Runner at 3rd with balk

[Guest Dr.J.N.]

In a Juniors Little league game (14U), runner at 3rd base, took a little extra lead when pitcher started wind-up, and the pitcher paused the leg after raising it, as if to maybe step to 3rd for the back-pick, but went home with the pitch delivery.  I was coaching 1st base and said that was a balk because of the pause in his wind up, which he had not done in any prior pitching motion before (maybe 3 innings of pitching), not his normal pitching motion, and obviously trying to deceive the runner - which is the definition of a balk.  But the base umpire said he never moved towards 3rd, and since he went home with the pitch it was not a balk.  I explained that was never in his normal pitching windup with any other batter, and thus should be a balk, but the base umpire said that it was a 'judgement call'.  I know in little league (but maybe not at the Juniors level?) you can still fake a throw to 3rd, which is not allowed in OBR.  But I thought the motion had to be one fluid motion either to 3rd (even with a fake) or to home with the pitch, and pitcher cannot hesitate or pause in the middle to try and decide what to do.  Thanks!

[maven]

52 minutes ago, Guest Dr.J.N. said:

I was coaching 1st base and said that was a balk because of the pause in his wind up

This statement reflects a correct grasp of the rule. F1 must proceed with his windup and pitch to the batter without interruption, once he is committed to pitching (starts the windup, say, with a rocker step).

But some opposing coaches see a leg stop, for example, without noticing that something else (such as the hands) continue to move. As long as something is moving, F1's delivery is legal.

And, yes, this is a judgment call. Given the severity of the penalty with R3, I'd be looking for an obvious "freeze" of F1's entire body for a substantial time, not a momentary pause of the leg.

52 minutes ago, Guest Dr.J.N. said:

which he had not done in any prior pitching motion before (maybe 3 innings of pitching), not his normal pitching motion, and obviously trying to deceive the runner

All of this is irrelevant. If F1 throws 100 pitches in a game, they can all be made with different motions without violating the balk provisions.

And deceiving the runner is not illegal in and of itself. The purpose of (legal) feints, suddenly disengaging, varying time to delivery, etc. is to deceive the runner. A balk is illegal deception, as defined in the balk rule.

[Tborze]

How is this deceiving?

You can pick to 3rd after you start your windup in LL? 

[beerguy55]

4 hours ago, Guest Dr.J.N. said:

not his normal pitching motion, and obviously trying to deceive the runner - which is the definition of a balk

No it is not.  The definition of a balk is "an illegal act by the pitcher with a runner or runners on base".  The rule book also lists several illegal actions which qualify as a balk...none of which discuss altering or deviating from a "normal" pitching motion.

[834k3r]

4 hours ago, Guest Dr.J.N. said:

I know in little league (but maybe not at the Juniors level?) you can still fake a throw to 3rd, which is not allowed in OBR.

Faking to 3B is legal in all levels of LL.

[Senor Azul]

Both the Wendelstedt and the Jaksa/Roder manuals state that it is a balk if a pitcher suspends his lift leg during his pitching motion after his set. 

From the 2013 Wendelstedt rules interpretation manual (section 6.3, p. 102):  It is a balk when...the pitcher suspends his foot in the air (he stopped his delivery) in an attempt to hold a runner.

From the 2017 Jaksa/Roder rules interpretation manual (p. 144):  It is a balk if a pitcher who is in contact...

hesitates in or interrupts his motion to join hands, pitch, throw, or disengage.

R1. A left-handed pitcher lifts his free foot and suspends it, unmoving, for a split second before proceeding in his motion to throw. Hesitation, balk.