Originally Posted by maven (Post 875149)

As others have already pointed out, this account of the motivation for the change is incorrect. MLB doesn't care how you call your games or how anyone else might use their rules.

Originally Posted by egj13 (Post 875347)

I am either dreaming or we have some bad umpires in here.

Originally Posted by egj13 (Post 875350)

My account for the motivation of the rule change came thusly...sitting at a dinner with the father of a MLB umpire last summer he brought up to me that MLB umpires had been informed that this rule would be eliminated because...wait for it...inconsistency in application.

Originally Posted by egj13 (Post 875140)

Even in the current rule (before any change) it was a balk if you faked towards 3rd and then wheeled to throw to first without stepping towards first. Umpires at ALL levels were not enforcing the step towards first and thus not calling the rule as it was intended to be called.

So basically we as umpires weren't calling it consistently so baseball simply made it illegal at all times to take it out of our hands.

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn (Post 875356)

Ah. Well, at least we now understand your comment that it was not being called correctly. It's because you don't understand the rule in the first place. Glad that's cleared up.

Originally Posted by egj13 (Post 875347)

I am either dreaming or we have some bad umpires in here.

Originally Posted by egj13 (Post 875357)

MD...how the hell can you not read the comment from the MLB rule book and see that I am the only one on this board that DOES know what the rule says?

Originally Posted by bob jenkins (Post 875352)

It could be both. But if the pitcher steps toward third (or second) and in the process removes the pivot foot from the rubber (this happens 99.9% of the time), he has become an infielder, just as if he stepped backwards off the rubber.

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn (Post 875362)

In my experience, if 99% of the people are saying one thing, and one person is saying something different, it's the one that's wrong 99% of the time. If you find yourself thinking you're the only one on this board that knows something, I guarantee you that you're wrong.

I read the comment from the MLB rule book. It does not refer to what you seem to think it does. It refers to a move that I believe I can safely assume NONE of us has ever seen anyone try.

Originally Posted by egj13 (Post 875357)

MD...how the hell can you not read the comment from the MLB rule book and see that I am the only one on this board that DOES know what the rule says?

Originally Posted by egj13 (Post 875366)

I am sorry that you don't understand...I do find it hard to believe that you would believe that MLB would put an example in the rule book that is impossible to do...why would they put that in there?

Originally Posted by egj13 (Post 875363)

Why would MLB put a comment with a particular rule interpretation and give an example of the play if it wasn't a common mistake made? I don't see what you guys are missing in the MLB comment.

Originally Posted by egj13 (Post 875140)

Even in the current rule (before any change) it was a balk if you faked towards 3rd and then wheeled to throw to first without stepping towards first. Umpires at ALL levels were not enforcing the step towards first and thus not calling the rule as it was intended to be called.

Here is the excerpt stright from the MLB rule book:

"Rule 8.05(c) Comment: Requires the pitcher, while touching his plate, to step directly
toward a base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off of his free foot without
actually stepping or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk.
Apitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base but does not require him
to throw (except to first base only) because he steps. It is possible, with runners on first and third, for
the pitcher to step toward third and not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the
runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. This is legal. However, if,
with runners on first and third, the pitcher, while in contact with the rubber, steps toward third and then
immediately and in practically the same motion “wheels” and throws to first base, it is obviously an
attempt to deceive the runner at first base, and in such a move it is practically impossible to step
directly toward first base before the throw to first base, and such a move shall be called a balk. Of
course, if the pitcher steps off the rubber and then makes such a move, it is not a balk."

So basically we as umpires weren't calling it consistently so baseball simply made it illegal at all times to take it out of our hands.

Originally Posted by egj13 (Post 875363)

When a pitcher steps towards third and then wheels on that front foot and throws to first without stepping towards first AHEAD OF THE THROW it is a balk even though his back foot broke with the rubber...

Originally Posted by bob jenkins (Post 875374)

I never see that move (at least as I use the word "wheels").