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Originally Posted by CoachJM
tibear,
Whether the pitcher does this every time, some of the time, or every once in a while has no bearing on whether or not this is properly ruled a balk.
rinbee,
The picture I have in my mind from your description is that the pitcher is engaging the rubber in set with his feet more or less "in line" with HP, and then, as he comes "set" (i.e. moves his free feet closer to his pivot foot & his hands together in front of his body) he is "opening his stance" such that his free foot is more toward 1B than it originally was.
Many HS age pitchers do this to make it easier to check the R1 without turning their shoulders. If the RHP's toes do not start moving/turning in the direction of 1B, this is not a balk. If they do, it is.
JM
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JM:
Agree w/ you re: tibear's comment, except that Juniors may get some "latitude" in marginal or "technical" balks if they do it & pitch every stinkin' time. In this specific case, however, probably no:
I have a different "picture" from what I THINK you are picturing:
If you [and the OP] are describing a "set" where F1 comes to "set" with one [and only one] step; and that step just happens to "open" his stance toward first; then no: not a balk. HOWEVER:
If, as justa--blue [I think} wrote, he is taking TWO steps to come "set"; 1 toward 1st and the 2d bringing his feet more together and stopping [which is what I "picture" from the OP]: THEN, I've probably got a balk - wasn't a continuous uninterrupted motion/ included a feint to 1st. Maybe HTBT, and I might be able to be persuaded by other "evidence": the reaction of R1, for instance. But basically, if F1 starts w/ his feet in line between rubber & plate, takes a back-step toward 1st, then another to bring both feet together & come set: I think I've got a balk.
Carter