Two questions in one post! (Beware)

[Whowefoolin]

Please, I have trouble grasping criteria for a "Called" game and criteria for a "Suspended" game is. Any rule of thumbs? Very confusing. Maybe because I don't have many of them.

Also, if a pitcher has a normal speed delivery to the plate with no one on, then with runner on, he slows it way down (I have heard the saying of "hanging leg") is this a balk?


Max

[Gee]

Originally posted by Whowefoolin
Please, I have trouble grasping criteria for a "Called" game and criteria for a "Suspended" game is. Any rule of thumbs? Very confusing. Maybe because I don't have many of them.

Also, if a pitcher has a normal speed delivery to the plate with no one on, then with runner on, he slows it way down (I have heard the saying of "hanging leg") is this a balk?


Max

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1. Peruse OBR# 4.11 and 4.12 and probably more.

2. Pitching from the windup is different than pitching from the stretch. Different mechanics. I would have no problem with the difference, providing the moves are continuous. G.

[Bfair]

The book tells you called vs. suspended, just read it over and over to learn it.

A pitcher is entitled to change his motions in which he delivers. Nothing restricts him from changing. The only restrictions related to your question might be that once he starts a movement naturally associated with any of his pitching motions, he would be required to deliver the pitch in a continuous motion. That is YOUR judgement in determining time of the pitch.

Let's take the guy who likes to swing hard back toward 2nd with his shoulder when he's got a runner on 2nd---but then deliver the pitch instead. Nothing stops him from doing that provided his motion is continuous. He may not have that hard move backward jerk when runners are not on 2nd. Well, if this F1 makes a hard shoulder jerk backward to start a pickoff move, you could balk him for not delivering his pitch. He has proven to you the shoulder jerk is the start of his natural delivery motion by the previous pitches in which he delivered to the plate. Correct?? The motion is what counts---not just the particular motion he may elect to use for specific varying circumstances.
Now, I don't think many umps would balk F1 for this, but you would be within your judgement rights if you did.
I show this only as an extreme example of how varying motions can be used.

Just my opinion,

Steve