Is it a balk?

RPatrino · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 09, 2007, 04:42pm

Why do coaches teach pitchers to step off and then throw to 1b? can't the pitcher's learn the correct pick off move? I love it when they airmail a ball and I get to put R1 at 3b.

waltjp · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 09, 2007, 06:25pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Why do coaches teach pitchers to step off and then throw to 1b? can't the pitcher's learn the correct pick off move? I love it when they airmail a ball and I get to put R1 at 3b.

The same reason that coaches want a balk when the opposing pitcher throws to first from the rubber.

mbyron · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Jul 09, 2007, 08:51pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by waltjp

The same reason that coaches want a balk when the opposing pitcher throws to first from the rubber.

My theory is different. Some coaches, especially at lower levels, can't be bothered to figure out the balk rule. Other coaches misunderestimate their pitchers' intelligence. Coach knows that a pitcher who steps off cannot balk by feinting or throwing to any base, so they just teach that to keep it simple.

Rock Chalk · #4 (**permalink**) Tue Jul 10, 2007, 01:29am

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Why do coaches teach pitchers to step off and then throw to 1b? can't the pitcher's learn the correct pick off move? I love it when they airmail a ball and I get to put R1 at 3b.

In this situation, R1 had taken a huge lead and was told by the first basement to step off. It's the right move. The pitcher stepped off and just did a pump fake to try and see what the runner on 3rd was doing.

RPatrino · #5 (**permalink**) Tue Jul 10, 2007, 09:58am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock Chalk

In this situation, R1 had taken a huge lead and was told by the first basement to step off. It's the right move. The pitcher stepped off and just did a pump fake to try and see what the runner on 3rd was doing.

Stepping off the rubber and freezing the runner at third in this situation might have been the right thing go do. However, I was speaking about a routine throw to first. I've seen some pitchers that don't know how to do the jump turn. Two issues with that are, 1) a ball gets thrown OOB, 2 base award and 2) runners are never picked off.

I suspect it's because the coach doesn't know how to teach the move.

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