Balk or No Balk ?

[njdevs00cup]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

A little help please:

13-15 house league. Double elimination playoffs. Semi-final game. Pitchers are not the best for this team due to pitch count using up better pitchers early in the competition. I mention this to see if it makes a difference.

R3. Right handed pitcher steps on the rubber. He apparently tosses the ball from his right hand into his mitt and then takes it out. When I say toss, he kind of flips it in the air a foot or two so that it lands in his mitt. I actually did not see it as I had turned my head for a split second to check the batter as he came to the plate. The BU called a balk. I told BU between innings that I didn't think it was a balk. I didn't see the advantage the pitcher was getting. I thought it was more of a don't do that? Now I'm thinking about the three things a pitcher can do from the rubber and tossing the ball into your mitt is not one of them. I wish I had actually seen it.

What say ye.
Balk or No Balk ?

I think this decision would depend on your pre-game with the managers at this level. As you stated, these were not the best pitchers.

[cbfoulds]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

I think this decision would depend on your pre-game with the managers at this level. As you stated, these were not the best pitchers.

Huh?!?

This only makes sense if "your pre-game" includes something like: "There are to be no called balks in this division".

As for the OP, your first mistake is in reflecting upon "the 3 things a pitcher can do from the rubber..." in figgering if this was a balk. Rather, you should be asking if the balk rule in force in your game penalizes this move.

IF all F1 did was "toss" the ball from his hand to glove when stepping onto the rubber, I've got nothing. However, if after doing this and while in contact with the rubber in the Set Position [which is what your initial post seems toi describe] he thereupon reached into the glove and removed the ball, and did not continue to pitch or do SOMETHING [legally attempt a pick] beside stand there, why, Rocoe, I believe we may have a balk.

'Course, since you didn't SEE it ......

[RPatrino]

I don't think we should take into account a pitchers "intent" to decieve a runner when deciding to call or not call a balk. The rules already have done that for us. So, our only decision should be, did the pitcher violate the rule or not? Bottom line, the pitcher's job is to decieve the runners within the confines of the rules. Deception is part of baseball and we can't make up our own rules to stop things that are legal just because we don't like them.

From what you describe, the pitcher tosses the ball from one hand to his glove, prior to coming set, then proceeds to pitch, I have nothing. After coming to a set position, anything more then a momentary adjustment of the ball WITHIN THE GLOVE is a balk.

[Forest Ump]

All good replies, thank you for the explanations.

I didn't mention this in the OP but this is a volunteer league I umpire for. It's how I started umpiring and has led me to joining up with an association two years ago.

I was a bit concerned when the other volunteer umpire told me in the pre-game that he was a "balk guru". He told me after he called this balk that he had it called on him when he played in HS. He also called time during the game to inform me that the pitcher was taking signs from his coach. I told him it was OK (advice I have learned from this board). I'm not telling you this to disparage the other umpire. He was a nice guy and filled in in a pinch when the other umpire canceled. I enjoy this league. I hope that some of the new umpires can learn by watching me, just as I learned by watching others. There are, I have learned, a lot of caveats to working volunteer league and associations. I may not do it much longer.