Balk

[71ump]

Fed rules state that the pitcher in the windup position has to have his non pivot foot in contact with the pitchers plate. I have seen more and more players in the windup with the non pivot foot in front of the pithers plate. Are umpires allowing this or are they calling this an illegal pitch/balk.

[Tim_C]

It is rampent here also . . . and never called.

Rich, what we see in Oregon is F1 having the non-pivot position ANYWHERE but in the legal position.

We see left handers settting the foot ANYWHERE.

T

[Rich_Ives]

Fed rules state that the pitcher in the windup position has to have his non pivot foot in contact with the pitchers plate. I have seen more and more players in the windup with the non pivot foot in front of the pithers plate. Are umpires allowing this or are they calling this an illegal pitch/balk.

Doesn't have to be in contact.

Strictly by the rules - your mileage may vary:

Windup: The pitcher’s non-pivot foot shall be in any position on or behind a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher’s plate.

Set: Before starting his delivery, he shall stand with his entire non pivot foot in front of a line extending through the front edge of the pitcher’s plate and with his entire pivot foot in contact with or directly in front of the pitcher’s plate.

6-1 says the foot position determines whether he's windup or set. Therefore if his free foot is in front of the rubber he's in set.

[71ump]

Thanks Tim and Rich. So Rich you are saying it is an illegal pitch with no runners on and a balk with runners on?

[bobjenkins]

Thanks Tim and Rich. So Rich you are saying it is an illegal pitch with no runners on and a balk with runners on?

Assuming he doesn't meet the set position requirements, yes. ;)

In practice, this is almost always ignored if there are no runners. If there are runners and it's still "obvious" what is happening (wind up or set), then it's still ignored.

And, I recongize the "danger" of letting something go for a while, and then needing to address it if it becomes an issue (and the team thinks "it's the same thing.")