Ok, Here we go . . .
I was TRYING (lord help me, I was) NOT to do the following play. But it seems to fit this discussion . . .
I have talked and talked of this and NO ONE believes me.
When a right handed F1 is in contact with the pitcher's plate and he raises his front foot (that would be left foot) almost all runners are taught to start their move from the occupied first base.
For a moment let's disregard the jump spin move.
I did a survey (oh no, sorry Peter that usually is your job) watching MLB pitchers (on TV), college pitchers, high school pitchers and summer leagues.
During this survey I did not see one right handed pitcher make a move to first base without first stepping off. Remember I asked that for the moment we disregard the jump turn.
So I posted "Right handers always step back before making the pickoff move OR it is a balk" (i.e. I know what the rule book says).
So right a way a McGriffer posted he just watched Kevin Brown and he did not step off once . . . soooo, I watched the next two times I could see Brown on TV and he used the Greg Maddox jab step (not exactly the jumpt turn).
Now I don't work lower levels of ball where just bad coaching comes into effect so my decision is based on rather competent people playing.
So following Bob Jenkins rules on if it is legal for a lefthander it is legal for a righthander I ask the NEXT logical question.
"Can a Right Handed F1, with first base occupied, bring his front leg up to chest height (not breaking the pane of the pitcher's plate) and from that position swing around to throw legally to 1st base."
If a left hander can use this move to 1st base why can't a righthander.
I tell you right now . . . every single umpire I have ever worked with would call this a balk.
So when the right hander passes an occupied first base in his counter-clockwise turn he has balked to first base.
Long answer and probably wrong. :-}
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