Pitcher hand to mouth

[jbucks]

Can someone please summarize the pro rules for pitchers going to their mouth?

 

Specifically:

 

1. Are pitchers allowed to go to their mouth anywhere except on the rubber? Does this include the dirt on the mound?

 

2) What is the penalty for a pitcher going to his mouth, not wiping and then engaging the rubber? Is this a ball to the batter or a balk?

 

Thank you!

[noumpere]

The best summary is in the rules itself so here it is from the mlb cite:

 

(Note that its different in HS and college, and its those rules that are often inforced at some lower levels even when they otherwise use OBR)

 

8.02 The pitcher shall not—

(a) (1) While in the 18-foot circle surrounding the pitcher’s plate, touch the ball after

touching his mouth or lips, or touch his mouth or lips while he is in contact

with the pitcher’s plate. The pitcher must clearly wipe the fingers of his pitching

hand dry before touching the ball or the pitcher’s plate. EXCEPTION:

Provided it is agreed to by both managers, the umpire prior to the start of a

game played in cold weather, may permit the pitcher to blow on his hand.

PENALTY: For violation of this part of this rule the umpires shall immediately

remove the ball from play and issue a warning to the pitcher. Any subsequent

violation shall be called a ball. However, if the pitch is made and a

batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a hit batsman or otherwise, and no

other runner is put out before advancing at least one base, the play shall proceed

without reference to the violation. Repeat offenders shall be subject to a

fine by the League President.

[UmpJM]

The rule USED to prohibit the pitcher from licking his fingers anywhere within the dirt circle - it was recently changed to while in contact.

 

Under OBR rules, the penalty is ALWAYS a ball to the batter's count and NEVER a balk.

 

JM

[maineump]

The rule USED to prohibit the pitcher from licking his fingers anywhere within the dirt circle - it was recently changed to while in contact.

 

Under OBR rules, the penalty is ALWAYS a ball to the batter's count and NEVER a balk.

 

JM

Is the rule going to the mouth while on the rubber considered a balk with runners on? Considered start of pitching motion?

[jbucks]

I was always under the impression that if you go to your mouth on the mound, that's a balk. Is that not correct?

[Jimurray]

I was always under the impression that if you go to your mouth on the mound, that's a balk. Is that not correct?

 

Where did you get that impression? The only thing close is a (screwy IMHO) FED ruling that going to your mouth on the rubber with runner/s on is a balk.

[grayhawk]

 

The rule USED to prohibit the pitcher from licking his fingers anywhere within the dirt circle - it was recently changed to while in contact.

 

Under OBR rules, the penalty is ALWAYS a ball to the batter's count and NEVER a balk.

 

JM

Is the rule going to the mouth while on the rubber considered a balk with runners on? Considered start of pitching motion?

 

 

Fed considers this a start/stop balk.

[Mudder]

^{I still find the rule itself confusing even with the changes, and have heard contradicting opinions ie: wiping, not wiping, on the rubber, on the mound, etc. can someone please fill in the blanks (OBR only):  I'm to understand the penalty to any one of these is NEVER a balk, correct?}

 

^{With no runners, F1 licks his fingers and does not wipe, on the rubber or anywhere else on the mound.   Penalty =}

^{With no runners, F1 licks his fingers and does wipe, on the rubber or anywhere else on the mound .   Penalty =}

^{With runners, F1 licks his fingers and does not wipe, on the rubber or anywhere else on the mound.   Penalty =}

^{With runners, F1 licks his fingers and does wipe, on the rubber or anywhere else on the mound.   Penalty =}

[noumpere]

^{I still find the rule itself confusing even with the changes, and have heard contradicting opinions ie: wiping, not wiping, on the rubber, on the mound, etc. can someone please fill in the blanks (OBR only):  I'm to understand the penalty to any one of these is NEVER a balk, correct?}

 

^{With no runners, F1 licks his fingers and does not wipe, on the rubber or anywhere else on the mound.   Penalty =}

^{With no runners, F1 licks his fingers and does wipe, on the rubber or anywhere else on the mound .   Penalty =}

^{With runners, F1 licks his fingers and does not wipe, on the rubber or anywhere else on the mound.   Penalty =}

^{With runners, F1 licks his fingers and does wipe, on the rubber or anywhere else on the mound.   Penalty =}

1) HS and pro = ball (in pro after a warning)

 

2) HS and pro = ball on rubber (in pro after a warning) or legal elsewhere on mound

 

3) HS = balk on rubber and ball off rubber; pro = ball (after a warning)

 

4) HS = balk on rubber and legal off rubber; pro = ball on rubber (after warning) or legal off rubber

 

Note that in HS if the pitcher licks off the rubber, it's not illegal until he goes to the ball without wiping and then subsequently takes the rubber.  So if you can call time before he does that you can avoid it.