Balk Call
 

Last night in the second round of a state playoff game our pitcher was called for a balk after going into a stretch, coming to rest, leaving the ball in his glove he took his right hand and made a circular motion towards the catcher to indicate he wanted another sign and was immediatley called for a balk. Is this a balk?

If your pitcher came set, then removed his hand from the
glove without disengaging from the rubber, or without making
a pitch or feint/attempt to a base (with the ball), yes it is a balk.

umpduck11,

I'm reading Pags Sr.'s description differently. It sounds like the ball remained in his glove the whole time, he remained in the "stretch" the entire time That is never started to come "set), & simply signalled to the catcher with his empty throwing hand to repeat the signs.

If that is what really happened, it is NOT a balk - even in FED.

JM

Read it again CoachJM
"after going into a stretch, coming to rest"
This is the set position.
Umpduck11, nailed it.

Thaal,

Umpduck11 may very well have nailed it - it would depend on what the pitcher actually did; which is a little hard to tell from from Pags' description. The key aspect that Pags omitted was whether or not the pitcher had brought his hands together prior to making the "circular motion" he described.

If he had, and then separated his hands to make the motion, I would agree that Umpduck nailed it.

If, on the other hand, the pitcher was truly in the "stretch" - and had not yet brought his hands together to come "set" - then he was fine and the action described should not be balked.

Some people use the terms "stretch" and "set" interchangeably. I think of the terms as they are used in the rulebook. Hence, my alternative interpretation of Pags' description of what happened and the proper ruling.

JM

The distinction is, one pitches from the stretch or set positions, and one must come to a complete stop ( come set) prior to pitching from the set position.

After coming set, a pitcher is allowed to momentarily adjust the ball in his glove, however what was described here is a balk, providing the pitcher had come set.

Bob P

Well, you're getting closer to seeing the light. The pitcher can remove his hand from the ball while on the rubber as long as his next movement is a concurent motion to pitch. The pitcher can momentarily adjust the ball, or transfer the ball from his hand to his glove (or vice versa) as he steps onto the pitching rubber, but is otherwise prohibited from stepping onto the rubber with his hands joined, and if he does a balk can be called as he separates his hands.


Tim.

If he started a stretch, and came to a stop, he should have his hands together in his glove. If he then takes his pitching hand off the ball to makes hand motions with his pitching hand he balked. If he started a stretch, and came to a stop with his hands not together, and started making hand motions with his pitching hand, he balked.

"If that is what really happened, it is NOT a balk - even in FED."

JM



Actually it is a balk in fed. It was in last years case book just as what was just described.

It is very OOO to call, but it is there.

WGYWB,

Reference please. I regularly get screwed up on FED rulings, so you may very well be correct. I'm not finding it. Thanks.

JM

JM,

2005 FED Case Book 6.1.3 Situations C, D, and E deal with removing the hands from the ball in differing examples.

JM-

1) People use the term "stretch" to mean "taking the signs from the catcher while on the rubber before making a motion to come set." The real definition of stretch is when the pitcher is coming set and "stretches" his hands up by his head, then brings them to a set position.

2) The proper FED citation would be 6.1.2 D. The movement of his hand (whether he's taking his signs or has allready come set) is an arm movement not associated with the pitch/set, so it would be a balk (although a very picky one).