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The other thing the Evans video points out---which may be getting lost in this thread---is that the fielder need not be close enough to make a tag if you judge that, indeed, a legitimate play was being attempted on the runner.
With R1 and R2, suppose F3 is playing well behind R1.
On an apparent play timed by the defense, F3 breaks toward 1B causing R1 to retreat. F1 throws to F3 who is both well away from the fielder and the base. Since there was an apparent play attempt that included F3, this is not a balk---despite F3 being away from the base AND away from the runner where he could not attempt a tag. It's merely a poor play that didn't work.
Take the above play and compare it to the same situation where F1 turns and wheels to make a play at 1B but sees a stationary F3 playing well behind the runner. F1 then reacts and throws to F3 since a throw to 1B is required. In this situation, no play attempt was being made n the runner by F3, and the pitcher merely used F3 as an escape to circumvent the rule that requires a throw to the base. This would be a balk.
It's umpire judgment as to whether a play was being made by both the fielder and the pitcher at the time of the throw, but if judged that a planned play was occurring by both F3 and F1, then it is not a balk even if F3 is well away from the base and unable to make a legitimate tag attempt on the runner.
Freix
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