Balk question

[Moonlight Grahm]

I tried to find this particular rule on MLB.com but had no luck. Pitcher is in the set position with pivot foot in contact with the rubber. The ball is in his glove. While keeping contact with the rubber he removes the ball from his glove and holds behind his back then comes set with his feet and hands together. Aren't his hands supposed to remain seperated until he comes set. Thanks for the help.

[bballdad175]

You say he is in set position with ball in glove, then he removes ball and goes into set position again with ball in throwing hand behind back?

That is a balk.

[Moonlight Grahm]

Well he is in the stretch position with ball in glove and before he comes set he removes the ball from glove and places it behind his back and then bring his hands and feet together and comes set. He still remains contact with the rubber. I hope this is a little more clear.

[4pointDoc]

My understanding is that once his hands are together and his foot is in contact with the rubber he cannot remove the ball from his glove without making a pitching or pickoff move. I've had a couple of my kids get called for balks for doing just that.

[jbooth]

I tried to find this particular rule on MLB.com but had no luck. Pitcher is in the set position with pivot foot in contact with the rubber. The ball is in his glove. While keeping contact with the rubber he removes the ball from his glove and holds behind his back then comes set with his feet and hands together. Aren't his hands supposed to remain seperated until he comes set. Thanks for the help.

I didn't have any trouble finding it;

Rule 8.05 If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when—

(j) The pitcher, after coming to a legal pitching position, removes one hand from the ball other than in an actual pitch, or in throwing to a base;

Just because his hands came together for an instant to get the ball out of the glove, did not put him in the "set" position.

He is not in the legal "Set" position until he brings both hands together and pauses. You said he simply reached into the glove and pulled the ball out. The fact that his hands were together for the instant that he pulled the ball out, doesn't constitute him having come to the legal "Set" position. If there is no pause, switching the hand that the ball is in, is not coming to the set.

MLB umps even allow the pitcher to reach in momentarily and adjust the ball in the glove, and then remove the hand, and then come to a legal set.

However, once he does put both hands together and pauses, then it would be a balk per 8.05j, if he took his hand out of the glove and did not pitch, or make a pickoff move.

[omg]

I didn't have any trouble finding it;

Rule 8.05 If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when—

(j) The pitcher, after coming to a legal pitching position, removes one hand from the ball other than in an actual pitch, or in throwing to a base;

Just because his hands came together for an instant to get the ball out of the glove, did not put him in the "set" position.

He is not in the legal "Set" position until he brings both hands together and pauses. You said he simply reached into the glove and pulled the ball out. The fact that his hands were together for the instant that he pulled the ball out, doesn't constitute him having come to the legal "Set" position. If there is no pause, switching the hand that the ball is in, is not coming to the set.

MLB umps even allow the pitcher to reach in momentarily and adjust the ball in the glove, and then remove the hand, and then come to a legal set.

However, once he does put both hands together and pauses, then it would be a balk per 8.05j, if he took his hand out of the glove and did not pitch, or make a pickoff move.

Here is a similar situation: I have been warned that it it is a balk but I disagree because it is not deceiving and I see MLB pitchers do it.

I come to the set position legally and to a complete stop. As I kick my leg up to deliver the ball to the plate I take my hand, with the ball in it, slightly out of the glove and then put my hand and ball back in the glove. It's a little pumping motion like an infielder often does when he throws to first base. What is the rule?

[jbooth]

Here is a similar situation: I have been warned that it it is a balk but I disagree because it is not deceiving and I see MLB pitchers do it.

I come to the set position legally and to a complete stop. As I kick my leg up to deliver the ball to the plate I take my hand, with the ball in it, slightly out of the glove and then put my hand and ball back in the glove. It's a little pumping motion like an infielder often does when he throws to first base. What is the rule?

Nothing wrong with that, provided there is no pause with your leg or interruption of the motion. I forget who the MLB pitcher is that does something similar.

The rule that puts you on a slippery slope is from 8.01

After assuming Set Position, any natural motion associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without alteration or interruption.

Some umps may judge that you are interrupting or altering your motion. However, if your little stutter doesn't appear as if you are going to throw somewhere other than to the plate, it shouldn't be a problem.