To quote Mr. Evan's "Deception is acceptable as long as it is mechanically legal. (Otherwise, how would a pitcher ever pickoff a runner?)"
The point you make about a LH pickoff move to first is a fair one. It is directly addressed in the rules.
8.01(c)"At any time during the pitcher's preliminary movements and until his natural pitching motion commits him to the pitch, he may throw to any base provided he steps directly toward such base before making the throw."
A high step is considered a step toward because it can be part of the pitching motion or part of the throw to a base. Just lifting the leg doesn't commit one to pitch or throw to a base. As the leg is coming up and before it reaches its apex, a pitcher could be throwing to first or pitching. The rules say that when he steps to a base, he has to step directly toward it. The interpretation of directly toward has been established as within 45 degrees of the base, gaining direction and distance.
The rules allow the LHP, on a pickoff to first, to be deceptive. As long as it's mechanically legal. Lifting the leg up high is mechanically legal, to pitch or throw to a base, just not to disengage the rubber. The pitch or throw to a base is covered in one part, the disengagement part in another.
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Originally posted by Matthew F
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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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