Balks
If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when:
(1) The pitcher, while touching his plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery;

Was his natural motion. Always pitched from the stretch position. Don’t recall it ever being called a balk! Runner could not take off on his initial motion, had to wait unitl he made a motion to 1st or home

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by tigerfoot

Alexandria

Member since Sep 2006

56561 posts

Posted on 5/4/19 at 1:24 pm to LSU FAMILY

quote:
Was his natural motion. Always pitched from the stretch position.

Irrelevant

A pitcher can not start his motion to home and stop. If it is long enough to make you say, wtf? It is long enough.

quote:
makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery;

Does not matter. There are rules in place. Ask yourself, how many major leaguers are you seeing doing it? None, ever. Because it is illegal. It is illegal in youth baseball, LHSAA, NCAA, and MLB.

quote:
According to Jaska/Roder, authors of "The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Clarification," hanging the leg for a split second is a balk because the pitcher has failed to pitch or throw in a continuous motion without hesitation or interruption. J/R doesn't mention anything about any other body part moving at the time - just hanging the leg.

Here's the wording from Jaska/Roder:
It is a balk if a pitcher:
1. Hesitates in, or interrupts his motion to join hands, pitch, throw or disengage.
Examples:
b. R1. A left-handed pitcher lifts his free foot and suspends it still for a split second before proceeding in his motion to throw: hesitation, balk

1 ...

Report Post

Tiger Rant - Replies to Post

Return To Board

Page 1

Return To Board