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jtur88 · May 10th, 2007, 02:57 PM

Regarding the Balk, I think the balk rule as written is a serious blemish in a near-perfect game, and I would totally overhaul it. It is needless to have runners advancing because an umpire has, correctly or otherwise, judged that a pitcher moved his finger before his toe, or if a nod of the head is 'naturally associated with the pitch". Here is what I would replace it with:

It is a Balk if the pitcher
a) cocks his arm as if to throw to any base or the plate, and does not complete the throw
b) throws to any base or the plate without facing and stepping toward that base.. Penalty: The ball; is dead and the umpire calls Ball. The runner occupying the base that the improper throw is directed to is advanced to the next base, as are any runners forced to advance.

It is an Illegal Pitch if the pitcher
a) steps on the rubber without the ball in his possession
b) begins or ends his motion to pitch to the plate without one foot on the rubber
c) throws what is obviously a 'quick pitch' when the batter is not ready.
Penalty: A Ball is called.
--------------------
I quite honestly don't see why anything more restrictive against the pitcher is really necessary. If a runner breaks from first too soon, I can't see where the integrity of the game is seriously harmed or that a runner is unfairly deceived if the pitcher throws to an "unoccupied" second base. Can you?
In fact, in one sense, my rule is even more restrictive. No more fake throws to second. Anybody else have an opinion on this?

May 10th, 2007, 02:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
jtur88 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 7,857	Regarding the Balk, I think the balk rule as written is a serious blemish in a near-perfect game, and I would totally overhaul it. It is needless to have runners advancing because an umpire has, correctly or otherwise, judged that a pitcher moved his finger before his toe, or if a nod of the head is 'naturally associated with the pitch". Here is what I would replace it with: It is a Balk if the pitcher a) cocks his arm as if to throw to any base or the plate, and does not complete the throw b) throws to any base or the plate without facing and stepping toward that base.. Penalty: The ball; is dead and the umpire calls Ball. The runner occupying the base that the improper throw is directed to is advanced to the next base, as are any runners forced to advance. It is an Illegal Pitch if the pitcher a) steps on the rubber without the ball in his possession b) begins or ends his motion to pitch to the plate without one foot on the rubber c) throws what is obviously a 'quick pitch' when the batter is not ready. Penalty: A Ball is called. -------------------- I quite honestly don't see why anything more restrictive against the pitcher is really necessary. If a runner breaks from first too soon, I can't see where the integrity of the game is seriously harmed or that a runner is unfairly deceived if the pitcher throws to an "unoccupied" second base. Can you? In fact, in one sense, my rule is even more restrictive. No more fake throws to second. Anybody else have an opinion on this? Last edited by jtur88; May 10th, 2007 at 03:03 PM.