Pitcher taking signals.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Steve,
When are you going to hit him with a balk - when he takes signs while off the rubber - OK, but I'm not sure that's great management. Denucci goes on to say that once F1 is on the rubber, he takes signs from F2. From my standpoint, I don't really care what he does off the rubber in this case, I do care what he does while on the rubber. Granted, this is coming from someone who is primarily softball - so many nuances are lost - but I think that in this case, I only care what happens when he is on the rubber.

I never said I would hit him with a balk at all for taking signs off the rubber. I said that only if he quick pitched the batter would I have a balk. I don't care if he gets a sign or doesn't get a sign personally. If someone complains about the pitcher taking his signs while off the rubber, I will instruct the catcher to go out and explain the rule to the pitcher so he just does it right and everybody is happy. I, as the umpire, couldn't really care less as long as F1 doesn't quick pitch the batter.