Starting Windup Off The Rubber - Balk ?

[Guest NJ Coach]

Pitcher faces home plate, both feet about 12-16 inches behind the rubber, .  Then with one continuous motion steps back with left foot,  then forward with right foot onto rubber, turns and pitches.

Basically, full windup from behind mound stepping forward onto rubber in the middle of windup.   Advantage is windup delivery without starting on rubber, keeping baseunners from getting big jumps. Balk ?

And if no one on base, illegal pitch ?

[Replacematt]

1 minute ago, Guest NJ Coach said:

Pitcher faces home plate, both feet about 12-16 inches behind the rubber, .  Then with one continuous motion steps back with left foot,  then forward with right foot onto rubber, turns and pitches.

Basically, full windup from behind mound stepping forward onto rubber in the middle of windup.   Advantage is windup delivery without starting on rubber, keeping baseunners from getting big jumps. Balk ?

And if no one on base, illegal pitch ?

Yes to both for starting a motion while not in contact with the rubber.

[noumpere]

A motion like this used to be legal -- back when pitchers pitched from a "box" instead of a "plate."  That change happened in 1893 -- so the pitcher might have been instructed before then, and just forgot about the change.

[Radwaste50]

1 hour ago, noumpere said:

A motion like this used to be legal -- back when pitchers pitched from a "box" instead of a "plate."  That change happened in 1893 -- so the pitcher might have been instructed before then, and just forgot about the change.

Maybe his pitching coach didn't remember this change, the same one the remembers the plate in foul territory

[beerguy55]

4 hours ago, Guest NJ Coach said:

Then with one continuous motion steps back with left foot,  then forward with right foot onto rubber, turns and pitches.

I'm trying to imagine how this is done.  I'm envisioning Prince or James Brown going into the splits and then popping back up to deliver the pitch.

[umpstu]

4 hours ago, noumpere said:

A motion like this used to be legal -- back when pitchers pitched from a "box" instead of a "plate."  That change happened in 1893 -- so the pitcher might have been instructed before then, and just forgot about the change.

Just possibly be that they don't have a more updated rule book.

[Senor Azul]

Fed rule 6-2-5:  It is also a balk if a runner or runners are on base and the pitcher, while he is not touching the pitcher’s plate, makes any movement naturally associated with his pitch…

OBR 6.02(a):  If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when (7) The pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher’s plate;

An ILLEGAL PITCH is (1) a pitch delivered to the batter when the pitcher does not have his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate;...An illegal pitch when runners are on base is a balk.

[Guest NJ Coach]

Beer-not sure if you’re being facetious and witty with the JB reference but act this out:  stand upright facing straight ahead, hands together in front of you. Step back a bit with your left and then in continuous motion step forward onto the rubber with your right, turning and throwing .