Baseball Pitcher pitching rules

[christopherg8106]

rule 8.01a the pitchers free foot is permitted to be in front, behind, or off to the side of the rubber, i don't see where it says it must be in contact

[OrbitalMask]

there is one rule i really need to know ? What happens when you throw 4 balls instead of 3 strikes ? i can't find the answer anywhere ... Please help me !

[firstpickjim]

@OrbitalMask - Rule 6.08 The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put

out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when—

(a) Four “balls” have been called by the umpire;

[OrbitalMask]

@firstpickjim

thanks a lot ! it helped me !

[ichirojm]

runners on 2nd and 3rd ,catcher throws to third,a little wide from the base,its this a balk?

[firstpickjim]

@ichirojm The catcher can't balk. Only the pitcher can balk. If you meant pitcher, it isn't a balk either.

[ichirojm]

@firstpickjim i told him this as we had a meeting just yesterday and he still argues it"s a balk!

[firstpickjim]

@ichirojm he needs to read the rules - 2.00 A BALK is an illegal act by the pitcher with a runner or runners on base. NOTE that it states a balk is an illegal act by the PITCHER. And a throw that is offline isn't a balk even by the pitcher.

[ichirojm]

@firstpickjim thanks i will let him know.

[antiboy551]

is this a rule well my last game my teamate took a windup from the mound but he didnt throw it to the catcher because he wasnt pitching and the Umpire calll him a new pitcher and he had to pitch and i didnt think that was a rule

[firstpickjim]

@antiboy551 Depending on the age and level of play, the umpire may have been being a little picky, but he was correct. If a player steps on the rubber at the beginning of an inning, he is assumed to be a new pitcher. See rule 3.08

(a) If no announcement of a substitution is made, the substitute shall be considered as

having entered the game when—

(1) If a pitcher, he takes his place on the pitcher’s plate;

[antiboy551]

@firstpickjim oh but my coach sent that to other leagues and they agreed that you must pitch to the catcher to be called a new pitcher but my teamate didnt pitch

[firstpickjim]

@antiboy551 I gave you the rule from the Official Rules. If it was a Little League Baseball game, then the rule is different. Rule 3.08(a)(1) has an added sentence for LL, which is; (1) If a pitcher, he takes his place on the pitcher’s plate AND THROWS ONE WARMUP PITCH TO THE CATCHER.

[antiboy551]

@firstpickjim yea im in the little leagues and he didnt throw a warmup

[TheKeyboardKitty]

This fellows legit.

[sexykatie90]

firstpickjim  my msn in profile! Baseball Pitcher pitching rules

[Emdamax]

Can you throw over to first from the preliminary set position? That is, can you turn and throw over when you are stretched before coming set?

Don't you have to come set first or step behind the rubber to disengage?

[firstpickjim]

@Emdamax Yes, you may throw to first while touching the rubber before coming set. You only have to come to the full set position before you deliver a pitch. You never have to disengage before throwing to a base. See rule 8.01(b) and (c)

[82drumhead]

I have a question. I know it doesnt happen often, but what happens if you balk when there are no runners on base. I.E. dropping the ball, interupting the wind up? Is it just a ball?

[firstpickjim]

@82drumhead - There can't be a balk when no runners are on base. A ball that is dropped or slips out of the hand during a pitch is nothing, unless the ball rolls far enough to cross the foul line, and then it is called ball. Any stop, or interruption with no runners on base is nothing.

[82drumhead]

Alrighty. Thanks, I appreciate it!

[stefono62]

hey i got a question for you, if your a left handed pitcher and you pick to first with no one else on, does the pither have to commit to throw the ball? Same with right handed pitcher to third also?

[firstpickjim]

@stefono62 - The rules are the same for both left and right-handed pitchers. A pitcher may fake a throw to second or third, but not to first.

[stefono62]

@firstpickjim ah ok thanks

[picklehiesner]

Jim,

If two players are on the same base and both are tagged who is out ?

[firstpickjim]

It depends on whether a force is in effect or not. If a force is in effect, the forced runner is out when he is tagged. If not, the trailing runner is out.

[thelionsmain22]

Question for ya Jim? Whats the rule if a left handed pitcher tries to pick off a runner at first and doesn't step strait towards first base? He steps within a 45 degree angle. Would this constitute as a balk? I heard if he is within a 45 degree angle its okay. -Thanks

[firstpickjim]

It's entirely a judgment by the umpire, as to whether the pitcher stepped in a manner that requires him to pitch, or throw to a base. There is no 45 degree line, although that MAY be used as part of the judgment. The MLB Umpire manual simply states that the free foot must land in spot different from where it started, and closer to, and in the direction of; first base.

[82drumhead]

Is this a balk? Pitcher has a runner on second. Starts wind up to where the leg is up, pivots 180 degrees toward 2nd, disengauges the ruber and runs after the runner for a rundown play.

[firstpickjim]

The ump must judge whether a motion was started toward the plate, or whether the move was the start of a pitch, or not. Simply lifting the leg and then pivoting toward second, is not a balk, but the move must be directly toward second without interruption, or hesitation. If his foot lands on the back side of the rubber and then he disengages, that's OK.

[TrojanTechie]

No, because technically speaking it is natural for the pitcher to take his leg, break the plane of the rubber, and from that point he can either deliver the pitch to home plate, or pick off to second base.

