Is this a balk?

[BLWizzRanger]

I called a balk tonight. NFHS. Looking at 6.2.5 - 'while not touching the pitcher's plate, makes any movement naturally associated with his pitch....'

R1, R2.  Pitcher is in the stretch position, comes set, steps off legally but stays astride the plate.  Raises his non pivot foot slowly to a where his knee is bent at a ninety degree angle.   I called the balk saying he is mimic'ing a pitch.  I don't know if he was going to throw to first or second or what.  But, this movement, in my mind, is naturally associated with a pitch.

I have a good relationship with the coach and talked to him afterwards and he said they have done this a couple of times without a balk being called since the pitcher is off of the plate, they can do what they want. But all of his actions was showing him still in the set position (hands together, in front of body) and him raising his leg as he would do to start a pitch.

If this isn't what 'naturally associated with his pitch' means, what does this mean?

[Jimurray]

9 minutes ago, BLWizzRanger said:

I called a balk tonight. NFHS. Looking at 6.2.5 - 'while not touching the pitcher's plate, makes any movement naturally associated with his pitch....'

R1, R2.  Pitcher is in the stretch position, comes set, steps off legally but stays astride the plate.  Raises his non pivot foot slowly to a where his knee is bent at a ninety degree angle.   I called the balk saying he is mimic'ing a pitch.  I don't know if he was going to throw to first or second or what.  But, this movement, in my mind, is naturally associated with a pitch.

I have a good relationship with the coach and talked to him afterwards and he said they have done this a couple of times without a balk being called since the pitcher is off of the plate, they can do what they want. But all of his actions was showing him still in the set position (hands together, in front of body) and him raising his leg as he would do to start a pitch.

If this isn't what 'naturally associated with his pitch' means, what does this mean?

That’s a balk. 

[Replacematt]

1 hour ago, BLWizzRanger said:

I called a balk tonight. NFHS. Looking at 6.2.5 - 'while not touching the pitcher's plate, makes any movement naturally associated with his pitch....'

R1, R2.  Pitcher is in the stretch position, comes set, steps off legally but stays astride the plate.  Raises his non pivot foot slowly to a where his knee is bent at a ninety degree angle.   I called the balk saying he is mimic'ing a pitch.  I don't know if he was going to throw to first or second or what.  But, this movement, in my mind, is naturally associated with a pitch.

I have a good relationship with the coach and talked to him afterwards and he said they have done this a couple of times without a balk being called since the pitcher is off of the plate, they can do what they want. But all of his actions was showing him still in the set position (hands together, in front of body) and him raising his leg as he would do to start a pitch.

If this isn't what 'naturally associated with his pitch' means, what does this mean?

If he had been engaged with the rubber, would he have been obligated to pitch from that point?

[Senor Azul]

Well done, Mr. BLWizzRanger. You made the right on-field call and you cited the correct rule in support. Here are the only three case plays I could find from the FED about rule 6-2-5.

2019 NFHS Case Book Play 6.2.5 Situation A:  With R1 at first, F1, in the stretch position, steps quickly backward off the pitcher’s plate and with a motion much like his pitching delivery throws to the plate where (a) B2 hits the throw or (b) R1 is thrown out stealing by F2 on a pitchout. RULING:  In (a) and (b), it is a balk. F1, while he is not touching the pitcher’s plate, shall not make any movement naturally associated with his pitch.

2003 NFHS Baseball Rule Interpretations  SITUATION 20: F1 is an ambidextrous pitcher with an ambidextrous glove. After a runner reaches first base, the field umpire moves to the B position. The pitcher standing just behind the pitcher's plate, assumes a windup position and with his hands up and in front of his body. He then slides his left hand into the glove while bringing his right hand into the glove to grip the ball completing the switch from a left-handed thrower to right-handed thrower to face a right-handed batter. The pitcher then engages the pitcher's plate. The umpire in the B position did not see the pitcher switch throwing hands. The pitcher, in the wind-up position as a right-handed pitcher, steps off the pitcher's plate with the pivot (right) foot first and then throws to first base in an attempt to pick off a runner. The umpire in B calls a balk because he thought the pitcher was left-handed. Is this a balk? How obvious does the pitcher have to be in making the switch from left to right? RULING: This is a balk. An ambidextrous pitcher must face a batter either as a left-handed or right-handed pitcher but not both. He may change to the other hand to pitch on the next batter, but he must begin and complete his pitching responsibility to an individual batter with the same hand through his turn at bat. This is deceptive and not in the spirit of fair play. (2-28-3, 3-3-1g, 6-1-1 note, 6-2-5)

2002 NFHS Baseball Rule Interpretations  SITUATION 14: With a runner on first base, the right-handed pitcher is in the set position. The pitcher legally steps behind the pitcher’s plate with his pivot foot but then steps toward home as if he is delivering a pitch. He then pivots and throws to first base, picking off the runner. RULING: This is a balk. The ball is dead and the runner is awarded second base. The pitcher, while off the pitcher’s plate, is prohibited from making any movement naturally associated with his pitch. (2-3-1, 5-1-1k, 6-2-5)

[maven]

As I'm envisioning this, it sounds like a balk, for the provision the OP indicates.

The only question I have is how fast it happened. F1 can lift his leg to throw to a base, but if it looks like a pitch it's a balk. And the latter question is umpire judgment.

Note that the restrictions on F1 (step and throw directly to a base, where the step gains distance & direction, etc.) do not apply after he has legally disengaged.

[noumpere]

8 hours ago, BLWizzRanger said:

 since the pitcher is off of the plate, they can do what they want

... except act like a pitcher

[BLWizzRanger]

I should have added this was a right handed pitcher, therefore, his back was toward first base.  Also, the leg raising was 'slower' then most that when I called the balk, he looked like a crane (the best way I can describe it) - no movement or step toward a base. 

I am wondering if I let this go for another few seconds, a throw would have been made or he would have just brought the leg down and reset.

7 hours ago, Matt said:

If he had been engaged with the rubber, would he have been obligated to pitch from that point?

No. No movement or step to a base nor did he cross the back edge of the plate.

 

Senor Azul

The examples given provide a motion toward the plate, which did not happen in this case.

[maven]

56 minutes ago, BLWizzRanger said:

Also, the leg raising was 'slower' than most that when I called the balk, he looked like a crane (the best way I can describe it) - no movement or step toward a base.

Had he done that while engaged, it would have been a start/stop balk.

Once a RHP gets to the balance point, he IS committed to pitch. If he throws to a base at that point, it's a step balk (failure to step directly to a base).