Balk? Coming to Set...

[LMan]

Originally Posted by Don Mueller

I think 8.05g includes preliminary pitching motions as well.

Aye, there's the rub. I disagree, and don't think you can back up your assertion with rules or AOs. So ends my participation in this.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I'm late arriving here but after reading all this bickering I have arrived at this:

Don is right in that you can't straddle the rubber and bring your hands together pretending that you are coming set. That is a motion associated with a pitch, and is prohibited. Merely joining the hands together is not prohibited, but if you think the pitcher is trying to deceive the runner into believing that he is actually on the rubber, then it is a balk. But just transferring the ball in and out of the glove is nothing. And you can step on the rubber with hands together, but if you do, technically you are in the set position at that time, and you can only pitch, step off, or throw to a base.

However, this has nothing to do with the OP. The pitcher was straddling the rubber and was eyeballing R1. Nothing wrong with that. Then, he stepped on the rubber and started his motion all at once. Nothing wrong there, unless he is quick pitching the batter.

[Don Mueller]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I'm late arriving here but after reading all this bickering I have arrived at this:

Don is right in that you can't straddle the rubber and bring your hands together pretending that you are coming set. That is a motion associated with a pitch, and is prohibited. Merely joining the hands together is not prohibited, but if you think the pitcher is trying to deceive the runner into believing that he is actually on the rubber, then it is a balk. But just transferring the ball in and out of the glove is nothing..

Thank you.
I've tried all along to make the point that simulating the pitching motion, whether stretch or set is the issue, not the act of fondling the ball in the glove.

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

However, this has nothing to do with the OP. The pitcher was straddling the rubber and was eyeballing R1. Nothing wrong with that. Then, he stepped on the rubber and started his motion all at once. Nothing wrong there, unless he is quick pitching the batter.

Here's where I'm going to nit pick, because that's how this all started, with me nit picking.
He started his stretch while not on the rubber, I believe that constitutes a balk. I don't believe in calling it, but it is a balk.

[David B]

Originally Posted by Don Mueller

Thank you.
I've tried all along to make the point that simulating the pitching motion, whether stretch or set is the issue, not the act of fondling the ball in the glove.




Here's where I'm going to nit pick, because that's how this all started, with me nit picking.
He started his stretch while not on the rubber, I believe that constitutes a balk. I don't believe in calling it, but it is a balk.

I was following you all along Don. Its a nit-picky call, but I don't think its something that looked upon very nicely.

If not, then why don't you even see this at the MLB level of ball.

Actually the only place I see this would be in small ball kids who don't know how to pitch yet.

I'm sure if this happened at MLB levels that it would be called a quick pitch or something to that effect.

I've seen it before and treated it as a "don't do it again", but if it was really legal then we would see it at higher levels.

That's my opinion anyway.

Thanks
David