Balk During Appeal

loftisc · #1 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 03, 2003, 04:08pm

Last night, we had an appeal play at first while the runner was on second. The pitcher put the ball properly into play, announced his intention to appeal, then threw to first base from the rubber. Is this a balk for throwing to an unoccupied base? Shouldn't the pitcher have stepped off to become a fielder before throwing to first?

bob jenkins · #2 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 03, 2003, 04:25pm

Quote:

Originally posted by loftisc
Last night, we had an appeal play at first while the runner was on second. The pitcher put the ball properly into play, announced his intention to appeal, then threw to first base from the rubber. Is this a balk for throwing to an unoccupied base? Shouldn't the pitcher have stepped off to become a fielder before throwing to first?

It's not a balk when F1 throws to the rubber for the purposes of making a play. That's what he did here -- for the purposes of making an appeal play.

IT's legal.

DownTownTonyBrown · #3 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 03, 2003, 04:27pm

So did you call him out or send him to third?

No reason for a balk call. Honor the appeal and make your call.