As a former pitcher, I was taught that when you disengage the rubber you must drop your hands to your sides (or at least separate your hands).

I called a balk last night when a left handed pitcher disengaged the rubber, didn't remove the ball from his glove (e.g. kept his hands together), and then shuffled off the mound to first base. The pitcher is 16 yrs old.

Coach argued, but I think I was right. I looked in the rule book and found the referenced rule, which only states that a pitcher must drop his hands to his sides, and is silent on the penalty.

I would appreicate your comments.

Thanks!

The interpretation is he has to drop his hands before reengaging. If he reengages with his hands together then he will have to double set and that is a balk.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael S. Taylor:
The interpretation is he has to drop his hands before reengaging. If he reengages with his hands together then he will have to double set and that is a balk.

Thanks for your response (to this question and my other one)!