Time of pitch

[bluejerred]

Situation: 

 

BRL.  R1, 1 out.  Pitcher is in stretch.  R1 steals while pitcher is set and reaches second prior to the pitcher starting his pitching motion.  Batter swings and fouls off pitch.  I looked up the definition of "pitch" in the BRL rulebook and it simply states that a pitch is a ball delivered to the batter.  My question to the group is when does "time of pitch" start?  Is it when the pitching motion starts, when the ball is released, or when the pitch is completed? Thank you!

At the time this happened, we sent the runner back, which now feels like an error on our part.

[BLWizzRanger]

Isn't it the first movement in his delivery of the pitch to the plate?  Usually (and I can't think of anything else), its the movement of the non-pivot foot, lifting and stepping sideways or backwards for the windup.  For the stretch, after they become set, its the movement of the non-pivot foot being lifted and moved toward the plate.

[Velho]

24 minutes ago, bluejerred said:

My question to the group is when does "time of pitch" start?  Is it when the pitching motion starts, when the ball is released, or when the pitch is completed? Thank you!

At the time this happened, we sent the runner back, which now feels like an error on our part.

Easy to have happen but it was in fact wrong. TOP is when the pitcher starts their delivery - i.e. first movement. It takes a clueless/lackadaisical/inexperienced  pitcher and team to happen but if R1 got to 2B while F1 was still in set, R1 is now R2 at TOP.

[Senor Azul]

Babe Ruth League uses OBR. OBR covers this question in an interpretation found in the 2021 Minor League Baseball Umpire Manual (section 5.20, p. 59):

...As long as the pitcher is not committed to pitch, a runner may advance and is considered to occupy the last base touched at the time the pitcher initiates his actual delivery to the batter.

The preliminary motion known as the "stretch" is not considered the start of the pitching motion.

From a Set Position, this is defined as the moment the pitcher begins the natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter after the pitcher has come set with both hands together in front of his body.