate, that the pitcher has at least part of his foot on the rubber when he does the third-to first pick off move.

__________________________________________________ __________

Situation 2

In the normal third to first move the fake to third is enough to pull his foot off the rubber. Then the move to first is done by a pitcher that has turned himself into an infielder hence no balk. I believe he can make a good fake to third and in a seperate move throw to first while still engaged. If he stays engaged he has to throw to first, he can't fake.
__________________________________________________ __________
Situation 4

According to Fed 6-2-4b he has to either throw or feint a throw to the base. Am I misunderstanding this?
__________________________________________________ __________
Situation 4

No, but if watch a major league pitcher many times his feint is nothing more than stepping over the rubber towards second but no actual move with the ball.
__________________________________________________ __________
Situation 5
What I mean is as follows. B2 breaks towards second. He is halfway between first and second when F1 steps directly towards him. Is this step legal since it is towards the runner and not the bag?
__________________________________________________ __________

Situation 5

No I would say he would have to break the rubber then play chase the runner.
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  #5 (permalink)  
Old Tue May 08, 2001, 02:58am
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Situation 1 is legal. His front foot does not have to be directly in front of the rubber, it can be in an open stance. (Casebook 6.1.3A)

Situation 2 if he steps toward third and then without stepping off the rubber, he must throw to first base. If in the fake to third he comes off the rubber, he is then a fielder and may fake or throw to first. If you consider the initial step toward third and the step toward first to be one continuous motion it is a balk.

Situation 3 - (Casebook 6.1.3I) jump turn where F1 lands with non pivot foot closer to second than the pivot foot is legal. The jump turn is considered a step. Once he does this he becomes a fielder and may make any play.

Situation 4 - I don't believe an actual fake is required, the step is all that's required. I believe the step and the non-throw is considered a feint.

Situation 5 - The step is required before the throw. A throw followed by a step is a balk.

The pitcher cannot while in contact with the rubber step anywhere but toward a base. However, for practical purposes, wherever he steps is closer to one base than another. If he is closer to first base and fakes (does not throw), then that is a balk. If he steps at a runner closer to home and does not throw, then that is a balk.
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Old Tue May 08, 2001, 02:10pm
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Quote:
Originally posted by joemoore
Situation 1 is legal. His front foot does not have to be directly in front of the rubber, it can be in an open stance. (Casebook 6.1.3A)

Situation 2 if he steps toward third and then without stepping off the rubber, he must throw to first base. If in the fake to third he comes off the rubber, he is then a fielder and may fake or throw to first. If you consider the initial step toward third and the step toward first to be one continuous motion it is a balk.

Situation 3 - (Casebook 6.1.3I) jump turn where F1 lands with non pivot foot closer to second than the pivot foot is legal. The jump turn is considered a step. Once he does this he becomes a fielder and may make any play.

Situation 4 - I don't believe an actual fake is required, the step is all that's required. I believe the step and the non-throw is considered a feint.

Situation 5 - The step is required before the throw. A throw followed by a step is a balk.

The pitcher cannot while in contact with the rubber step anywhere but toward a base. However, for practical purposes, wherever he steps is closer to one base than another. If he is closer to first base and fakes (does not throw), then that is a balk. If he steps at a runner closer to home and does not throw, then that is a balk.
Situation 1

In situation 1, I was wondering if it is ok that he has his shoulders turned towards first base as he comes set. He does not turn his shoulder after he has come set but actually has it turned at the moment he comes set. Is this ok?

Situation 2.

Could you tell me why it would be a balk if his step towards third and then towards first in one continuous motion? In other words, what would you say to the coach?

Situation 4- I know it says in the rule book that you must make a feint but I don't belive the term feint is ever defined. What would constitute a legal feint?
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Old Tue May 08, 2001, 02:36pm
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Yes it is okay if the positioning of his shoulders is not straight. If he makes a motion with his shoulders, that constitutes a fake and is considered a balk.

The pitcher must step directly to the base he is throwing to. If he starts to step toward third and without stopping he changes direction and steps to first, then he did not step directly. If he steps to third and stops, then he can step toward first and throw. In summary, for each step he makes, the step must be directly to one base without changing direction.

