FED - stepping directly toward the base

[Rich]

Originally posted by blueump
But in the situation listed, the pitcher is throwing to neither an occupied base, or an unoccupied base, but between them. The question is the legality of throwing someplace other than a base if the rules state (FED only) that the pitcher must step "directly toward a base (occupied or unoccupied).

The step *is* to either second or third. The *throw* only has to be to a base if the base is FIRST base.