Balk or no Balk

[Darknight9797]

Hello all this was an issue that I had come up in a men’s league 18+ baseball game. The league follows MLB rules. There was a pitcher who would come completely set off the rubber. They would then step onto the rubber and pitch. Is it illegal to come set and simulate a pitching position while off the rubber? I was under the impression that this would be considered a false set and a deception of any baserunners which would be a balk. Thank you for any responses!

[SeeingEyeDog]

Under OBR, your citation is 6.02(a)(7): If there is a runner or runners on base, it is a balk when the pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher's plate.

~Dawg

[grayhawk]

First, I would advise against thinking about "deception," and focus on whether or not the pitcher is violating a rule.

There may be a couple of things happening here:

Was he taking his signs from the catcher while off the rubber? If so, this is a great opportunity to correct this behavior to let him know he needs to be on the rubber to take the signs. This is not a balk, it's a "don't do that."

If he is fully simulating his stretch off the rubber, then I would go ahead and balk it. He is not required to go through the "stretch" motions, but if he does so, he must be on the rubber and start with his pitching hand to his side or behind him.

If he's just oblivious and stepping on the rubber with his hands together in front of his body, I'm not letting him do that. I wouldn't balk it, but again let him know that his hands must be separated before engaging the rubber.

[jimurrayalterego]

1 hour ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Under OBR, your citation is 6.02(a)(7): If there is a runner or runners on base, it is a balk when the pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher's plate.

~Dawg

1 hour ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Under OBR, your citation is 6.02(a)(7): If there is a runner or runners on base, it is a balk when the pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher's plate.

~Dawg

Need more info as to “coming set”. That is usually not associated with his pitching motion to deliver but if he comes set while astride the rubber to deceive a runner we stretch that cite to balk it. Otherwise we tell the pitcher not to take the rubber in the set with his hands together. “Don’t do that”. 

[Replacematt]

On 11/25/2024 at 3:07 PM, SeeingEyeDog said:

Under OBR, your citation is 6.02(a)(7): If there is a runner or runners on base, it is a balk when the pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher's plate.

~Dawg

I've always disagreed with this as the set position is NOT associated with a pitch. A pitcher can do anything a pitcher does from the set position, and is not required only to pitch from it.

[jimurrayalterego]

27 minutes ago, Replacematt said:

I've always disagreed with this as the set position is NOT associated with a pitch. A pitcher can do anything a pitcher does from the set position, and is not required only to pitch from it.

We can stretch the enforcement with "motion naturally associated". But I agree it is a stretch. But I use it at the levels where idiots do that.