Pitch in circle, raises throwing hand with ball, LBR?

[yscleo]

Thanks for all the response to the thread on runner on 3rd and B/R walks to run toward 2B.

As a follow up question on the pitcher LBR. We had games yesterday. In this exact situation, 1 out, with runner on 3rd, our B/R got a walk and I directed the B/R to run toward 2B. The pitcher that had the ball, in the pitcher's circle, took the ball out of the glove, raises his hand high up (elbow above shoulder) wanting to throw. The runner at 3rd took several steps off. The other team yells to the pitcher watch 3rd, so the pitcher turns to look at 3rd, throwing hand with ball up and was confused. He turned to look at the runner toward 2B, then immediately turns back to look at the runner that is still a few steps off 3rd that had stopped.

The field ump called time and the runner out at 3rd, for lead off. Funny thing is, the B/R that was running toward 2B, did also stop while the pitcher was looking at where to throw. (Yes the B/R didn't go all the way to 2B.) This B/R did return to 1B when the runner at 3rd was called out. The ump didn't call this B/R out for lead off.

We commented afterwards to the ump that we got different calls from other umps before. The ump got upset and said he gives umpire clinics, and the other umps must have not be keeping up with the new rules that's been there for a few years. He said as long as there is no throwing motions, the play is not live, even the pitcher holds the ball with throwing hand up.

This is Ontario OASA, so we follow ASA rules. So I guess I'll need to buy the new ASA rulebook.

But last year we were told something different. Ump told us if the pitch hold the hand up, the play becomes live even if he didn't throw the ball. This is going to be a rule we'll need to ask the umps, at the beginning of each game, to know what their understanding is.