Coming To The Mound With Both Hands Together?

[NorkDorf Entertainment]

The situation is as follows: with runners on, pitcher engages with the mound with both hands together and keeps them together, then pitches. Is this a balk? I saw this out in Cooperstown and a Minor League umpire said it wasn't. One of the coaches was freaking out and saying that it was a balk since the kid would come to the mound with both hands together with runners on and then come set (still with hands together) by turn his body and lifting his elbow a little higher. 

[grayhawk]

Well, 8.01( b ) says the following:

 

Preparatory to coming to a set position, the pitcher shall have one hand on his side; from this position he shall go to his set position as defined in Rule 8.01(b) without interruption and in one continuous motion.

 

However, there is no penalty associated with not doing this, so it's not a balk.  It's a "don't do that" which means you should call time and instruct the pitcher to engage the rubber legally.

[NorkDorf Entertainment]

So that means he has to start with his hands separate when coming to the mound when in the stretch position, correct? But its not a balk if he has his hands together when first engaging with the mound and keeps them together.  What if the coaches freak out and say thats not a rule and crap like that, what do I tell them? 

[RichMSN]

So that means he has to start with his hands separate when coming to the mound when in the stretch position, correct? But its not a balk if he has his hands together when first engaging with the mound and keeps them together.  What if the coaches freak out and say thats not a rule and crap like that, what do I tell them? 

 

There is no "stretch" position.  The stretch is something a pitcher *may* do when he's "coming set."

 

In the set position, the hands must be separate.  See 8.01(b).  If they're together, call time, instruct the pitcher that he cannot do that.  Then you'll probably have to instruct the coach as well, but such is youth baseball.

[LMSANS]

I've had this in youth ball and will tell the coach...I'll even give him a free conference to instruct his pitcher...if he hasn't been a dick all day.

[umpire_scott]

I yell "time, step off".  Then I say "you have to have your hands separated when you step on the rubber".  They generally get the picture.  Usually when I get it early it cleans itself up and I don't get the opposing coach asking for the balk.  I do the same thing when they are coming set before the batter even looks up at them.  "Time, step off".  

 

And I'd like to point out that I also used to think it was a balk but can thank umpire.empire for setting me straight and giving me the advice on the mechanic I use.

[Pete Peterson Sr]