balk

[crazyaboutcoues]

NHSF rules

Runner on third, right handed pitcher is in the stretch, starts his motion, pauses, lifts his non pivot foot, steps towards third but does not throw the ball. (He does not step off with his pivot foot)

 

Is this a Balk?

[Replacematt]

When you say "starts his motion," do you mean his motion to pitch, or his stretch before the set?

If it's the former, it's a balk--it is always a balk if a pitcher starts his motion to pitch and does not deliver, unless the offense does something to cause him to stop or time is called.

If it's the latter, this is legal--there is no prohibition against feinting to third in FED.

[Tksjewelry]

In Fed, you can still fake to third. If he started his motion towards home, that's a balk. (don't take my word, let the HS guys/gals weigh in, I'm putting this up there as an "am I right?")

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

[noumpere]

11 minutes ago, Matt said:

When you say "starts his motion," do you mean his motion to pitch, or his stretch before the set?

 

And, what do you (the OP) mean by "pauses" -- because that could be a balk as well.

Also, note that only the step is needed to feint to third.  An arm motion is not required (nor is it sufficient).

[crazyaboutcoues]

When I say starts his motion, it is the normal motion to come into the set position. Can a pitcher step towards third and not throw the ball? I say yes he can but our group is saying its a balk. We've all seen the feint to third and throw to first, same thing even if doesn't throw to first...

[maven]

5 minutes ago, crazyaboutcoues said:

Can a pitcher step towards third and not throw the ball? I say yes he can but our group is saying its a balk.

Your group is wrong. 6.2.4C

The burden of proof is always on someone who says an action is illegal. Your group cannot cite a rule that makes stepping and feinting to an occupied 3B a balk, because there is no such rule.

[ElkOil]

10 minutes ago, crazyaboutcoues said:

When I say starts his motion, it is the normal motion to come into the set position. Can a pitcher step towards third and not throw the ball? I say yes he can but our group is saying its a balk. We've all seen the feint to third and throw to first, same thing even if doesn't throw to first...

Not quite the same. Remember that per FED 6-2-4, a feint to 1B or the batter is a balk. But you're correct -- he can legally feint to 3B. However, per your OP and subsequent explanation, if he pauses in his move to go from the stretch to the set, he must do so in one continuous motion. So I'd say in your example, he balked for that reason, not the feint.

[ricka56]

1 hour ago, crazyaboutcoues said:

When I say starts his motion, it is the normal motion to come into the set position. Can a pitcher step towards third and not throw the ball? I say yes he can but our group is saying its a balk. We've all seen the feint to third and throw to first, same thing even if doesn't throw to first...

There is a rule difference between HS and official baseball rules (OBR). This became a balk in OBR about 5 years ago, but NFHS (HS-Fed) did not go along with the change and kept 1B as the only base that you can't fake to. 

[noumpere]

12 hours ago, Out&UglyToo said:

 Some rules could require disengaging the plate to request time, check the rules of the league you are in.

What baseball rules require this?

[Out&UglyToo]

14 hours ago, noumpere said:

What baseball rules require this?

My mistake - I'd heard something of it. My buddy (a manager and an umpire) said it was not rule to his knowledge, he just taught his pitchers to step off the rubber so they could not balk when requesting time. I thought he was still talking about rule changes - he'd changed the subject.

[Out&UglyToo]

In your judgement, did he start his pitch, or did his front foot cross the back of the pitcher's plate? If so, he balked.

If you think he went to third, that's what happened. Not a balk.

The hesitation might have made me think that he started toward the plate, then changed his mind => balk!  But I was not there, you were, and you saw it.

A pitcher engages the pitcher's plate, pitching rules go into effect. He MUST do one of 5 things: 1) disengage the rubber; 2) deliver a pitch to the hitter; 3) attempt a pick off throw to first, second or third base; 4) he may feint a pick off to second or to third base, or 5) request "time". These 5 things are all he's allowed, anything else is a balk. Some rules could require disengaging the plate to request time, check the rules of the league you are in.

If he chooses options 1,3, or 4, he must re-engage the pitcher's plate (if he has broken contact with it) and come set before delivering a pitch to the hitter.