Pitcher deceiving a baserunner?

[urout17]

Fed rule set.  HS Varsity 2-man crew.

B1 receives ball four and legally acquires 1B.  A new batter is approaching the batter's box. The pitcher has engaged the pitching plate but has not taken signs yet, he's just standing there.  While the pitcher is waiting for the batter, he tossed the still live ball in the air to himself 2 or 3 times.  My partner yells "That's a balk" and moves R1 to 2B.  I have never seen this before.  Is this action, while engaged on the pitching plate with a live ball, considered deceiving the baserunner?  Rule 6-2 Art 4e states that the pitcher cannot take his hand off the ball "while in the set position"....etc.  Can I get some clarification on this?  Is there another rule that I'm missing?

Thank you for your help.

[Senor Azul]

2019 NFHS Case Book Play 6.1.3 Situation F:  With R1 on first, F1 receives the ball from F2 and with his feet in set-position stance and in contact with the pitcher’s plate (a) nervously tosses ball in glove two or three times, or (b) removes the ball from his glove. RULING:  This is a balk in (a) and (b). Restrictions on F1’s movements begin when he intentionally contacts the pitcher’s plate with his pivot foot.

[Richvee]

6-1-1

The pitching regulations begin when he intentionally contacts the pitcher's plate.

 

6.1.3 SITUATION F:

With R1 on first, F1 receives the ball from F2 and with his feet in set position stance and in contact with the pitcher’s plate (a) nervously tosses ball in glove two or three times, or (b) removes the ball from his glove.

RULING: This is a balk in (a) and (b). Restrictions on F1’s movements begin when he intentionally contacts the pitcher’s plate with his pivot foot.

[Richvee]

You got to get up early in the morning to beat @Senor Azul to a rule cite 

[urout17]

Thanks guys.  But one thing.  I understand if he tosses the ball into his glove.  That means he has to remove the ball FROM his glove as well.  Does this rule also pertain if he tosses the ball up and down in his bare hand?  Just asking.

 

[noumpere]

19 minutes ago, urout17 said:

Thanks guys.  But one thing.  I understand if he tosses the ball into his glove.  That means he has to remove the ball FROM his glove as well.  Does this rule also pertain if he tosses the ball up and down in his bare hand?  Just asking.

 

By rule, yes.  How strictly it's enforced, and whether you can "game manage" around it will depend on the specifics (you might, for example, just call time when you see this happen -- so no balk)

[Jimurray]

I think the OBR balk is that the pitcher had the ball intentionally slip out of his hand but I think it can also be balked as a feint without a step. The FED wording requires dropping so playing catch with the ball in the pitching hand is not addressed except for considering it a feint. NCAA does not address it but it can be also be considered a feint. 

[Senor Azul]

2019 NFHS rule 6-1 ART. 3 . . . For the set position, the pitcher shall have the ball in either his gloved hand or his pitching hand. His pitching hand shall be down at his side or behind his back…

2019 NFHS Case Book Play 6.1.3 Situation Q:  With a runner on first, Team A right-handed pitcher is in the set position, bent at the waist and his pitching arm naturally hangs down slightly in front or to the side away from his body. As he looks to the catcher for a signal, (a) the pitcher’s arm is stationary or (b) the pitching arm rocks slightly from side to side. RULING:  In (a), the position of the arm is natural and can be considered by his side in meeting the rule. Any movement would then start the pitch. In (b), any movement of the arm is considered the start of the pitching motion and a pitch must be delivered to the plate so this motion results in a balk.

[MadMax]

4 hours ago, urout17 said:

Is this action, while engaged on the pitching plate with a live ball, considered deceiving the baserunner?

This is the key component. If he had been in the exact same position, and dropped the ball, would you have called a Balk? Yeah, almost have to.

We cut F1’s a lot of slack when “settling in” or (in the process of) engaging. As you said, he hasn’t taken signs yet, the new batter hasn’t even stepped in the box yet, and the R1 is probably standing on 1B taking his five pounds of EvoShields off with the 1BC draped over him pointing towards the 3BC to anticipate the offensive signs to be given. Is he going anywhere soon? No. Is he in any danger of being put out? No. Conversely, is the F3 even seriously trying or ready to hold him on yet? Likely, no. So, granted, these are High School kids and at any moment, may do something stupid ill-advised, but the likelihood of F1 attempting to put out R1 is virtually zero.

I emphasize “virtual” because what you encountered (what your partner called) and what @Senor Azul and @Richvee cited are “technical” and “literal”.

