Quote:
Originally Posted by mbyron
There is no "45 degree" rule. 8.05 requires the pitcher to step and throw to a base, and that's interpreted as stepping more toward the base than the plate. In practice, that amounts to about 45°.
You can find rule 8 (and the other 9 as well) on the mlb site:
Official Rules | MLB.com: Official info |
While I know this discussion is primarily base upon OBR, in the FED casebook:
6.2.4 Sitiuation B: With R1 on first, F1 attempts a pickoff while stepping at an angle but to the home plate side.
Ruling: Balk. To comply with the requirement to "step directly toward", F1 must step to the first-base side of a 45-degree angle between center of the pitcher's plate and between home and first base.