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Teeare, be careful with making statements like "I read this as saying . . ." (grin). Here's why. While it IS true that the pitcher must go from the "stretch" to the "set" in one continuous motion (assuming, of course, he is in fact going to go "all the way"), it DOES NOT SAY that the pitcher must come "set" before throwing to a base. (Yeah, that may be a "weak" argument. But, again, don't read things into the rule that aren't there). The particular wording you are referring to indicates that the pitcher can't "jerk, stop, hesitate" or do some other "hokey-pokey movements" prior to coming "set."
So, WHERE does it say that the pitcher may throw to a base while in the "stretch" or while he's "moving into the set from the stretch?" Well, it doesn't, at least not explicitly in this particular rule. You must also go to the Balk section of the rulebook to see what is and isn't "legal." (This is one of the complaints I have about the rulebook. Associated information is sometimes too spread out. Still, the advantage of that is it kind of forces umpires to read THE WHOLE BOOK to find out all the rules---grin). Casebooks are also a "must" for the serious umpire.
So, the best I can do for you at the moment is quote something from a casebook I have (which was used at an officially sponsored umpire training facility in Florida. Here goes:
"It is a balk if a pitcher --- starts, stops, or hesitates
1. hesitates in or interrupts his motion to join hands, pitch, throw, or disengage.
However, it is not a balk if a pitcher who has begun his motion (from the "stretch") to join hands shifts in a fluid and continuous motion to throw to a base or to disengage the rubber. Also, an umpire must recognize the difference between the motion to join hands and other neutral movements that are irrelevant to the joining of hands; e.g., a pitcher rotates his glove to signal the catcher for another group of signs, or a hunched-over pitcher straightens his body when the catcher requests time."
At this point, this is the best we can do. When trying to figure all this out and when dealing with balks, keep the definition of a Balk in mind: Any act by a pitcher to deceive a runner. And if a runner knows that a pitcher can "twirl" to throw to a base (say, 1st) while in the "Stretch," or while "coming to" the "set," then if the pitcher does throw to a base, he certainly is NOT deceiving the runner. Catch my drift? Anway . . . Does this help?
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