Question on Balks
 

I was watching the Texas v C. Sox games and the T pitcher has this odd sway to him and he is constantly lifting his foot during this. I kept thinking "Why is this not a Balk?" I feel that at any level i do i would be calling that every time. Can someone clear this up?

Anytime you see something strange from a pitcher, the question should be the opposite: "Why would this be a balk?"

If you can't answer it, it's legal.

All of it looks like a balk to me. From lifting his foot and putting it back down, to his shoulder motion. It looks like a distraction to me and like it would be to the batter. Do you know the pitcher I'm talking about?

Let's rephrase--"Is there a rule being broken?"

Not a part of the rule.

No.

I don't know what pitcher you're talking about. But many MLB pitchers have goofy stuff they do during the stretch — with their feet, body, head, hands — prior to coming set.

The balk rules say nothing about what F1 may or may not do during the stretch (the motion between taking the sign and coming set), other than allowing virtually anything. He must (1) come set, (2) just once, and (3) pitch without interruption. As long as he does that any motion is permitted.

Once he comes set, he must pitch, step and throw to a base, or disengage. But presumably that's not what you're talking about. The goofy stuff during the stretch is designed to disconcert the batter and runner, keep them off balance, and disturb their sense of the pitcher's rhythm. But distraction per se is not illegal.

There is a rule regarding the stretch:

"from this position he shall go to his set position as defined in Rule 8.01(b) without interruption and in one continuous motion."

But wide latitude is given in MLB to that requirement.

I'm sure you're talking about Mike Adams. He comes to a stop that is weird, and unusual for the most part compared to the majority of pitchers you see.

No it is not a balk.

You get a look at Adams' movements about halfway through -

Texas Rangers Pitcher - YouTube

JJ

I have noticed that ML umpires allow strange looking stuff, if, the pitcher does it every time. I would put this in that category.

Um, er.

I can tell the cameraman is drunk...can't tell much else.

Nothing illegal there.

And they (umpires) do so on purpose. Joe Brinkman, at his school, specifically talked about Luis Tiant's (Red Sox pitcher in the 1970's) motion when he came set. Brinkman flat-out said that MLB did not want a balk called as long as the pitcher used the same "unusual" mechanics each time he came set.

Neither of these statements are in the rulebook. There a things a pitcher CAN'T do, and things a pitcher MUST do. If you are going to call a balk, you must be able to say to yourself... "The pitcher must do XXX, and he didn't" or "The pitcher is not allowed to do YYY, and he did."

"Looks like a balk" is not a balk.

"Looks like a distraction to me" is not a balk.

Think Mike Mussino also. It would have been hard to deliver a pitch from down around his ankles with his motion. If you remember he actually came to a stop twice per the rule book.