He is not required to take a big step, so if he makes a little step toward third, his front foot lands on the ground, he has legally stepped toward third. If he then steps toward first and throws, then that is legal.

I would tell the coach "He did not step directly to the base". If the coach persisted: "He did not step directly to the base." There is no need to elaborate, just continue to repeat.

I would consider a feint to be legally stepping toward a base and then not throwing to that base. I would not require any hand pumping.

Don't worry about it if you made any mistakes, you learn from it and you make fewer mistakes next time. If you know the coach and he rags you about it, just admit, hey on this one I was right, but the other one, I blew it.
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Old Tue May 08, 2001, 03:47pm
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Thanks. Just to clarify- Are you saying that it is ok for a right handed pitcher to have his shoulder completely pointed towards first base as he comes set?
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Old Wed May 09, 2001, 07:56am
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Quote:
Originally posted by Gre144
Thanks. Just to clarify- Are you saying that it is ok for a right handed pitcher to have his shoulder completely pointed towards first base as he comes set?
The requirement for the set position is that the pivot foot be on (or in front of and touching) the rubber and the non-pivot foot be in front of a line running through the front of the rubber. It doesn't say anything about the position of the shoulders.

The position you describe is legal, but F1 will be so slow to the plate that almost anyone will be able to steal
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Old Wed May 09, 2001, 10:08pm
Michael Taylor
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The open set is fine if he starts open. If he takes his signs closed to the plate then he can't then open to first and set. He may start open and set open or start open and se closed. Either way is fine.
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Old Wed May 09, 2001, 10:59pm
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Quote:
Originally posted by Michael Taylor
The open set is fine if he starts open. If he takes his signs closed to the plate then he can't then open to first and set. He may start open and set open or start open and se closed. Either way is fine.
Do you know where it says this in Fed rules? Your statement seems to contradict what every has told me which is that the positioning of the shoulders has nothing to do with a balk only the feet do. It seems to me from the majority opinion that the pitcher can take his sign from a closed position then turn his shoulder completely towards first until he comes set. Am I misunderstanding what everyone is saying? Thanks,

Greg
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Old Wed May 09, 2001, 11:24pm
Michael Taylor
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It's the other way around. You can be open and stay open. You be open and close on the set. You be closed but you have to stay closed. If you watch Mike Messina pitch he starts closed and as he is coming set he opens to first and closes on the set. This legal in OBR. It's a balk in FED. Hopes this clears it up if not ask again. I'm not noted for my writing skills.
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Old Thu May 10, 2001, 12:16am
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Quote:
Originally posted by Michael Taylor
It's the other way around. You can be open and stay open. You be open and close on the set. You be closed but you have to stay closed. If you watch Mike Messina pitch he starts closed and as he is coming set he opens to first and closes on the set. This legal in OBR. It's a balk in FED. Hopes this clears it up if not ask again. I'm not noted for my writing skills.
Michael, while my personal beliefs agree with you, I am posting to indicate that in North Texas (at least 3 Fed Chapters in Dallas Metro Area), this move of opening and closing the shoulder is TRAINED as allowable provided the opening and closing is done during the stretch motion.

Although I don't agree with the training, at least 300 umps total in these associations do not call it. I accept it as trained and accepted practice in this area.

Just a note,

Steve
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Old Thu May 10, 2001, 11:36am
Michael Taylor
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Our state interpreter up until this year has been on the rules committee and he says no. Far be from me to correct the Texas guys but I have to go by what they tell us here. So I guess you can do it the way you thought and if anybody questions it national says no.
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Old Thu May 10, 2001, 12:06pm
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What I said was that the position of the shoulders is not illegal. Turning the shoulders is illegal. The word turn is used as a verb and requires physical turning motion, not just positioning.

If the pitcher is bent over for signs and in standing up his shoulder moves, then that in itself is not illegal. As mentioned, in many instances, a subtle repositioning of the shoulder during the stretch is usually not considered a fake and is not penalized. Any sharp (quick, sudden) turning motion of the shoulder during the stretch should be penalized.

Any shoulder turning motion before the stretch or after coming set should be penalized.

As you get into the more subtle areas, your judgment becomes the determination. When in doubt, consider deception, is the pitcher deceiving the runner?
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