new fed hybrid balk

[BigSimonia]

Both NFHS and our Association have made it clear this is a PoE this year and to be enforced.  I try to do it as soon as I see it - during warmups, I'll mention it to the coach; during the game I'll call a "ball" from "A" at the first opportunity.  But at this stage of the season, if I see it with runners on, I'm balking it.  Not doing anyone any favors by not calling it.  In fact, if you see it at this stage it's because some other umpires refused to call it earlier and the kid keeps getting away with it.  If you don't call it , someone will (most likely when there is a lot more on the line)

[24sdad]

 

Son's game last night.  LHP for other team on the mound.  Pretty much every MLB team is represented at games where this kid pitches.  Through five innings he is throwing from the wind-up exactly like Lincecum's illegal stance above.  In the sixth, we load the bases and BU stops the game to have the kid change to a legal wind up position, including a minute or so of instruction on what is proper and what is not.  I don't know if it screwed with the kid or not, but he ended up just pitching from the stretch and we score two runs.  Both teams are pissed off.  Our team for not balking him and the "coaching" involved and their team for letting it go the previous five innings and then making him change with bases loaded.

 

All of the teams in our association area received the same guidelines as we did before the season started.  We were instructed to call an illegal pitch without warning.

 

There are better ways to handle this.  Address it immediately.  If you want to discreetly tell him to get in a legal stance as he warms up, ok.  If you want to call an illegal pitch the first time he toes the rubber, ok.    Just don't wait 5 1/3 innings to do something and then provide a pitching clinic at the same time.

Agreed, deal with it early or leave it alone. Why didn't your coach complain earlier that he was illegal?

 

I would imagine, he, like most HC's do not know its illegal.  He will ask me a rule interp after the game, and has sometimes sought me out during the game, but I tend to sit as far away from our "fans" (and dugout) as I possibly can.  I gave him a rule and case book before each of last two seasons.  He could probably sell each as "new and unused" on eBay.

[mstaylor]

I like it. 

[BalkHawk]

I agree it is illegal. He has only had one umpire call him on it in 6 appearances.

WTF Skip?

[BalkHawk]

as for 24sdad's unfortunate situation-

is it possible that the F1 in question was only pitching from the windup while the ump/coach was in "A"?Was this the first time there was a runner on third?

Not that its any less illegal.

p.s. Your side was pissed they didn't get a free run from a rule of which they weren't aware.

The other team was pissed because they gave up 2 runs late in the game and they can't very well scapegoat their own pitcher.

Just so its clear, I agree that even if it was the first time he went from the windup with runners on, the situation could have been handled better.

Stinkin' Timmy Lincecum is closer to a stretch than a windup! Get a haircut Lince... Oh, never mind.

BTW, Stinkin' Timmy is earning $22 million for the 2013 season.

[24sdad]

No, I distinctly remember us running ourselves out of the third inning with R2/R3 and F1 was in the wind-up, so 6th not the only inning he was in wind-up with runners on.