Balk question

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by tibear

bob,

According to OBR:

Rule 8.01 Comment: Pitchers may disengage the rubber after taking their signs but may not step quickly onto the rubber and pitch. This may be judged a quick pitch by the umpire. When the pitcher disengages the rubber, he must drop his hands to his sides.

According to rule 8.01, the pitcher MUST separate his hands as he disengages the rubber.

Wrong! You are quoting a case book comment that has an interpretation in the MLBUM (You can only get one from a MLB umpire). Bob is 100% in his telling you that the only time F1 has to break his hands before he steps back on the rubber. Oh yes, this is not a balk either - it's another one of those "don't do that" things. And while we are at it, stepping off with the wrong foot is also not a balk! It's just a violation with no penalty.