2010 Fed Baseball

[Forest Ump]

We discussed the gorilla arm last night at our meeting. Just as discussed here, balk if he moves it.

So I can see it now. "Time. That's a balk. He simulated a gorilla movement. Runner, 2nd base."

Hey not bad, five words or less.

[johnnyg08]

At least they made it less of a "don't do that"...if the interp actually says "balk" that is great.

[jkumpire]

Umpires: USE COMMON SENSE.

If the are slight moves as he looks in for a sign, it isn't a balk. If he swings it back and forth in an obvious manner, Balk him. Do it once, problem solved.

Fed tries to make it easy and consistent to umpire their rules, but sometimes they make it nonsensical because people think they have to apply rules exactly as they are written.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

So I can see it now. "Time. That's a balk. He simulated a gorilla movement. Runner, 2nd base."

Hey not bad, five words or less.

I believe the phrase you're seeking is, according to the case play, "started and stopped."

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

We discussed the gorilla arm last night at our meeting. Just as discussed here, balk if he moves it.

So I can see it now. "Time. That's a balk. He simulated a gorilla movement. Runner, 2nd base."

Hey not bad, five words or less.

I don't think I would use the phrase, "gorilla movement," as some tight-a$$ politically correct coach or parent will accuse you of calling the pitcher a great ape.

[johnnyg08]

I kind of like the "started and stopped" it takes the jargon out of it too...

[DG]

Problem is, no pitcher doing this is starting and stopping. They just swinging their arm in front of their body, prior to 2005 interps, ignored, and mostly ignored since, since it only showed up in interp and not case book or rule book.

So, "that's a balk" is the appropriate response and only if the HC comes out for explanation would I say that swinging the arm in front of the body like that is balk in HS. This was covered at the annual meeting. In my state all HC are required to make an annual meeting, either coaches meeting or an umpires meeting so there should really be few balks called and less coming out to get explanation.

[RPatrino]

Also, 'started and stopped' would put you within the 5 words or less, Steve!!