Quote:
Originally posted by MPC
OBR does not specifically mention a turn of the shoulders but according to what we were taught at umpire school, the turn of the shoulders is certainly a motion associated with a pick off move. I've never witnessed a right handed P throw to 1st without turning his shoulder. So from what I interpret and have been taught, it is a balk in OBR. Now, how they actually handle it at the MLB level is a different story but they were real clear in stating that the shoulder turn is a balk.
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Yes, it would be difficult for a RHP to throw to first without turning the shoulder, however, there is still a difference between FED and OBR.
In FED the shoulder turn itself is specifically a balk. In OBR the shoulder turn must, in the judgment of the umpire, be a feint.
In practice most umpires, once out of pro school, will use their judgment and call a balk on a quick shoulder turn, or flinch even, because it looks like the beginning of a move to first; however, they will not call a balk when the shoulder turns slowly as part of the head turn to check the runner.