Balk or No Balk ?

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

If that's how you read into this, perhaps. I think I was clear in asking if this move was a balk. I do think in some instances, and I'm not talking NCAA or HS Varsity, that you have to take into account is the pitcher getting an advantage or maybe better put, trying to deceive the runner. Do you consider that wrong for lower level ball?

Once you've progressed this far into a tournament, you are no longer lowering your standards for "lower level ball". It is not true that every balk derives from an obvious advantage... and just because you did not see an advantage on this particular balk doesn't make it not a balk. This was a balk.