Umpire Interference

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

When did Little League majors have balks? It must have been before 1968 when I played, because they sure didn't call balks then. I have been umpiring since 1986 and know of no such balk rules, only illegal pitches. What was considered a balk, since no lead-offs have ever been allowed at that level? I mean, just who is the pitcher trying to illegally deceive?

When I was playing Little League in the early 90's there were balks called and when I started umpiring in '97 (at the tender age of 13), balks were in the rule book. I remember one game where my partner and I called a combined 4 balks against one pitcher over the span of a couple of innings. If I remember, it was for the pitcher failing to pause while pitching from the set with runners on base. That was a crappy game and I learned a couple of good lessons there.

I remember a few years later when they changed the rules (I want to say that was '99 or 2000) because it was a big deal during our pre-season umpire meetings.

That said, you're right, there is no point in having the balk rule at Majors or below and I'm glad they did away with it.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I really need Rich Ives to chime in and verify this, as LL Majors and below have always been able to pitch from the windup with runners on base, no set position ever necessary. I've also never heard of a balk called for not coming set, when a stop is not required by any such rule.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I really need Rich Ives to chime in and verify this, as LL Majors and below have always been able to pitch from the windup with runners on base, no set position ever necessary.

That doesn't mean pitchers don't pitch from the set in Little League.

I have my gear in storage back home. Next time I am there, I will pull it out and see if any of my old rule books are in there, then I can tell you definitively what it was.

[lagunaump]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I really need Rich Ives to chime in and verify this, as LL Majors and below have always been able to pitch from the windup with runners on base, no set position ever necessary. I've also never heard of a balk called for not coming set, when a stop is not required by any such rule.

Steve,
No set position is necessary. No stop is required. No balks in LL.

[LilLeaguer]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I really need Rich Ives to chime in and verify this, as LL Majors and below have always been able to pitch from the windup with runners on base, no set position ever necessary. I've also never heard of a balk called for not coming set, when a stop is not required by any such rule.

Can't you pitch from the windup with runners on base in all rule codes?

[johnnyg08]

You certainly can...but in most rule codes you can also balk from the windup...

[Welpe]

Just to prove that I have not completely lost my mind, this site states that balks were removed from LL in 1999. Granted, it's not a rule book but it's something.

http://mysite.verizon.net/rutherford.ll/umpinst.htm Scroll to the bottom under the heading, "Recent Rule Changes".

Same thing if you check here and look under "Game Rules".

http://www.davislittleleague.org/rules_aaa.asp

I will see if I can dig up a 1998 rulebook, I think I still have one.