Balk question
 

Here's the situation, FED rules. Fall Ball league for High Schoolers. R2. the pitcher takes the sign from the rubber in the windup (facing the plate). he (a). rises his hands over his head (just like the first part of his windup), once he reaches the highest point over his head he steps off the rubber. (b) starts his windup by stepping off with the wrong foot and rises his arms over his head.

both times he caught the runner, however I called a balk in situation B. saying that he didn't break his hands once he disengaged from the rubber.

it just seemed wrong that's why I called it, but the pitcher was livid, saying things like he does it in high school ball all the time. So I need some backup and a rules reference if you guys have one.

thanks,

Joe

Once in the wind up position, a pitcher may not do anything associated with a pitch, ie raising hands above his head. He may only step off of the rubber, or pitch.

It's a balk, but not for not breaking the hands. Both A and B are balks for starting the motion and not completing the pitch.

The "break your hands" rule is OBR not FED.

And even then, it's not a balk to have the hands together, step off, and leave the hands together. They only must be separated before F1 re-engages the rubber.

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.

if that's the case, then isn't B legal? his first motion was to step off the rubber, then he raised his hands over his head

Joe

No, B is not legal. Raising his hands over his head is a motion normally associated with the windup. Since he disengaged the pitcher's plate, he made that motion while not in contact with the pitcher's plate. That's a balk.

The rule is written so it appears to require that the hands separate as F1 steps off, that is not the intent of the rule. F1 must drop his hands at some point before re-engaging the pitcher's plate, but he does not have to do so as he steps off.

Delaware,

Here is even more the rulebook:

Legal pitching delivery. There are two legal pitching positions, the Windup Position and the Set Position, and either position may be used at any time.
Pitchers shall take signs from the catcher while standing on the rubber.
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.
Pitchers will not be allowed to disengage the rubber after taking each sign.
(a) The Windup Position. The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and the other foot free. From this position any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration. He shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in his actual delivery of the ball to the batter, he may take one step backward, and one step forward with his free foot.
When a pitcher holds the ball with both hands in front of his body, with his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and his other foot free, he will be considered in the Windup Position.
Rule 8.01(a) Comment: In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his “free” foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber.
From the Windup Position, the pitcher may:
(1) deliver the ball to the batter, or
(2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or
(3) disengage the rubber (if he does he must drop his hand to his sides). In disengaging the rubber the pitcher must step off with his pivot foot and not his free foot first.
He may not go into a set or stretch position—if he does it is a balk.

I don't know what could be more clear. If the pitcher disengages the rubber he MUST separate his hands other wise it is a balk. Where do you see something other than that?

In the OP, you wrote "stepping off with wrong foot". I assumed that meant the left foot (for a RHP). If so, that's the start of a motion, and a balk. If F1 stepped off with the pivot foot, then the step off is legal, but raising the hands over the head becomes part of the motion, and is a balk.

sorry I was confusing in the OP, I meant stepping off with the wrong foot to start the motion, not the wrong foot to disengage the runner

Joe

tibear:

There are over 200 mistakes in the rulebook. Until we get a major rewrite, he need to consider how the rules are applied by those who own them. The JEA, J/R, the WUA and both pro schools all agree that the intent of the rule is that the pitcher must separate his hands prior to retaking the rubber.

Tell me, do you make a runner stay within 3 feet of a direct line bewteen the bases? That's what the rule says, but again, that is not how it is interpreted or enforced.

Different posters have given you the correct information. You now have the opportunity to learn something and choose to umpire a basegame as it is intended to be done, or not.

Yes, F1 must separate his hands, but he is not required to do so as he disengages. As Mr. Jenkins said, the pitcher must drop his hands before re-engaging the pitcher's plate. Even if F1 fails to drop his hands before re-engaging, it's not a balk. It's a prohibited action and there is no penalty. You just call time and tell the pitcher to step off and drop his hands.

Interesting on how in this case, I'm getting a hard time for trying to apply the rules as written in the rulebook and in other cases was given a hard time for calling the "spirit" of the rule.

I will let you know that around here, if you disengage the rubber without separating your hands, everyone calls a balk! Everyone may be taught incorrectly but we try to follow the rulebook and in this case, if you are indeed stepping off the rubber the assumption is that you're not trying to "pick-off" the runner so why not enforce the pitcher's hands? Basically isn't a balk called because the defensive team is doing something to deceive the runner and trying to get an unfair advantage? Isn't that why the rulebook says to separate the hands? This is to ensure the pitcher doesn't try something "sneaky" by stepping off and immediately throwing to a base, without dropping his hands to his side.

The only time I've seen anyone crticized for calling by the "intention of the rule" is when they are mistaken on the intention of the rule.

Where is "around here?"

1. No.
2. No.
3. No.