As a pitcher is settling in, he engages, then drags and kicks his foot several times so as to create a more even or stable surface in front of the rubber for his foot. Did he properly disengage? Did he not make a move with his feet towards 1B then 3B then 1B then 3B then 1B then 3B then 1B then 3B? Next, he re-engages, and brings his hand up to adjust his hat so the bill is shading his eyes better, or any of the myriad of personal quirks he has. Was that feinting a throw? Did he not just bring the ball up above the waist, and then return it back down to his side? Finally, he starts taking signs and R1 leads off! He goes through the entire cycle of pitch signs, and with his pitching hand in front of him (or with his glove), makes a “circle motion”, directing his catcher to go through the signs again. Wasn’t that the start of the pitching motion?

What’s missing in those literal citations is context. This is also why Balks are a judgement call. Sure, rightly so, they are built on technical factors, but what they absolutely need is contextual judgement and discernment on our part as umpires so as to properly and effectively apply them.

I once was in a college-level game wherein a storm front was rolling in. At a very inopportune moment, a tremendous gust of wind surged over the 3B dugout and swept towards the mound, me at B position, and the F4 behind me. That F1, in the stretch position, reactively brought his hand up to his eyes to shield them from the scalding cloud of grit carried by the gust, and then stepped off to disengage. I called “Time!” and then averted my eyes as the gust hit me, the grit sounding like a sand blaster as it hit my convertible jacket.

And what do I hear from the OTHC? “Uh, balk?!” I replied, “Nope, I’ve got Time called.” “Oh come on! Don’t be calling it just because you feel sorry for him!” Did F1 technically commit a Balk? Sure, by the “letter of the law”. But did he move or act in that way so as to deceive the runner, slow him down, or attempt to put him Out? No. Get real. There was, or is, no way I’m calling that – in that contextual moment – a Balk.

@noumpere calls this “contextual discernment” game management. And this is a developed skill.

[Jimurray]

1 hour ago, Senor Azul said:

2019 NFHS rule 6-1 ART. 3 . . . For the set position, the pitcher shall have the ball in either his gloved hand or his pitching hand. His pitching hand shall be down at his side or behind his back…

2019 NFHS Case Book Play 6.1.3 Situation Q:  With a runner on first, Team A right-handed pitcher is in the set position, bent at the waist and his pitching arm naturally hangs down slightly in front or to the side away from his body. As he looks to the catcher for a signal, (a) the pitcher’s arm is stationary or (b) the pitching arm rocks slightly from side to side. RULING:  In (a), the position of the arm is natural and can be considered by his side in meeting the rule. Any movement would then start the pitch. In (b), any movement of the arm is considered the start of the pitching motion coming set and a pitch must be delivered to the plate he must come set in one continuous motion so this motion could result in a balk.

Not a good case play and not germane to flipping the ball in the pitching hand.

[Richvee]

@MadMax - Are you going to treat a change from the windup to the stretch without stepping off the same way? Same scenario, R1 is "un-armor-ing" , b2 is kicking a toe hole, F1 gets on the rubber,  heels on the rubber facing the plate, remembers he's got an R1, and just turns to a set position. IMO you have got to get this balk. Yet there's no deceit, R1 wasn't going anywhere, etc.

I hate the "deceit" word in this rule. It should only be considered when you're on the fence about the legality of the action(s) by F1. When the infraction is clear as day, deceit has no bearing. 

[Kevin_K]

10 hours ago, Richvee said:

@MadMax - Are you going to treat a change from the windup to the stretch without stepping off the same way? Same scenario, R1 is "un-armor-ing" , b2 is kicking a toe hole, F1 gets on the rubber,  heels on the rubber facing the plate, remembers he's got an R1, and just turns to a set position. IMO you have got to get this balk. Yet there's no deceit, R1 wasn't going anywhere, etc.

I hate the "deceit" word in this rule. It should only be considered when you're on the fence about the legality of the action(s) by F1. When the infraction is clear as day, deceit has no bearing. 

Sorry @Richvee , I have to disagree. I find this to be a case of using the rule book to create a problem rather than using it to solve a problem.

My .02 YMMV.

[Richvee]

1 hour ago, Kevin_K said:

Sorry @Richvee , I have to disagree. I find this to be a case of using the rule book to create a problem rather than using it to solve a problem.

My .02 YMMV.

That surprises me you would let that slide. 

[Thatsnotyou]

I balk that every time in any game 12u and up.