Quote:
Originally posted by Alan G
R2, pitcher in set position, R2 breaks for third.
a) Pitcher steps with his free foot toward the runner to begin to chase him.
or
b) Pitcher steps with his pivot foot toward the runner to begin to chase him.
Are these balks? If this is a "judgment" call, what is being judged?
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In (a), once the free foot breaks the back plane of the rubber, the pitcher must step either to 2B or deliver the pitch to home. He cannot throw, feint, or step to 3B. If judged that his free foot broke the back plane of the rubber and landed more toward 3rd than toward 2nd, it would be a balk. However, it would take a rather refined eye in a 2 man crew to pick that up before the chase.
In (b), assuming his pivot foot went back off the rubber and not off either end of the rubber, there would be no balk.
Just my opinion,
Freix