Pitcher shall notify the Windup position

[David3]

If a pitcher's Windup position is very similar to a set position with runner/s on bases he has to announce this windup pitching to umpires under rule 5.07(a)(2) Comment. Is there a balk if he announces Windup and uses the set motion?

[Jimurray]

3 hours ago, David3 said:

If a pitcher's Windup position is very similar to a set position with runner/s on bases he has to announce this windup pitching to umpires under rule 5.07(a)(2) Comment. Is there a balk if he announces Windup and uses the set motion?

If he stretches to a stop with leg motion that would be a balk. If he just puts his hands together that could be considered a preliminary windup move. A windup pitcher does not have to "wind up" so without any preliminary foot stretch a pitcher putting his hands together then could do a normal sidways windup or just rear back and throw. Might present problems if enough guys tried to game the system but right now there there are just a few in MLB.

[Rich Ives]

3 hours ago, David3 said:

If a pitcher's Windup position is very similar to a set position with runner/s on bases he has to announce this windup pitching to umpires under rule 5.07(a)(2) Comment. Is there a balk if he announces Windup and uses the set motion?

If he announces windup just treat it as windup.

[Jimurray]

9 minutes ago, Rich Ives said:

If he announces windup just treat it as windup.

With R3, depending on the pitchers normal set and windup motions, a free foot move could entice R3 to open or steal. The pitcher shall not raise either foot from the ground in the windup except as part of his normal pitching motion.

[Rich Ives]

1 hour ago, Jimurray said:

With R3, depending on the pitchers normal set and windup motions, a free foot move could entice R3 to open or steal. The pitcher shall not raise either foot from the ground in the windup except as part of his normal pitching motion.

He announced windup. The runners know it. Treat it as such.

[Jimurray]

1 hour ago, Rich Ives said:

He announced windup. The runners know it. Treat it as such.

Exactly, so if he starts his windup, such as initiating a free foot move to a set position and stops it's a balk

[Rich Ives]

16 hours ago, Jimurray said:

Exactly, so if he starts his windup, such as initiating a free foot move to a set position and stops it's a balk

That's not what you said.  You said "The pitcher shall not raise either foot from the ground in the windup except as part of his normal pitching motion"

A pitcher can pick from windup so the foot movement isn't necessarily the start of a pitch. You also need to raise the pivot foot to step off.

[Jimurray]

56 minutes ago, Rich Ives said:

That's not what you said.  You said "The pitcher shall not raise either foot from the ground in the windup except as part of his normal pitching motion"

A pitcher can pick from windup so the foot movement isn't necessarily the start of a pitch. You also need to raise the pivot foot to step off.

"Shall not raise either foot from the ground, except...." is in the rule and the rulemakers did not envision your semantic argument that a pitcher in the windup has to raise a foot to pick or step off. We allow that of course but my application of the rule wording is in reference to the OP and a possible foot movement that would deceive R3 into thinking the windup had started.