Balk or Nothing?

[NY Blue]

Saw a new one yesterday. Working a scrimmage game (OBR- CalR) and pitcher, from windup, managed to flip the ball to himself under his leg, catch it and deliver the pitch. Doesn't really fit under the balk rules, unless (as I called it) you consider the act of first release of the ball and then catching it and then pitching it to be deceptive to base runners. In any case, anyone seen this little trick before and want to weigh in?

[carolinablue]

Saw a new one yesterday. Working a scrimmage game (OBR- CalR) and pitcher, from windup, managed to flip the ball to himself under his leg, catch it and deliver the pitch. Doesn't really fit under the balk rules, unless (as I called it) you consider the act of first release of the ball and then catching it and then pitching it to be deceptive to base runners. In any case, anyone seen this little trick before and want to weigh in?

WTF. Is that his normal delivery ? I can't even picture that in my mind. Also, he was in the windup so was there any runners on base?

[yawetag]

8.01a: When a pitcher holds the ball with both hands in front of his body, with his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate and his other foot free, he will be considered in the Windup Position.

Did he start with his hands together, then separate them to toss it under his leg? I think I'm stopping this after the first time he does it.

[JaxRolo]

No way you let him do that!!!!

[Mr Umpire]

I'm balking under 8.05(j). He removed 1 hand (both actually) from the ball other than an actual pitch. With no runners on, I'd say it is an illegal or no pitch. Interesting to see what others may have for something like this.

[mstaylor]

Why the hell would he do that? Was his team way ahead? Sounds like he was up by a ton and is sticking it up the other team's butt. Warn him that a repeat will end his day.