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One thing that strikes me as I reread the rules regarding the foot position of the pitcher is that they seem to have been written before the era of spikes and cleats (and seem to need to be updated).
For example, if you were pitching wearing sneakers, then it would be easy to pitch from on top of the rubber and, when throwing to first, pivot on the area under the arch of your foot before stepping and throwing to first base.
However, this doesn't work at all if you are wearing spikes or cleats. For one thing, there's no way that you can pitch from on top of the rubber and keep your balance while wearing spikes or cleats. Instead, you have to pitch with your pivot foot in front of the rubber. However, that means that there is no way that you can turn and step and throw to first, while keeping the width of your foot in touch with the rubber, without tearing up your right knee, pulling your groin, or both unless you were a ballerina (because after throwing your feet would end up pointing in opposite directions). As a result, the rule seems to be interpreted as meaning that, to stay engaged with the rubber, you have to keep a portion of your foot touching the rubber. Of course, I don't know how a jump and spin could be legal since your foot would momentarily lose contact with the rubber.
If you take the interpretation that the rule means that a portion of the pitcher's foot must stay in contact with the rubber to stay engaged, then would it be a legal move if, as part of your normal motion or pickoff move, you lift your left knee up while pointing your foot down and either go to the plate or lift up your right heel and spin on the ball of your pivot foot by throwing your shoulders around and then step and throw toward second. This move would seem to be legal and would defeat baserunners who followed the rule of thumb that they should go back when the right knee cracks and go when the left knee cracks.
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