After you come to a complete stop in the stretch, and you lift your leg in the air, not moving ur foot in either direction just straight up, how long can you hold it there, and is it a balk in doing so? Any help is greatly appreciated... Thanx

I believe you might be thinking of the set position. During the stretch, you can look over, say hi to your mom, scratch yourself, then come to a complete stop at the "set" position.

Now once at the set, if you leave your leg hanging to long, we call it the hanging leg balk. Is it the normal delivery? Is the pitcher doing this to get an advantage? If so, balk his butt. If it is the normal pitching motion, let the first base coach figure out how he is going to combat it.

The Karate Kid gets balked..................

Keep continuous motion occuring.............




Just my opinion,

Freix

With right handed pitcher his move to third MUST be continuous unless he steps off the rubber.(same thing with a lefty to first) He his foot hangs in the air and then he goes to third BALK. You're move to third has to be smooth no mater what you're regular pitching move is. He may hang his foot in the air and then pitch. But no matter what if he is going to 3 he has to be smooth.

Reference, please.

I believe you might be thinking of the preliminary position. The stretch is the actual act of bringing your hands together into the set position. Pitchers used to stretch their arms above their heads before coming to a stop. Very few pitcher do that nowadays, however.