taking signs

pitcher allegedly takes his sign from the catcher while straddling the rubber -
what is the penalty, if any, with runners n base?

> pitcher allegedly takes his sign from the catcher while straddling the rubber -
> what is the penalty, if any, with runners n base?

The rules say the pitcher "shall take signs from the catcher while
standing on the rubber." I can't find any specified penalty for taking
signs while not standing on the rubber.

The rules also say, "Pitchers may disengage the rubber after taking
their signs but may not step quickly onto the rubber and pitch. This may
be judged a quick pitch by the umpire." It looks like the intent of the
rule is to prevent the pitcher from throwing off the batter's timing by
changing the order that things are normally done. I would expect that,
if an umpire thought the pitcher was trying to deceive a batter or
runner in this way he would call a balk.

This is yet another place where the official rulebook is clear as mud.
--
- Jeff Lichtman
Author, Baseball for Rookies
http://baseball-for-rookies.com/

thanks, jeff - and i agree that the rulebook is very vague on this, and there
is no specific response other than to tell him not to do it.