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Originally Posted by GarthB
If the pitcher lifts his foot in any manner similar to his delivery to home, it is a balk. Although a RHP may step and throw to first, it is difficult to do legally. Most pro camps and clinics instruct that the RHP pitcher needs to make a continuous "glide step" to first with no hesitation and no leg lift to throw without balking.
That is why, if you watch major league games, most RHPs either step off or utilize the jump turn or jab step. LL level coaches seem to prefer to do things the hard way. Some even think if they do the move slowly, that makes a difference. It does not.
OBR 8.01 (b)...After assuming Set Position, any natural motion associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without alteration or interruption.
OBR 8.05 If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when-
(a)The pitcher, while touching his plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery;
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Disengaging the rubber prior to throwing to first is almost never done - particularly at the MLB level. There is no point in doing so. All it does is serve advance notice to the runner of an impending pickoff attempt. Why make the pickoff a two-step maneuver when it can be a single maneuver?
On occasion, you will see the "slow move" by a MLB pitcher. Randy Johnson uses it almost exclusively - although, in general, he rarely attempts pickoffs. Some pitchers deliberately use a "slow move" to set runners up with a better (i.e. faster) move.
The speed of the move is not the deciding factor as to its legality (provided it is continuous). The key is that the free foot moves directly toward 1st. That can be done quickly or slowly.
David Emerling
Memphis, TN