Tog Gee

No OBS.

Yeah when getting into OBS, we can't lose sight of the fundamental concept that with possession of the ball, the defender can certainly block, pursue, bump the runner. Just nothing malicious. If a defender doesn't have the ball and the runner has to slow down or change direction, then it's OBS.

6-1-2 (windup): After the pitcher starts the movement to pitch, the pitcher must continue the motion without interruption or alteration. Does this imply that once a pitcher has established "their" style, they can't alter it?

'Otherwise, violations are NOT balks ("don't do that").' Maven, it sounds like you're saying violations of 6-1 with no runners on are "don't do that" if no pitch is delivered and no runners on.

Good point about A through D and HS ball... I'm just trying to understand exactly what the rulebook says is illegal, and importantly, what results in a balk and what results in a ball (depending on the circumstances). What illegal actions are called a ball and which are simply corrected "don't do that". I am convinced that the penalty under 6-1 means that the result is either BALL or BALK. "Illegal acts include, section 6.2.1" has varying penalties for the illegal acts, which is not easy to memorize. BALK, BALL and "stop doing that".

Found more info in rule book. Kinda what I was getting at here. Balk definition "c": c. making an illegal pitch from any position (6-1, 6-2-1a-d); Below 6-1-1 through 6-1-3 it says: PENALTY (Arts. 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. For illegal acts there are "don't do that" items, while items a-d are explicitly balks: Illegal acts include 6.2.1 a. applying a foreign substance to the ball; b. spitting on the ball or glove; c. rubbing the ball on the glove, clothing or person if the act defaces the ball; d. discoloring the ball with dirt; e. bringing the pitching hand in contact with the mouth without distinctly wiping off the pitching hand before it touches the ball; f. wearing any items on the hands, wrists or arms that may be distracting to the batter; g. wearing or placing tape, bandages or other foreign material (other than rosin) on the fingers or palm of the pitching hand that could come in contact With the ball; h. wearing a glove/mitt that includes the colors white or gray; i. wearing exposed undershirt sleeves that are white or gray NOTE: Under umpire supervision , the pitcher may dry the hands by using a finely meshed cloth bag of powdered rosin . The pitcher may rub the ball with bare hands to remove any extraneous coating . PENALTY: For defacing the ball (a-d), the ball is dead immediately. [balk] The umpire may eject the pitcher. If such defaced ball is pitched and then detected, it is an illegal pitch. For infraction (e) , a ball shall be awarded each time a pitcher violates this rule and subsequently engages the pitching plate. For infraction (f-i), the infraction must be corrected before the next pitch.[don't do that] In (f), the umpire has sole authority to judge whether or not an item is distracting and shall have that item removed.

Bruh. Flat bill is acceptable now.

Ah yes, I meant "fails to execute the entire pitching routine legally.", not just delivering a pitch legally. So I am including engaging the plate properly, taking a sign, footwork, throwing arm position while in the stretch, etc. A RHP engages the plate with their left foot (backwards) do you call time and have them correct or is it illegal the moment they engage? If a pitcher comes set and they neither took a sign nor simulated it, is it illegal the moment they come set? If a pitcher, in the set position, uses windup footwork or a rocker step...? Can these be balls and balks the moment they occur? Does a "ball" call require a pitch to be delivered? I don't see how we'd ever have a pitcher violate these rules and just call time and say "don't do that", especially with runners on.

Sounds like you are saying there has to be a pitch for a balk? Hesitating/pausing when rising up from the stretch or stretching for the sign two times is a balk, no? Examples of just breaking pitching rules...

Thank you.

So there are explicit balks in the rule book. Easy enough, but... Is it true that it's a balk anytime, with runners on, the pitcher fails to pitch properly per definitions in 6-1-1 through 6-1-3? Examples: RHP engages the plate with left foot (reverse stance) In windup pitcher steps illegally or uses more than 2 pumps or rotations Pitcher fails to take/simulate taking a sign and comes set/pitches In set position, pitcher does not start with throwing hand at side nor behind their back With NO runners on are these ruled balls, or is time called and the pitcher corrected?

From set position, is it now legal in FED for the pivot foot to be outside the bounds of the plate? Image below from umpire Bible illustrates the positioning I am wondering about. (Perhaps outdated) https://www.umpirebible.com/images/com_droppics/images_pp/s56.png

Some say it's very hard to balk when picking off to second.

Not a balk. Pitcher can turn either arm side or glove side.

The thing is, sometimes the situation might need some untangling and thought. If R1 is obstructed between 1B and 2B, and then 15 seconds later they are thrown out at the plate, by 8 feet, do you more experienced umpires need a few seconds to judge that or is that an easy call? I'm asking if you need time to sort it out and decide if the OBS warrants granting R1 home?