Note: After he breaks the vertical plane of the rubber he cannot pick off to any base, other than second. HE MUST GO TO SECOND OR THE PLATE

[picklehiesner]

Jim,

what are the rules regarding touching your hat while on the mound ? I know you cant go to your mouth but what about your hat ? What is the penalty...balk ?

[firstpickjim]

Prior to coming to a legal pitching position, a pitcher may touch his hat. Once his hands are together, and he is on the rubber, if he removes his hand from the ball and touches his hat, it is a balk.

[nik123498]

hey i have a question do the pitchers need to were a mask becuase i was a pitcher and the ball came streight back and hit me in the face!!

[hydejing]

thanks for sharing this great video

hope to see more vids from you

cheers

[mwl2344]

Jim, I have a question maybe you can help me with. If a player swings at strike three and it hits his foot and goes to the backstop can he still advance to first ? Can the runner on second advance ?

[firstpickjim]

No. The ball is dead when the batter is touched by the ball. He is out on strike 3 and runners may not advance.

Rule 5.09 The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, without liability to be put out, when—

(a) A pitched ball touches a batter, or his clothing, while in his legal batting position;

6.05 A batter is out when—

(f) He attempts to hit a third strike and the ball touches him;

[mwl2344]

It is true that a pitcher may throw to a base without disengaging from the rubber however in doing so he can not make any movement toward home plate. There is no way to turn to first without your lead leg moving towards home before you complete your turn to first.

[firstpickjim]

The pitcher does NOT have to move his pivot foot first. In fact, until 2006, that was "technically illegal." The pivot foot is exactly that. It is the foot that you may pivot on, when stepping and throwing to a base. The ump judges whether the lift of the foot is a move to home, or to the base. He MUST lift the foot before throwing to a base. He cannot spin on the free foot. But, he MAY simply pivot on the pivot foot. It's simply been common practice to jab step. See the next reply.

[firstpickjim]

Rule 8.01c (c) At any time during the pitchers preliminary movements and until his natural pitching motion commits him to the pitch, he may throw to any base provided he steps directly toward such base before making the throw.

Rule 8.01(c) Comment: The pitcher shall step ahead of the throw. A snap throw followed by the step directly toward the base is a balk.

The step where the pivot foot moves has been accepted for years as part of a "pivot" on that foot. It is not required.

[firstpickjim]

The move that you believe is required, is a move that is accepted, but per the rules prior to 2006 was a balk technically a balk. Here is text from the MLB Umpire Manual.

Balks section 7.5 - (i) It is legal for a right-handed pitcher to begin a pick-off move to first base by first moving his foot in the direction of third base provided that he makes a legal step toward first base with

the non-pivot foot before throwing there and provided that the move is continuous and without interruption.

[mwl2344]

OMG Where are you an ump. Is that a little league field you are on ? Some of what you are saying is true but some of it is very misleading. You can not just turn and throw to first base without disengaging from the rubber like you demonstrate in this video.

[firstpickjim]

You do not have to disengage prior to throwing to a base. That's a myth. Here's the rule; Rule 8.01(a) Comment: In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his free foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber.

From the Windup Position, the pitcher may:

(1) deliver the ball to the batter, or

(2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or

(3) disengage the rubber

[firstpickjim]

Here is the rule for the set 8.01b; Set Position shall be indicated by the pitcher when he stands facing the batter with his pivot foot in contact with, and his other foot in front of, the pitchers plate, holding the ball in both hands in front of his body and coming to a complete stop. From such Set Position he may deliver the ball to the batter, throw to a base or step backward off the pitchers plate with his pivot foot.

[firstpickjim]

A PITCHER may throw to a base. You are the pitcher when you are in contact with he rubber. When you disengage you are no longer the pitcher. You do not have to cease being the pitcher before you can throw to a base.

[alaestia]

what about a switch pitcher? is there a rule in the major leagues for that type of thing?

[SovietskiiSniper]

false.

One feet must be in contact on the full wind up.

rule 8.01 a

The Windup Position. The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, his pivot foot in contact with the pitchers plate and the other foot free.

[SovietskiiSniper]

Rule 8.01(a) Comment: In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his free foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber.

[SovietskiiSniper]

I am not a professionnal umpire and never even watched a full game, but went it comes back to the rules, I shut it up and look for the rule in the official book or state it as close as possible to the original sentence.

Perhaps he does know much, but yet the rule book only precise the pivot foot to be in contact and never speaks abotu both feet. And, what makes me thing they let it be were oyu want is the comment which precise:

the pitcher is permitted to have his free foot on the rubber.

[firstpickjim]

You are correct that I made a mistake about both feet needing to be in contact.

The rule has also changed since I made the video. The free foot can now be off to the side, and what I said was accepted, is now the rule. In the real world, umpires do not enforce the rule to the letter. As long as the pitcher is facing the batter with the pivot foot touching the rubber, and pointed at the batter, they do not concern themselves with much else. I was providing the basics of the rule.

[slap3333]

to go to third cant u lift your leg up then step towards third with that foot and throw

[firstpickjim]

Yes, but you must do it without making ANY motion that is judged by they ump as used for the start of your pitching motion.

[mrtitymas]

good video jim you helped a lot with judging the balks

[gnagel]

Thanks for posting this.  I hope to see more of these in the future.

[ladonnathedip]

This was exactly what I was looking for & you did an awesome job for someone like me who just didn't understand it at all & now thanks to you ,I GET IT !!!!! Now I need to see if I can find more of your lessons...

[loughtog]

Thanks alot Jim!