Overthrow on Pick-Off

[Kaliix]

So in the fake to 3rd throw to 1st move, what is considered the proper way to disengage the rubber when accomplishing this play?

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by Kaliix
So in the fake to 3rd throw to 1st move, what is considered the proper way to disengage the rubber when accomplishing this play?

Step with the non-pivot foot toward third, and have the pivot foot follow off the rubber.

[DG]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser

I work college baseball. I see it all the time. It even worked once this season.

It generally doesn't fool anyone. Once I see the step to third, I start pivoting to make the call at first base (from the B position).

The purpose of the move isn't to get an out -- it's to see if the batter is bunting or R1 tips that he is going to be running.

In what way did it work? You called a balk, right, because he did not disengage?

[LDUB]

Originally posted by DG

In what way did it work? You called a balk, right, because he did not disengage?

Rich said that the moved worked, which I assume would mean that F1 disengaged and picked off R1, or the batter showed bunt or something else. Why would you think a balk would be called?

[Rich]

Originally posted by LDUB

Rich said that the moved worked, which I assume would mean that F1 disengaged and picked off R1, or the batter showed bunt or something else. Why would you think a balk would be called?

F1 disengaged and R1 had already broken for second and got caught in a rundown.

[DG]

Because his point has been that a pitcher making the 3b to 1b move, who does not disengage has balked. On this point he is correct. So how can this move "work" since it's a balk. Now if he makes the same move and in the process losses contact with the rubber then it can work because he can get a pickoff at 1b. Losing contact with the rubber while making his move is not a balk. I see this happen quite often, but in my area I never see the pitcher make the 3b to 1b move with foot on top of the rubber. The pitcher's around here pitch with their pivot in front of, but in contact with the rubber, and always lose contact with the rubber while making this move. And that was my comment earlier, although I used the word "disengage", which Rich took exception to, correctly so.

[Edited by DG on Jul 26th, 2004 at 11:45 PM]

[Kaliix]

Thanks Bob!

Originally posted by bob jenkins

Step with the non-pivot foot toward third, and have the pivot foot follow off the rubber.