Wind Up: Starting the Motion
 

If the pitcher, in the wind up position, brings his hands together on the rubber, does this start his motion? Or is the movement of his pivot foot what starts the motion?

Yes.

8.01a The Windup Position. The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and the other foot free. 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. He shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in his actual delivery of the ball to the batter, he may take one step backward, and one step forward with his free foot.

Keep going Forest

When a pitcher holds the ball with both hands in front of his body, with his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and his other foot free, he will be considered in the Windup Position.

Just moving to put his hands together is not the start of his nmotion.

What rules code? Both hands moving at the same time, or is one hand already in front, and the other moves to join?

I believe FED is the only one that considers this a start motion. OBR and NCAA do not.

UMPTT is correct.

JM

FED & OBR: One hand in front and the other moves to join.

njdevs00cup,

If the pitcher starts with one hand in front and one at his side, and then brings the "side" hand to join with the "front" hand, that act is not, in and of itself, considered the start of his motion under ANY rule code.

JM

This would not be a balk even in FED? Trying to figure out why a balk was called in the game before mine. 18U (not sure of which rules), R3, F1 (RHP)brings his hand to his right hand with the ball together with his glove (stationary), then steps off with his right foot (no movement with his left foot). PU called a balk.

Not a balk. Bringing the pitching hand up into the glove is NOT the start of the pitching motion.

6.1.2 SITUATION C: With a runner on third base, F1 steps on to the pitcher’s
plate in the windup position and his glove hand in front of his body and his pitching
hand at his side (a) immediately brings his hands together for the purpose of
taking the sign but does not begin his delivery, or (b) gets the sign and then
brings his hands together and stops before delivering a pitch, or (c) gets the sign,
brings his hands together and continues his pitching motion. RULING: In (a), (b)
and (c), these are all legal moves.

In FED, F1 is committed to pitch if he moves both arms at the same time. This is NOT a comitment to pitch in OBR or NCAA.

In all codes, F1 can move one arm without being committed to pitch. F1 can, for example, take the sign with both arms at the side, move the glove hand (either hand) to the front, stop, move the free hand to the glove, stop, and then step off (or pick-off in NCAA and OBR).

With R3 the pitcher might have tried to deke the runner by starting his hands up as he stepped off. Are you sure the hands stayed stationary?

Just for reference, does anyone actually call this?

Not in my neck of the woods. I referenced this on another board and was not surprised that most did not know of this nuance. Both hands moving to a stop is not called around here and I haven't seen a coach that would put you on the spot and send a runner on this cue. Both arms and a leg is a whole different story. I think the TOP for the windup is like porno; you know it when you see it. I think there was a post on this board that referenced the MLBUM and described the TOP for the windup. It was very broad. If you go strictly by FED both arms at the same time is the TOP.