Balk?

[illiniwek8]

by throwing shoulders....he was herky jerky with his shoulders trying to deceive the runner by opening up his shoulders to home, then after he stopped with his front leg...he hurled to second......it was not one motion...it was a herk and jerk motion....the stop and pause is what got me......is this right? I would almost say it was questionable that he might have motioned to home slightly.....i did not sell the call to coach after he came out from dugout to protest.....i explained it as the pitcher completely stopped but i don't think this was right.....i got to look it up.....

[RPatrino]

Anytime a pitcher stops his movement, I have a balk. Particularly when the left hander tries to "freeze" the runner by holding his right leg up and stopping.

I would feel safer with the "herky jerky" motion then trying to explain the shoulder turning toward home. Most right hander's on the move to second turn their left shoulder toward home to turn to throw to second.

Now, any movement toward the plate commits the pitcher to the plate.

Bob P.