In 25 words . . .

Originally Posted by SAump

You're not gonna tell your supervisor about your plans to continue to balk a legal move {if it turns out to be legal}. If you're not sure that the quotes he provided were false, you shouldn't cast stones. Having the stones to balk a move like that should also have the stones to allow it if you hear it from supervisors you trust. How many times will you hear the rulebook has 200 and something errors before you learn not to lose your stones too soon? I would never balked a jump turn or a jab step to 1B. Not saying you are wrong. I am saying I disagree with your interpretation of the very FED rules you quoted. Can't say I was always right either. Would gladly overturn my "opinion" on the matter if told to do so by my supervisor, with or without proof.

Don't believe me? Check out the 2005 NCAA balk bulletin and the disaster that soon followed. The umps called more technical balks that year and by the end of the season, the spirit of the balk rule was back in effect. Same thing happened to the MLB Questec strike zone. The MLB umps called more rulebook high strikes that year and by the end of the season, the spirit of the belt-high strike rule was back in effect. Coaches get pissed and call above your head. Supervisors cut their losses when umps are proven wrong. Do you think the MLB ump who called the high strike said he would continue calling that way?

So, I now have the Fed. book here.

Rule 6, ART3: "During these preliminary motions and during the set position until a delivery motion occurs, the pitcher may turn on his pivot footor lift it in a jump turn to step with the non-pivot foot toward a base while throwing or feinting as outlinned in 6-2-4 and 2-28-5, or he may lift his pivot foot in a step backward off the pitcher's plate.

I have been told time and time again that the Fed rules are mostly literal concerning what a pitcher may do. Thus, the rule book clearly explains what the pitcher may do with his pivot foot, and stepping towards 3rd with it IS NOT one of them.

With all that in mind. I will balk a pitcher who does this move until I see something in the NFHS rule book that explains that the pitcher, while on the rubber in the set position, can step towards 3rd base with the pivot foot.

Sue me if you can add that move to the simple rule above! Again, I could care less what they are doing in the pro game.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by rei

So, I now have the Fed. book here.

I will balk a pitcher who does this move until I see something in the NFHS rule book that explains that the pitcher, while on the rubber in the set position, can step towards 3rd base with the pivot foot.

In a normal jump step move to 1st (RHP) the pivot foot moves toward 3rd. So where's the balk on the jab step?

[SAump]

Originally Posted by rei

So, I now have the Fed. book here.

Rule 6, ART3: "During these preliminary motions and during the set position until a delivery motion occurs, the pitcher may turn on his pivot footor lift it in a jump turn to step with the non-pivot foot toward a base while throwing or feinting as outlinned in 6-2-4 and 2-28-5, or he may lift his pivot foot in a step backward off the pitcher's plate.

I have been told time and time again that the Fed rules are mostly literal concerning what a pitcher may do. Thus, the rule book clearly explains what the pitcher may do with his pivot foot, and stepping towards 3rd with it IS NOT one of them.

With all that in mind. I will balk a pitcher who does this move until I see something in the NFHS rule book that explains that the pitcher, while on the rubber in the set position, can step towards 3rd base with the pivot foot.

Sue me if you can add that move to the simple rule above! Again, I could care less what they are doing in the pro game.

Let me quote, "the pitcher may turn on his pivot foot or lift it in a jump turn to step with the non-pivot foot toward a base while throwing or feinting"

The Maddux jab step is a very exaggerated jump turn. You telling me that you honestly believe that a jump turn is simultaneously executed with both feet from beginnning to end. OOO, where is that pivot foot suppose to land, closer to 1B? What happens if he lands on his free foot before his pivot foot, you gonna balk that too? Are you gonna let the guy release the pickoff throw before his feet return to the ground too? That's a balk. Are you gonna let him double "360" windup and slingshot his throw to 1B? That's a balk.

The argument about how clear the rulebook is about the move of the pivot foot towards 3B is weak. In my best judgment of Rule 6, ART 3, the jab step is a jump turn step most of the time.