Balk? Stepping off rubber

[blueman]

FED. R3. F1 is in set position. As he lifts his back foot to step backward off the rubber his spike on his shoe hits the top of the rubber which causes a slight hesitation/stutter before he completed disengaging the rubber. He did not lose his balance nor did it cause any other awkward movement that might be called a balk. It is hard to describe, but basically instead of lifting his foot 2" to clear the rubber he lifted it 1 3/4", hit the rubber, and then stepped off. Balk or not? I cannot find anything in the book to support a balk.

[yawetag]

If it's his pivot foot, I'm not calling a balk.

[DutchRobbie]

I'm also not calling a balk. The intention is clearly to step off the rubber, and that is also clear to every runner so no deception there

[Mr Umpire]

I'd call no balk as well.

[blueman]

Thanks guys. My partner and I saw it the same way and did not call a balk. I felt confident about the call, but started thinking about it on the way home and wanted some feedback from some knowledgeable people.

[yawetag]

R2. F1 brings his non-pivot foot back, where the cleats catch the rubber. He falls backwards, where his non-pivot foot gains distance and direction toward 2B. You call a balk for starting and stopping. Coach and F1 argue he was going for the pick-off, and he wasn't required to throw.

What now?

[noumpere]

R2. F1 brings his non-pivot foot back, where the cleats catch the rubber. He falls backwards, where his non-pivot foot gains distance and direction toward 2B. You call a balk for starting and stopping. Coach and F1 argue he was going for the pick-off, and he wasn't required to throw.

What now?

If hes in the set and brings his not pivot foot back hes already stepped and gaine distance and direction when his foot hits the rubber. Explain again why "you" called a balk.

[Mr Umpire]

R2. F1 brings his non-pivot foot back, where the cleats catch the rubber. He falls backwards, where his non-pivot foot gains distance and direction toward 2B. You call a balk for starting and stopping. Coach and F1 argue he was going for the pick-off, and he wasn't required to throw.

What now?

No balk. He has gained distance and direction as long as his foot goes toward 2B.

[yawetag]

Explain again why "you" called a balk.

I didn't; was just giving a different scenario where it wasn't the pivot foot that caused the fall. I can see an umpire saying that he had committed to pitch. Personally, it's not a balk.