Quote:
Originally posted by AZBlue
F1 actually lifted his leg, turned toward 2B, did not plant his foot, and then swung the foot to follow the runner going to third and stepped off more towards third to begin running him down.
|
It seems that since the R2 was breaking toward 3B, then F1 could make a legal move either to 2B or to unoccupied 3B (since he was making a play on the runner).
While F1 is allowed to spin in either direction toward 2B, that same leniency is not provided when going to a corner base. That is, a LHF1 facing 1B would not be allowed to start a move toward 1B and continue (in one continuous motion) to spin backward passing 2B until he was facing 3B. Besides, I'd think he'd break his left ankle before he got there.
However, a RHF1 spinning toward 3B could stop his move short and go toward either base legally since he may legally feint to either base with R2 advancing. Once the feint is accomplished with the legal step, he can continue to merely follow his step off the rubber and chase the runner.
If the move was made by a RHF1, it was likely not a balk.
If made by a LHF1, it was also likely not a balk unless he broke his ankle continuing to spin to 3B. IOW, LHF1 probably stepped more toward 2B than toward 3B when making the initial step. The subsequent steps then may have brought him more toward 3B. There are no restrictions on his subsequent steps.
Just my opinion,
Freix