FED change -shaking off the sign

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by umpjim

Just got my 2009 NFHS Baseball Case book. 6.1.2.D has changed:

"F1, while on the pitcher's plate in either the windup or set position, (a) adjusts his cap or (b) shakes off the signal with his glove, or (c) shakes off the signal with his head. RULING: In (a) through (c), these are legal actions if these movements of the arms and legs are not associated with the pitch."

My only caveat would be that there are some other arm and or leg movements not associated with the pitch that could be illegal feints.

This still will require further clarification. Remember that FED has uses "in the set position" in two different ways. At times it refers only to the position of the feet, and at times it includes when the hands come together. At some point the will have to tell us which they mean this time.

[justanotherblue]

SDS, I think you about covered it. It was mentioned on here a while back about a illegal pitch/balk rule, (pitcher not stoping when in the set). It was felt because it was a rule it had to have a penalty regardless of runners on or not. Just another example of FED intervention gone wild. And no I don't call it either.

[umpjim]

MRumpire, this caseplay has existed for years. The change was to make (a) and (b) legal. I don't think anybody will not call these things ( a and b) a balk after the pitcher comes set. What further clarification would you need that did not exist in years previous.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Yeah, I don't want anybody to get me wrong, because I did umpire HS ball for about 19 years, and that is where my bread and butter came from. I'm very grateful to have worked HS baseball here in the San Diego area, and got to see a lot of talent come through. I enforced the silly FED rules, but that doesn't mean I had to like them. I took that FED exam every year, and got 100% nearly every year, missing 2 questions twice and 1 question another year. But I was at my happiest working PONY or Colt or Legion or Palomino or adult ball (when it was good, that is) or anything with OBR rules. I just felt more comfortable with them.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by umpjim

MRumpire, this caseplay has existed for years. The change was to make (a) and (b) legal. I don't think anybody will not call these things ( a and b) a balk after the pitcher comes set. What further clarification would you need that did not exist in years previous.

The wordiing, "from the set position" has caused issues for years as well. Many construe that to mean after "coming set". If you have never run into one of those, feel blessed.

[ODJ]

After the pitcher has come set, moving his hand from its position (glove or side) without possession of the ball -and not moving it to grasp the ball- would be a balk.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by ODJ

After the pitcher has come set, moving his hand from its position (glove or side) without possession of the ball -and not moving it to grasp the ball- would be a balk.

I believe most umpires and some coaches would concur.