Third to first pickoff

[LDUB]

Originally posted by David Emerling
I assure you, the pitcher did break contact with the rubber ... and I don't even have to have seen the play.

Try it yourself!

There is simply no way a right-handed pitcher can step toward 3rd and then throw to 1st and not break contact with the rubber with his pivot foot unless he is Gumby!

He may not have done it as soon as you would have like ... but it happened.

The only time I ever call a balk on that maneuver is if it looks like ONE maneuver. If I see "two parts" to the move, then it's almost impossible for the move to be illegal.

I did try it, and it wasn't even hard. You step foreward with your left foot, and then you step backwards with your left foot.

How can you ever call this move a balk if you think the pitcher steps off every time?