Balk Questions

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by mbyron

2. A RH pitcher can legally throw to first with the "jump step" or "jab step." I don't follow the OP's original description: don't pitchers in the windup begin by stepping with their FREE foot? Certainly any "one-two" step combo that is slow would not constitute stepping directly toward 1B, and would be a balk.

He's talking about the pivot foot starting on the rubber and then turning 90 degrees moving the foot against the front edge of the rubber, which is the typical way to pitch from the windup. However, he is seeing people use this move from the set position. I've never seen it, but it sounds illegal to me.