Quote:
Originally posted by hawk0213
IF you can be on the rubber wehn you throw over then why do they say you have to stepoff to throw over? Every book I have read says that the pivot foot must clear the rubber in order to throw over?
Jon
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Does a LHP's pivot foot "clear the rubber" when he makes his throw to first? No!
There is no special rule for RHP's.
You are mixing up coaching points of emphasis with actual rules.
Like I said earlier, it is a "thumb rule" for a runner to key off the RHP's right foot. It must move in order to allow him to make a throw to first. When I say it "must" move, I am speaking in biomechanical terms. Rule-wise, the foot doesn't have to move an inch.
How can you throw to 1st with your right foot pointed toward 3rd? It can't be physically done. Yet, it can be delayed until the last possible moment. The left foot can start its motion first while the right foot trails behind. That isn't the usual way a RHP throws to first ... it's unusual, true ... but it's legal.
Nonetheless, well over half the umpires will *still* call it a balk for the very reasons you mention. And they're wrong, too.
David Emerling
Memphis, TN
[Edited by David Emerling on Aug 28th, 2004 at 11:22 PM]