Balk or bad mechanics?

[Tim C]

First, I find it interesting when we have a thread that is only kept alive by ONE poster who thinks, honestly, that he is correct.

So let me be as clear as I possibly can:

It is totally legal for a pitcher:

1) To change anything about his wind-up at any time. Let's say that a pitcher has been using the 1930's style "double pump" wind up for 6 1/3 innings . . . in the seventh inning with 3 balls and 2 strikes ona hitter the pitcher changes to a "Don Larsen" type no wind-up delievery. This is totally legal as long as he was in contact with the pitcher's plate. There are no rules that say he needs to use the same wind-up during a game.

2) Can change anything he wants when pitching from the set position as long as he clearly stops before the delivery. He can set up with an open stance on one pitch, a closed stance on another pitch, he can do an extavangant movement of lifting his arms far above his head on one pitch and then, on the next pitch simply move his hands together in front of his stomach.

Now I have no idea what the people in San Antonio think like. I will make the statement that they do understand the pitching rules . . . we just have one umpire from that area that has a misunderstanding of many rules . . . the pitching rule is only today's issue.