Balk or not?
Our team played in a tourney recently, supposedly played under High School rules (the ump wasn't sure, lol) but it probably doesn't matter. The pitcher is going to his windup. He's taking signs with his hands together. standing in front of the rubber. Neither heel is actually touching the rubber as he starts his windup he moves his pivot foot in to the front of the rubber. Now he did this all the time when no runners are on but we never got the bases loaded on him to see if he would go to his windup and do it again. I'm pretty sure this is not a legal stance and I did say something to our coach but he never said anything to the ump. SO, my questions are is it legal? Is it an illegal pitch with no runners? A balk with runners on (bases loaded)? On a side note, the opposing coach was seen several times standing behind our 3rd base coach, actually closer to the line than our coach was. I (just a fan this year) said something to the ump about it and he said "I don't know what he's doing" and played on. The plate ump called a good game though but I thought he should have yelled at that coach to get in the dugout but I guess if our coach doesn't complain ( he should have) it's a moot point. Thanks!
|