a different scenerio for a balk call?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by coastratdog

runner on 1st. pitcher feints a move to an unoccupied 3rd, as he is off the rubber turns toward 1st to throw. runner attempts to advance to 2nd. pitcher throws to 2nd for the putout. is there a balk somewhere in there?

btw, this is 13/14 age little league.

thanks for your help.


tjc

It's a balk to throw or feint to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play at that base. No one was on third; no one was advancing to third, so it's a balk.

[bellsjc]

No it isn't a balk. Question says pitcher was NOT on the rubber. He can fake to heaven and it isn't a balk.

[UmpJM]

bellsjc,

The OP says that the F1 is off the rubber when he turns to 1B.

When I read it, I inferred that the F1 had been in contact when he initiated his move to unoccupied 3B, and, in feinting to 3B, his foot came off the rubber.

If that's what happened, this was a balk, as Bob J. suggests.

If he was off the rubber the whole time, I agree it would not be a balk.

JM