Balk Clarifications

[WooPigSooie]

This should be an easy one for all of you experienced baseball umpires. I just need clarification on a couple of parts of the balk rule.

1. I know it is illegal to fake a throw to 1st base. But what can a pitcher do to make it legal? Is it as simple as legally stepping off (back) the rubber?

2. What constitutes a fake throw? Is whirling toward first and JUST putting the arm up considered faking a throw? Or, for it to be illegal, must there be an arm whip.

3. This one I will explain in an example. R1 on first. Pitcher forgets that he has a runner on and is on the rubber in a windup-esque position (no movement has been made that constitutes a starting of the pitching motion). What I have read is that the pitcher must step off the rubber with the pivot foot. So, on a lefty, he must step off with the left foot and a righty must step off with the right foot. Correct?

Sorry for the easy questions. My summer association is making all softball umps (me) get certified in baseball as well due to a shortage of umpires. Any help is appreciated. Cant find my baseball rule books, so thought I could get my answers here.

[SanDiegoSteve]

W.P.S.,

1. Yes, to fake a throw to 1st base, the pitcher must step back off the rubber with his pivot foot prior to breaking his hands apart. He is allowed to step in the direction of an occupied 2nd or 3rd base and fake a throw there from the rubber.

2. The pitcher, while in contact with the rubber, can only do 3 things legally:

a) deliver the ball to the batter

b) step and throw to a base (or feint toward 2nd or 3rd)

c) disengage the rubber by stepping backward with the pivot foot

So, to answer the question, no, the pitcher cannot do as you described. He cannot in any way fake a throw from the rubber to 1st base. If he turns toward 1st and does not throw, it is a balk. It is also a balk if he hesitates and then throws. It is also a balk if he throws to F3 who is playing off the base with no chance of making a play on the baserunner. F3 must be considered close enough to tag the runner or it is a balk.

Once the pitcher legally disengages the rubber by stepping backward with his pivot foot, he can fake or do whatever. He essentially becomes an infielder at this point.

3. You are correct. His very first movement from the windup position must be a step backwards with the pivot foot. If he starts any other part of his motion and then tries to step off, it is a balk.

Another key to remember is that from the set position, the pitcher does not have to come to a stop when throwing or faking a throw to a base. He must come to a complete stop prior to delivering a pitch.

I hope this is of some help. Maybe others can chime in with some helpful hints. Find your rulebooks!

Steve

[DG]

In OBR you can step and throw to 1B from the windup. In FED you cannot. However, you never see that move.

[SAump]

Must pitcher's feet establish distance and direction with throw or can he just whirl it over there?

[phillips.alex]

the lead foot must step towards the base you are throwing to (if engaged with the rubber). No throwing over the shoulder or quickly to 3rd.