[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kaliix
Short answer, basically the pitcher is allowed to lift his non-pivot foot to pitch or step and throw to a base (or fake a throw if it's second or third). Since bringing his leg up doesn't in and of itself doesn't commit him to do either, until he makes another movement that commits his to pitch or throw to a base he is legal. As long as he doesn't pause.
But why isn't disecting and examining each movement not applied equally and fairly in each situation?
To be overly zealous of a pitcher's movement while disengaging the rubber (where he has only one legal move - disengage rubber) and call that "deceptive" and not to be equally critical of a LHP's move to first when his movements can be "more deceptive" (since he has two legal moves - pitch or throw to base), seems to be hypocritical.
Also, that still doesn't explain why a step "forward" is not treated (and enforced) the same as a step "backward"? If a high step is not considered a "step backward", how can it be considered a "step toward"? - seems counterintuitive.
I appreciate your patience Kaliix, but I still see a lot of grey area in balking this move and applying those same parameters to other legal moves a pitcher is allowed to perform.
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