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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 03:51pm
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Stupid Balk Question

Lefty pitcher, Low set at Waist, Lifts Knee up straight, and Hands up then throws to first or home. If this happens and he throws to first is this a balk? For the moving of his hands? Or would he need to pump his hands some, as in Come up and drop before separating and throwing to first? The hand movement was exactly the same and seemed separate from the throwing action. In fact sometime when he threw home he would not move hands at all. He only threw over to first twice, and I couldn't convince myself either way if it was a balk, so I never called it. Not sure what I would have done had he persisted.
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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 05:22pm
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Help a brother out, is this a balk or not?
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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 05:30pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3appleshigh
Help a brother out, is this a balk or not?
I guess I'm having a hard time envisioning what you're describing. Is he making two completely seperate motions?


Tim.
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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 05:48pm
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Two possible choices here:

1) Hell no that's not a balk, what, are you serious?

2) Damn right that's a balk, what, are you kidding?

Pick one.
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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 06:03pm
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OK In regard to the Lefty Lift of Foot then step to first and throw or go Home, can he also Raise his hands in a similar motion to that which he does when pitching. To be honest It was a tough move to describe and obviously I'm having a tough time deciding what should have been called if anything.

The pitcher starts Set With hands together at waist orf crotch level, Now he lifts his Leg straight up and his arms up to nipple level then either goes to first or to home. He did this very quickly, and was definatly causing the runners fits.

Does this help any?
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"It isn't enough for an umpire merely to know what he's doing. He has to look as though he know what he's doing too." - National League Umpire Larry Goetz

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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 06:06pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve
Two possible choices here:

1) Hell no that's not a balk, what, are you serious?

2) Damn right that's a balk, what, are you kidding?

Pick one.

Wow so helpful thank you.
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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 06:11pm
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The picture I get when reading this description sounds legal as long as he steps correctly, and doesn't stop his motion after he starts.
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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 06:21pm
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Did he do anything that committed him to home? If not (and I don't see it) it's legal.
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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 06:21pm
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Sounds as if you're describing a variation in the pitcher's delivery from pitch to pitch. If so, you have to evaluate each delivery as a separate entity and judge if it's legal or not. There's no requirement for a pitcher to use the same delivery and motion for each pitch.
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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 06:33pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3appleshigh
Lefty pitcher, Low set at Waist, Lifts Knee up straight, and Hands up then throws to first or home. If this happens and he throws to first is this a balk? For the moving of his hands? Or would he need to pump his hands some, as in Come up and drop before separating and throwing to first? The hand movement was exactly the same and seemed separate from the throwing action. In fact sometime when he threw home he would not move hands at all. He only threw over to first twice, and I couldn't convince myself either way if it was a balk, so I never called it. Not sure what I would have done had he persisted.
Ummm Lefty, huh?
Ummmmm hands up, set to waist, knee up, hands move but don't move?

I agree with SanDiegoSteve:
Quote:
Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve
Two possible choices here:

1) Hell no that's not a balk, what, are you serious?

2) Damn right that's a balk, what, are you kidding?

Pick one.
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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 06:37pm
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As best as I can understand your description, no balk here.
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Old Mon Jul 09, 2007, 07:37pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3appleshigh
In fact sometime when he threw home he would not move hands at all.
That I'd have to see to believe.

I still can't see what you're describing.

Last edited by bluehair; Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 07:49pm.
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Old Tue Jul 10, 2007, 12:22am
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After he comes to a complete stop and lifts his non-pivot foot to begin his motion, it doesn't matter much what he does with his hands as long as he doesn't separate them except to either deliver the pitch or throw to a base.

With a left-handed pitcher throwing to first base, you should be more concerned about what he does with his free foot than his hands. Make sure his free foot doesn't swing beyond the back edge of the rubber before he throws to first, make sure he gains distance and direction in making a step before throwing to first, and make sure he steps more towards first than home before throwing to first.
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Old Tue Jul 10, 2007, 12:26am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Porter
After he comes to a complete stop and lifts his non-pivot foot to begin his motion, it doesn't matter much what he does with his hands as long as he doesn't separate them except to either deliver the pitch or throw to a base.

With a left-handed pitcher throwing to first base, you should be more concerned about what he does with his free foot than his hands. Make sure his free foot doesn't swing beyond the back edge of the rubber before he throws to first, make sure he gains distance and direction in making a step before throwing to first, and make sure he steps more towards first than home before throwing to first.
OR lean back then step to 1B
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Old Tue Jul 10, 2007, 12:29am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by socalblue1
OR lean back then step to 1B
I'm not quite sure what you mean, but in my post I was talking about what happens after the pitcher lifts his free foot to begin his motion.
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