Lefty Pick Off Move
 

(Fed.) Lefty comes set, raises front foot smoothly, continually, then suddenly stomps it down as he throws sidearm to first. His front foot

a) lands exactly where it began when Lefty was set...or...

b) lands 6 inches closer to first than where it began...or...

c) lands 12 inches closer....

I think (a) is a balk - Lefty did not gain "distance and direction", but I am having trouble determining when exactly Lefty has gained "distance". Is a couple inches enough?

Thanks!

I was taught that the PU must be able to "see daylight" between the pitchers feet to have "gained distance". That has served me pretty well.

Yeah, normally a footprint length is a good gauge. (A) would definitely be a balk.

cmcramer,

What pdxblue and bossman say is very consistent with what J/R says, that no part of the free foot may land in the same footprint - that is, the back edge of the heel must land closer to the "thrown to" base than the tip of the toe was before the throw in order to meet the "distance & direction" requirements.

JM