Legal pickoff?

[mj]

This is hard to describe in words but I'll try anyway. In a game yesterday we had a right-handed pitcher attempt a pick off at first by lifting his non-pivot foot about 4-5 inches. He then points his toes toward the ground, and spins and pivots toward first.

Coach did warn us prior to the game that he teaches this move and has been told by rules interpreters it is legal.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by mj

This is hard to describe in words but I'll try anyway. In a game yesterday we had a right-handed pitcher attempt a pick off at first by lifting his non-pivot foot about 4-5 inches. He then points his toes toward the ground, and spins and pivots toward first.

Coach did warn us prior to the game that he teaches this move and has been told by rules interpreters it is legal.

It's difficult to say, but it sounds like he's bringing his knee up to a balance point which requires him to deliver the ball to the batter.



Tim.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by mj

This is hard to describe in words but I'll try anyway. In a game yesterday we had a right-handed pitcher attempt a pick off at first by lifting his non-pivot foot about 4-5 inches. He then points his toes toward the ground, and spins and pivots toward first.

Sounds like a balk.

Coach did warn us prior to the game that he teaches this move and has been told by rules interpreters it is legal.

Sounds like something a Rat would say. And, if it convinced you not to call the balk, it had the desired effect.

[soundedlikeastrike]

What he was told by rules interpretors was "probably", from the stretch or set position F1 may step and throw to a base. This does not convert to "even after he's started his motion to pitch". Lifting the foot, then spinning towards 1st should get you balked everytime. I'll only call this a balk in the following scenarious, if I'm alone, or with somebody..

[RPatrino]

MJ, maybe it's me, but I have trouble picturing this move. Sounds like a ballet move to me!! Can you be more specific about what the F1 is doing on these "pointed toes"??

I once had a coach tell me at pre-game that he just watched the Jim Evans tape before the game, and that he now 'understood' the balk rule to help his pitchers. I called three simple balks and had to explain each one. Then I had to explain why the runner gets 2 bases on a pick off while off the rubber.

I suggested he review the tape again!!!

[David Emerling]

This may be what is sometimes referred to as a "slow move". It's where a right-hander makes his move to first by moving rather slowly, sometimes masking the pickoff move because it lacks the "snappiness" that the runner often keys on.

The move can be executed quite legally as long as the free foot makes continual (although slow) movement toward first. However, it does not involve lifting the leg straight up because that, invariably, causes the free foot to move toward 3rd - thus making the move a balk.

The "slow move" is often improperly called a balk by an unsuspecting umpire for no other reason than he doesn't recognize the move. In other words, the slow nature of the move looks unusual although there is no element of it that is illegal. If the pitcher did the exact same maneuver at a more rapid pace, it would look more normal and not be ruled a balk.

There's no rule that requires a right-hander to make a snappy move toward first. If he chooses to do it in slow motion - as long as his free foot immediately starts moving toward 1st - it should be legal.

As a pitching coach, I had taught my right-handers this move to include in their repertoire of moves but eventually had to abandon it since too many umpires were calling it a balk. The level of umpiring was too low to even argue the point. Oddly, the most common explanation from the umpires was, "Your pitcher didn't break contact with the rubber prior to making the move."

That is an element of the "slow move" - but it's not illegal. The pitcher keeps contact with the rubber while his free foot starts its movement toward 1st. Contact with the rubber is eventually broken, but it happens very late in the move. This move catches those runners who key on rapid movements by the pitcher, or, key on the pitcher's right foot. There is a misconception out there that a right-hander will always lift his right foot as a prelude to a pickoff attempt. That is generally true with rapid moves - because the pitcher will tear his ankle up. But with a much slower move - he can safely remove his pivot foot from the hole in front of the rubber AFTER he has mostly completed his step with his free foot.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[RPatrino]

MJ, as I re-read your post, this is legal as far as described. I assume he threw to first?

This is analgous to the lefty freeze move, and that is legal as long as the move is continuous without pause.

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by mj

This is hard to describe in words but I'll try anyway. In a game yesterday we had a right-handed pitcher attempt a pick off at first by lifting his non-pivot foot about 4-5 inches. He then points his toes toward the ground, and spins and pivots toward first.

Coach did warn us prior to the game that he teaches this move and has been told by rules interpreters it is legal.

Did F1 gain distance and direction toward first base , and could you consider what he did as "stepping to the base " ? If not, it sure sounds like a balk from here, because he certainly did not legally disengage the rubber.