I have asked many coaches and 1 former pitcher in the majors this ? and I have gotten mixed reviews. the big league pitcher says it's ok but we have been called for a balk occassionally. I coach 13u usssa baseball. some say that we are deceiving the runner. what's your take?
2007-05-08 01:53:39 · 5 answers · asked by coachmbaird 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
The play you describe is a balk because the pitcher did not deliver his pitch in a continuous and uniterrupted motion to the plate ("start and stop")
Rule 8.05 of the official rules covers the 13 ways a pitcher can commit a balk and deceiving the runner is not in the rules book (look it up!)
2007-05-08 03:50:48 · answer #1 · answered by david w 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was my understanding that once the leg is lifted, the pitcher has to follow through with the pitch to home. A delay in following through would be a balk.
2007-05-08 09:07:39 · answer #2 · answered by lma0814 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a balk. Once the pitcher starts his motion, all movement must be continuous.
2007-05-08 13:00:07 · answer #3 · answered by Ryan R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No - I've seen this called as a balk on several pitchers.
2007-05-08 10:52:24 · answer #4 · answered by JerH1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to pitch in high school and what I've always been taught is that you can lift your leg but if you make even the slightest movement toward the plate, you have to pitch the ball and your leg must be directly lifted up and down without any kind of swinging back and forth motion.
2007-05-08 09:17:11 · answer #5 · answered by Indy Yankee Fan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