Balk Off win

[ManInBlue]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Because it just follows what I had in the previous post -- IF the "shoulder turn" was such that it would be a balk with R1, then it's a balk without R1. I get that from the fact that the OP indicated that he passed on the balk.

He turned his shoulders and not a little bit. It was an obvious balk had there been an R1. I probably should have call that one, regardless of where the runners were.

Originally Posted by David B

I'm guessing this is HS ball.

Thanks
David

Just below HS - 13/14's

I'm learning a few things with these comments. I didn't call the balk on the shoulder turn b/c I too had the "there was no one to 'fake out'" philosophy. I never thought about rocking as legal - as the rule quoted above states, one step...to clarify - he did pick his foot up, it was more than just rocking back and forth - it was NOT as obvious as the video however.

[ManInBlue]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Although I agree that this might be ignored in MLB, I think it's an illegal pitch or balk under OBR, too. I don't think I'd allow it in amateur ball.

8.01(a): "... 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."

I've seen guys rock without stepping, and that's legal. But as described in the OP, I've got a balk here.

That's the way I saw it. I even told my wife that I could give a list of MLB pitchers that "get away with it" but this kid isn't in the Majors yet.