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Can't Find a Rule


ElkOil
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Sorry, guys.  I can't find the FED rule that makes it a balk if the pitcher goes to his mouth, then directly to the ball.  Here's what I did find, which makes me wonder about it being at balk at all:

SECTION 2 INFRACTIONS BY PITCHER

ART. 1 . . . Illegal acts include:

 

e. bringing the pitching hand in contact with the mouth without distinctly wiping off the pitching hand before it touches the ball;

 

PENALTY: For infraction (e), a ball shall be awarded each time a pitcher violates this rule and subsequently engages the pitching plate.

 

ART. 4 . . . Balk. If there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a pitcher while he is touching the pitcher's plate is a balk:
 

c. making an illegal pitch from any position (6-1, 6-2-1a-d);

 

I thought it was a balk. Am I wrong?

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6-1-1 Illegal acts include:

e. bringing the pitching hand in contact with the mouth without distinctly ­wiping off the pitching hand before it touches the ball;

PENALTY: For infraction (e), a ball shall be awarded each time a pitcher violates this rule and subsequently engages the pitching plate. 

6-1-3 PENALTY (Art. 1, 2, 3): The ball is dead immediately when an illegal pitch occurs. If there is no runner, a ball is awarded the batter. If there is a runner, such illegal act is a balk. In both situations, the umpire signals dead ball.

 

6-1-4 . . . Balk. If there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a pitcher while he is touching the pitcher's plate is a balk:

c. making an illegal pitch from any position (6-1, 6-2-1a-d);

 

6.2.1 SITUATION A:

With no runners on base, F1 places his pitching hand on his mouth and distinctly wipes off his pitching hand prior to touching the ball, (a) while not touching the pitcher's plate, (b) while touching the pitcher's plate.

RULING: (a) Legal; (b) illegal, and a ball shall be awarded to the batter's count.

 

6.2.1 SITUATION B:

With R1 at first [runners on base], F1 places his pitching hand on his mouth and distinctly wipes off his pitching hand prior to touching the ball (a) while not touching the pitcher's plate or (b) while touching the pitcher's plate in the set position.

RULING: Legal in (a). In (b), the pitcher has balked and R1 is awarded second base. (6-1-3)

Edited by Cav
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I will add that if the pitcher is off the rubber, you can and should often stop this from ahppening by calling time and changin out the ball if F1 is off the rubber, lisck, grabs the ball and proceeds toward the rubber.

 

Or, maybe that's just a local thing and your group wants you to wait and call the balk,

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I will add that if the pitcher is off the rubber, you can and should often stop this from ahppening by calling time and changin out the ball if F1 is off the rubber, lisck, grabs the ball and proceeds toward the rubber.

 

Or, maybe that's just a local thing and your group wants you to wait and call the balk,

If the violation is off the rubber, then the penalty can only be adding a ball to the batter's count.

 

6.2.1 SITUATION D:

With R1 at second, F1 is not on the pitcher's plate. He goes to his mouth and goes directly to the ball with his pitching hand. (a) F1 calls time and requests a new ball or (b) F1 legally engages the pitching plate.

RULING: Legal in (a). In (b), time is called and a ball is added to the count.

 

And by the by, use the words, "He went to his mouth then the ball" and not, "He didn't wipe before he touched the ball."  The former adequately describes the violation; the latter only provokes sophomoric comments from the dugouts.   

Edited by Cav
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So to summarize, with runners on, if it happens off the rubber, add a ball to the count.  On the rubber, it's a balk.  Yes?

Yes, if he goes to his mouth on the rubber with runners on it is a balk by FED caseplay and a POE from a year or two ago. If he goes to his hat to adjust it it is not a balk normally per FED caseplay.

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So to summarize, with runners on, if it happens off the rubber, add a ball to the count.  On the rubber, it's a balk.  Yes?

Remember not to call anything until he steps on the rubber. As @noumpere has said, the ball call can be pre-empted by calling time and switching out the ball.

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Remember not to call anything until he steps on the rubber. As @noumpere has said, the ball call can be pre-empted by calling time and switching out the ball.

Remember no good deed goes unpunished. You call time for them and preclude a ball call. Now they go on offense with a runner on and the other pitcher goes to his mouth on the rubber. What you gonna do?

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Remember no good deed goes unpunished. You call time for them and preclude a ball call. Now they go on offense with a runner on and the other pitcher goes to his mouth on the rubber. What you gonna do?

Good point

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Remember no good deed goes unpunished. You call time for them and preclude a ball call. Now they go on offense with a runner on and the other pitcher goes to his mouth on the rubber. What you gonna do?

Call a balk and move on.  It's their rules that they are paying us to enforce.   

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