Dave Sirbu's pitching questions separated (1)

[Carl Childress]

Here's the first question Dave asked:

In FED pitching rules (6.1.3), when the pitcher is in the set position his pitching hand must be at his side or behind the back. In OBR (8.01b comment) it states one hand must be at his side but it doesn't say whether it should be the pitching hand or the glove hand. A Jim Evans video I recently viewed said the pitching hand must be at his side or behind his back. Is that stated in OBR or is it a Jim Evans interpretation?

Is the rule the same in FED and OBR.? What about NCAA?

ANSWER:

In FED/NCAA if the pitcher does not have his pitching hand at his side or behind his back, it is a balk. (FED 6-1-2; NCAA 9-1b-1)

In OBR the rule says one hand must be ON his side. The penalty is: "Don't do that." The umpire warns the pitcher. Repeated violations result in ejection. (JEA, 4:65)

It is not a balk.

Jaksa/Roder says: "The pitching hand must be at his side, his hands obviously separate." (p. 79, '95 ed)

Evans does not mention that in his JEA.

The NAPBL says nothing about the issue.

The main idea is this: In the OBR the only penalty is the umpire directs the pitcher to obey the rule.

Your best bet: In your games played under OBR ignore the whole issue as long as the pitcher has either hand at his side, obviously separated.

Don't make trouble for yourself, especially since it is not an infraction listed under the balk statute.


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Papa C
Editor, eUmpire

[This message has been edited by Carl Childress (edited September 01, 2000).]