...and another balk question

[brumey1107]

I’m hoping to have some input on yet another question surrounding balks.

Situation is Pony Baseball, 13 - 14 yo's playing under OBR's. OBR 8.01 (b) states "From such Set Position he may deliver the ball to the batter, throw to a base or step backward off the pitcher's plate with his pivot foot."

Question surrounds the word "may". Doesn't say "must". Specifically, MUST the pitcher have to step BACKWARDS off the pitcher's plate to become a fielder? Can a pitcher first move his pivot foot towards 3rd or towards 1st to disengage from the pitchers plate and become a fielder - as long as he doesn't go forward (toward home plate)?

If he MUST is there another OBR rule that supports it? If so please provide it.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

[Bfair]

You are correct in thinking that once he has legally stepped from the rubber toward a base that he can continue to legally disengage forward.

Of course, any stepping motion from the rubber toward home commits him to pitch. While he must throw to 1B from the rubber, he need not throw to 2B or 3B. His step with his free foot is considered a feint, and he need not have arm motion with such a feint. Thus, adding 2+2 you can see that it now becomes legal for a pitcher to step toward 2B or 3B from the rubber---without arm motion---and continue proceeding toward that base or runner. It can appear as if he is merely running at the runner or base if his first step was legal.


Just my opinion,

Freix

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by brumey1107
I’m hoping to have some input on yet another question surrounding balks.

Situation is Pony Baseball, 13 - 14 yo's playing under OBR's. OBR 8.01 (b) states "From such Set Position he may deliver the ball to the batter, throw to a base or step backward off the pitcher's plate with his pivot foot."

Question surrounds the word "may". Doesn't say "must". Specifically, MUST the pitcher have to step BACKWARDS off the pitcher's plate to become a fielder? Can a pitcher first move his pivot foot towards 3rd or towards 1st to disengage from the pitchers plate and become a fielder - as long as he doesn't go forward (toward home plate)?

If he MUST is there another OBR rule that supports it? If so please provide it.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

F1 cannot move the pivot foot to third or first to become an infielder. (He can move the pivot foot toward third as part of a "jab step" move to first -- but he's still on the rubber and must throw the ball.)

The "may" is used to indicate that thepitcher has other options -- request time, wait for curfew to set in, commit a balk, ...

The rules are written by gentlemen, for gentlemen; not by lawyers for lawyers.

[Bfair]

Thanks, Bob......
I misread the post and thought he meant moving the nonpivot foot toward a base followed by then disengaging........


Freix

[brumey1107]

Bob -

Yes, thank you for your post and reply. I too believed this move to a balk.

brumey1107