Can anyone advise where does the pitcher needs to hold the ball when he is in the strech position? Most pitchers hold it behind them while taking the sign and then bring the ball hand and glove together as they set. But can there be a balk called if it is held elsewhere in the stretch?

In HS, the pitching hand (with or without the ball) must be behind his back or at his side. Anywhere else is a balk (the most common violation is the "gorilla swing") but most guys I know will just stop this rather than balk it.

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by dash_riprock:
In HS, the pitching hand (with or without the ball) must be behind his back or at his side. Anywhere else is a balk (the most common violation is the "gorilla swing") but most guys I know will just stop this rather than balk it.

They can't take the sign with the ball and hand in the glove?

Gorilla Swing?

quote:

Originally posted by Gold Glove:

quote:

Originally posted by dash_riprock:
In HS, the pitching hand (with or without the ball) must be behind his back or at his side. Anywhere else is a balk (the most common violation is the "gorilla swing") but most guys I know will just stop this rather than balk it.

They can't take the sign with the ball and hand in the glove?

Gorilla Swing?

If the hands are together, F1 has come set.

FED, in an attempt to prevent the pitcher from keeping his status unknown to a runner, states that he must have his bare hand either to his side or behind his back.

The intent is to prevent a pitcher with a runner to his back, holding his hand hidden from the runner and then just slide it into his glove and come set.

When a pitcher leans forward to take his signs and swings his arm in front of him, that has become known as the "Gorilla arm". While it does not fit the intent of the rule, it is considered a balk in FED. Many jurisdictions, with approval from state representatives, do not call this.

Indianapolis has admitted that the Gorilla arm does not fit the intent of the rule, as a runner can easily see the hand, but they have not yet found a way to word a rule that would permit this but not other actions they wish to prohibit.