Pitcher throwing to unoccupied base

[DuffysCliff]

F1, a RHP, is in the set position. 2B unoccupied. R1 breaks for 2B just as F1 lifts free foot (the left foot in this case). F1 sees this but since free foot is off ground, is unable to disengage pivot foot from plate. So, without hesitating or making a move towards 1B, F1 spins clockwise, and steps and throws to 2B. Is this a balk? It is not a balk if F1 steps and throws to an unoccupied base for the purpose of making a play. OTOH, if F1's entire free foot goes behind the plate, he must deliver home - except when making a pickoff play at 2B. I cannot find how a pickoff play is defined, therefore I do not know if F1 committed a balk in this situation. Or, if some other rule governs this situation. Thanks in advance for insight.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by DuffysCliff

F1, a RHP, is in the set position. 2B unoccupied. R1 breaks for 2B just as F1 lifts free foot (the left foot in this case). F1 sees this but since free foot is off ground, is unable to disengage pivot foot from plate. So, without hesitating or making a move towards 1B, F1 spins clockwise, and steps and throws to 2B. Is this a balk? It is not a balk if F1 steps and throws to an unoccupied base for the purpose of making a play. OTOH, if F1's entire free foot goes behind the plate, he must deliver home - except when making a pickoff play at 2B. I cannot find how a pickoff play is defined, therefore I do not know if F1 committed a balk in this situation. Or, if some other rule governs this situation. Thanks in advance for insight.

So you have a legal spin by F1 with no start of motion home and your semantic concern is that this was not a "pickoff" play at 2B as allowed by PBUC/MLBUM interps. Given that NCAA and FED both allow "throws" to put out a runner in their rules I would not have that semantic concern in OBR and since there is no definition of pickoff I would allow the throw and not call a balk.

[w_sohl]

2nd base is unoccupied. I'm pretty sure you have a balk here because he didn't step off.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

2nd base is unoccupied. I'm pretty sure you have a balk here because he didn't step off.

Why do you think that? He's making a play on an advancing runner.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

2nd base is unoccupied.

So what? A pitcher can't throw to an unoccupied base except for the purposes of making a play

[w_sohl]

I stand corrected. So answer me this, why does the pitcher throw to first in a first to second situation in every play like this I've ever seen? Is it just easier and less likely to commit an error?

[Rich Ives]

Easier. No balk possibility.

[parrothead]

Starting to see this a lot in the youth stuff, especially with all the travel ball where kids are playing with leads, picks, etc at younger ages. Have seen a lot of guys going "early" stealing from 2B to 3B, maybe on looks, timing, etc and the P just picking directly to 3B, even though its unoccupied, never went to home and the first time I saw it, I was 100% sure it was a balk because of the unoccupied base provision, but then the follow up is making a play on a runner and if that runner is going to 3B, that is what they are doing.

The one I saw last week I think was a balk, but maybe help me out because I think its a balk. Lefty P, Runner breaks 1st move lefty when he lifts his leg to pick, he lands the foot towards first but then doesnt throw, holds it and throws to 2B where he gets the out. Never stepped off and had almost ideal one at 3B with a righty. Where he stepped to pick, runner broke and he didnt throw (didnt disengage the rubber) I thought these were balks, but could be wrong.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by parrothead

The one I saw last week I think was a balk, but maybe help me out because I think its a balk. Lefty P, Runner breaks 1st move lefty when he lifts his leg to pick, he lands the foot towards first but then doesnt throw, holds it and throws to 2B where he gets the out. Never stepped off and had almost ideal one at 3B with a righty. Where he stepped to pick, runner broke and he didnt throw (didnt disengage the rubber) I thought these were balks, but could be wrong.

So, he stepped to first and didn't throw? That's a feint to first and a balk.

For the RH pitcher toward third, it depends on the rules code (whether feints to third are allowed) -- it's a balk under OBR, legal under FED and NCAA

[parrothead]

So the feint to 1st even though runner is going to 2b? Could a lefty in theory lift his leg to pick to 1B, recognize the early break on 1st move and turn to 2b and throw to make a play on the runner.

So lift the leg if he goes, turn it into the "flamingo" and throw to 2B, if he doesnt go, just pick to 1B?

On the pick to 3B, it was OBR, not NCAA or Fed.

[thumpferee]

Originally Posted by parrothead

So the feint to 1st even though runner is going to 2b? Could a lefty in theory lift his leg to pick to 1B, recognize the early break on 1st move and turn to 2b and throw to make a play on the runner.

So lift the leg if he goes, turn it into the "flamingo" and throw to 2B, if he doesnt go, just pick to 1B?

On the pick to 3B, it was OBR, not NCAA or Fed.

Any pitcher who is in contact with the rubber MUST throw it to first, and now 3rd in OBR. Cannot feint if he steps there.

In your lefty theory, yes he can continue to second with his non pivot foot and make a PLAY on the runner or pick to first, as long as foot doesn't cross the back plane going to first.

And I wouldn't "flamingo" too long!

[parrothead]

Yeah so tell a lefty, bring leg straight up, if they break on your first movement, then swing the leg around and throw to 2B and that is legal? If they dont move just continue the pick to 1B?

If a lefty did that, my guess is probably gets called balk 80% of time even though would be wrong.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by parrothead

Starting to see this a lot in the youth stuff, especially with all the travel ball where kids are playing with leads, picks, etc at younger ages. Have seen a lot of guys going "early" stealing from 2B to 3B, maybe on looks, timing, etc and the P just picking directly to 3B, even though its unoccupied, never went to home and the first time I saw it, I was 100% sure it was a balk because of the unoccupied base provision, but then the follow up is making a play on a runner and if that runner is going to 3B, that is what they are doing.

The one I saw last week I think was a balk, but maybe help me out because I think its a balk. Lefty P, Runner breaks 1st move lefty when he lifts his leg to pick, he lands the foot towards first but then doesnt throw, holds it and throws to 2B where he gets the out. Never stepped off and had almost ideal one at 3B with a righty. Where he stepped to pick, runner broke and he didnt throw (didnt disengage the rubber) I thought these were balks, but could be wrong.

A fake/feint to first is ALWAYS a balk. This is why pitchers typically throw to first when an R1 is breaking for second.