Is Max Scherzer's Set Position Pitch Clock Strategy Legal?

[Lindsay]

Mets pitcher Max Scherzer labored into the third inning of New York's Spring Training game against Washington with a peculiar strategy to use the pitch clock to his advantage while throwing batters off their rhythm. But with HP Umpire Jeremy Riggs calling multiple infractions, is Scherzer's gamesmanship legal or a violation of the rules?

One week into Spring Training, Scherzer took the mound with a new approach to pitching to a clock. After surrendering a single to Nationals batter Ildemaro Vargas, Scherzer shifted tactics for ensuing batter Victor Robles, assuming Set Position as soon as possible in an effort to catch Vargas off guard for the ensuing delivery to home plate. HP Umpire Riggs, however, called Scherzer for a balk on his first attempt—the Mets ace had begun his delivery prior to the Nats batter becoming fully set and "alert" in the box.

Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(5) states that it is a balk when a pitcher makes an illegal pitch: "A quick pitch is an illegal pitch. Umpires will judge a quick pitch as one delivered before the batter is reasonably set in the batter’s box. With runners on base the penalty is a balk; with no runners on base, it is a ball. The quick pitch is dangerous and should not be permitted."

It is of little dispute that beginning one's delivery prior to the batter looking toward the mound constitutes a quick return pitch. With a runner on, this was called a balk.

As the inning progressed, it appeared Scherzer played more and more clock games, including the come-set-before-the-batter-gets-ready race and the make-the-batter-request-"Time"-and-exhaust-their-limit-of-one-"Time"-per-at-bat. If the batter did manage to assume alertness before Scherzer arrived at Set Position, Scherzer would simply hold the ball and wait until the pitch clock neared expiration prior to starting his delivery (Riggs called Scherzer for a time-expired violation once in the inning).

Insofar as a pitcher coming Set prior to the batter's readiness, the rules (namely 5.07(a)(2) regarding Set Position) do not outlaw the move: the rule simply requires the batter come set before delivering to the batter (we're assuming Set Position and not Windup is used). If there are runners, the pitcher must momentarily stop in Set prior to pitching (penalty: no-stop balk).

But there is no restriction in timing of when a pitch is first allowed to come set. Thus, Scherzer's strategy is legal, although the potential cost of messing with one's own timing and cadence (Scherzer's line was 2.2 IP, 7 R) may out-weight the potential benefits.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Scherzer tries playing pitch clock games against Washington, to mixed results (NYM)

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[The Man in Blue]

1 hour ago, Lindsay said:

Insofar as a pitcher coming Set prior to the batter's readiness, the rules (namely 5.07(a)(2) regarding Set Position) do not outlaw the move: the rule simply requires the batter come set before delivering to the batter (we're assuming Set Position and not Windup is used). If there are runners, the pitcher must momentarily stop in Set prior to pitching (penalty: no-stop balk).

 

Glad to get some confirmation ...

Usually in middle school ball, but I inevitably will have this happen a few times each season.  Not that the kids are working a clock or playing games against the batter, they just aren't fully in tune with the game yet.  

I've had a few coaches question allowing this to occur.  As long as the batter was alert when the pitch came, I allowed it because I couldn't find anything saying that it was illegal (because there isn't anything!).  If it happened more than once in a game and a coach questioned it, I would ask the pitcher to slow down and wait for the batter before coming set, but I never killed it or disallowed it.

[Tborze]

19 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

 

Glad to get some confirmation ...

Usually in middle school ball, but I inevitably will have this happen a few times each season.  Not that the kids are working a clock or playing games against the batter, they just aren't fully in tune with the game yet.  

I've had a few coaches question allowing this to occur.  As long as the batter was alert when the pitch came, I allowed it because I couldn't find anything saying that it was illegal (because there isn't anything!).  If it happened more than once in a game and a coach questioned it, I would ask the pitcher to slow down and wait for the batter before coming set, but I never killed it or disallowed it.

Mississippi plays under OBR?

 

[The Man in Blue]

They play all kinds of things, but no ... I'm back in Illinois (guess I need to update that).  I didn't mean to infer that either MS or IL played under OBR.  Just that there isn't anything saying when the pitcher has to start his set motion or come set.

Is there something in NFHS (or another code) I am missing?  

[Tborze]

11 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

They play all kinds of things, but no ... I'm back in Illinois (guess I need to update that).  I didn't mean to infer that either MS or IL played under OBR.  Just that there isn't anything saying when the pitcher has to start his set motion or come set.

Is there something in NFHS (or another code) I am missing?  

In HS the pitcher cannot start in the “set” position. 6-1-3

The pitcher shall have the ball in hand or glove and his pitching hand at his side or behind his back.  He shall then go to…

OBR uses the term “If he so elects” to “stretch”, or something like that. It is quoted in the video. 

[Jimurray]

2 hours ago, Tborze said:

In HS the pitcher cannot start in the “set” position. 6-1-3

The pitcher shall have the ball in hand or glove and his pitching hand at his side or behind his back.  He shall then go to…

OBR uses the term “If he so elects” to “stretch”, or something like that. It is quoted in the video. 

There is nothing in OBR or FED that prohibits a pitcher from taking the rubber legally with hands apart, getting a sign, and then coming set with or without a stretch while the batter is still walking up to the box. It does now require the umpire to be alert to any motion that might be a balk and any attempt to QP.

[Tborze]

7 hours ago, Jimurray said:

There is nothing in OBR or FED that prohibits a pitcher from taking the rubber legally with hands apart, getting a sign, and then coming set with or without a stretch while the batter is still walking up to the box. It does now require the umpire to be alert to any motion that might be a balk and any attempt to QP.

Jim, I’m not sure what you are saying.  

My point was simply that in FED, the pitcher must come set. In other words, hands apart to start with and then come set. I don’t believe I mentioned a time frame.
In OBR the pitcher can engage the rubber with his hands already together (set position), correct?

 

[Jimurray]

On 3/6/2023 at 5:35 PM, Tborze said:

Jim, I’m not sure what you are saying.  

My point was simply that in FED, the pitcher must come set. In other words, hands apart to start with and then come set. I don’t believe I mentioned a time frame.
In OBR the pitcher can engage the rubber with his hands already together (set position), correct?

 

No, in OBR the pitcher can not take the rubber with hands together in the set. The rule that prohibits that has no penalty for it, thus a “do not do that”.