Balk?

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Me and my buddies thought of this during a rain delay last weekend.

A Right handed pitcher, with a runner on 1st, takes the rubber but places his left foot against the rubber. Runner takes a leadoff, and the pitcher simply steps and throws. What's the call?

[BearsCoach13]

It is no balk because he is still considered straddling the rubber. If the pitcher is taking signs from this stance, it is illegal. Also, he cannot come to the set position from this stance or it is a balk. (Rule 8.01b and 8.05g)

Also, for the pitcher to be considered on the rubber, his pivot foot must be in contact.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/pitcher_8.jsp

[jimmiemac]

Me and my buddies thought of this during a rain delay last weekend.

A Right handed pitcher, with a runner on 1st, takes the rubber but places his left foot against the rubber. Runner takes a leadoff, and the pitcher simply steps and throws. What's the call?

Only his left foot or both?

Steps where and throws where?

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

From the stretch, only the left foot on the runner. With his left foot, steps directly towards first and throws.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

Me and my buddies thought of this during a rain delay last weekend.

A Right handed pitcher, with a runner on 1st, takes the rubber but places his left foot against the rubber. Runner takes a leadoff, and the pitcher simply steps and throws. What's the call?

I don't see why this play would be any more effective than a regular pick off though.

The premise is that the runner is taking a lead under the assumption that the pitcher is actually on the rubber, looking in to get a sign (he can't come set). So the runner is taking a lead and is ready/aware that there could be a pickoff move at any time. Why would this move "trick" the runner into getting picked off? The pitcher still needs to step back with his right foot, turn, and fire to first. If he doesn't need to step back with his right foot, then his feet are already spread apart slightly, and the runner wouldn't be fooled at all. You're basically saying that the pitcher, with his back to the runner, can throw without taking a step? Seems impossible. Unless he could perfect a behind the back toss and not launch it into the visitors dugout, lol.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

The pitcher is facing first. He essentially takes a lefthanders stance. But you could throw to first very accurately and quickly, because you are stepping with your left foot (your normal foot).

[CanadianKid]

I don't see why the runner would even take a lead. I'd be confused as to why the pitcher would assume that position.

[Padday]

I don't see why the runner would even take a lead. I'd be confused as to why the pitcher would assume that position.

I have to agree. Only an idiot would think "the pitcher is in a stance to throw left handed even though he has been throwing right handed all his career, he has the glove on his left hand so he can't even try to throw left handed and he's also practically facing me. You know what, I think it's time to take a good lead off 1st."

[Sultan_1895-1948]

The pitcher is facing first. He essentially takes a lefthanders stance. But you could throw to first very accurately and quickly, because you are stepping with your left foot (your normal foot).

Ok then, well then it would be a balk. To step forward with his left foot, he would need to step off the rubber first, before throwing.

Nah, it just wouldn't work.

[Sparksdale]

Ok, I can't help it...I just can't resist. Everytime I see the word Balk this story comes to mind.

My boy was 9 years old and pitching in his first all star game. He wasn't doing very well because he had no idea how to throw a strike. I don't remember the score but I remember the game was already out of hand at this point. Well the other team started showing a bunt just before the pitch. My boy had no idea what to do so he stopped dead in his windup. Of course the umpire called a ball on the pitcher. The batter did it again and again my boy stopped - ball two.

The batter did it a third time and the umpire called a ball - ball three. Well my boy, bless his heart, just started crying right there on the pitchers mound. I swear it would break your heart. He just didn't know what to do when the batter faked a bunt.

Sparks,

[BearsCoach13]

Sparksdale,

Was there a runner on base? You cannot be called for a balk when no runners are on base. If the pitcher stops at any point before delivering the ball to the plate, he gets to reset with no penalty.

With a runner/s on base, then yes, it is a balk and he needs to continue with his pitch to the plate.

[Sparksdale]

Its my understanding (in LL) if the pitcher stops his motion then the umpire calls a ball "for" the hitter. I honestly don't remember if there was a runner on base or not.

It's not really a balk it's just that when I see the word "balk" it reminds me of that game. I really felt bad for him. I wasn't coaching the All-star team and I felt really bad because I couldn't go out there and talk to him and tell him what to do.

But that was last year. He's a better pitcher now but that game is one of the memories I'll never forget. Funny isn't it? It seems we don't remember the game winning homeruns or the strikeouts but we remember the other things. We remember the things that happen during a course of a game that reminds us that these are kids playing a game.

Sparks,

[CanadianKid]

Funny isn't it? It seems we don't remember the game winning homeruns or the strikeouts but we remember the other things. We remember the things that happen during a course of a game that reminds us that these are kids playing a game.

Sparks,

Ya that's true. I remember 1 game when I was about 11, my team was about to go to bat and I had to go to the washroom but was supposed to lead-off the inning. One of the parents jokingly said "hit a homerun and you can go", lol next pitch i hit one over the right field fence lol:laugh

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

I say this because there are some people in my league who aren't very smart, and it would fool alot of them. I can't see how this is a balk. He is stepping off, and motionning towards first at the same time.