Two simple questions.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Rules like that annoy me to no end, and it seems they always come from FED. Sometimes I wonder if they (whomever "they" may be) are doing it just to be different, because some of these rules have no discernible raison d'être.

Can someone tell my why:

1. From the set, F1 must come to a complete stop with no runners.

2. The prohibition on turning the shoulders to check a runner begins when F1 brings his hands together rather than when he has come to a stop.

3. A balk is an immediate dead ball.

4. F1 cannot step and throw to a base from the windup position.

Ive had a few too many Czechvars and the gorilla arm set me off. I hope I don't regret this post in the morning.

(Note that I'm NOT saying that I agree with these decisions, just explaining what I think is FED's rationale.)

1) There shouldn't be any difference between what's legal and not depending on whether runners are on base.

2) No idea, but I don't think it makes a practical difference.

3) To reduce umpire and coach / player confusion

4) To stop coaches from pretending to windup and then picking off a runner. Too many umpires wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the start of a pitch and the motion to throw to a base.

(Many of the differences are an attempt to develop the rules for the lowest-common-denominator of umpire and coach.)

And, for Mr. Tyler -- czechvar is a beer.