Natural movement? 8.01a

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

Rule 8.01a states:

From this position any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration.

Rule 8.01(a) is in reference to the Windup position. The only legal movement to avoid having to pitch the ball is for the pitcher to step backward off the rubber with his pivot foot. Any other movement is considered to be associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter. This is why runners take off for the next base when they see the pitcher move anything but his pivot foot. Sometimes pitchers try to get away with pumping their arms then stepping back a split second later, which is a balk.