Learned 2 New Things Last Night

[Rich]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Rich, is it ok to fake throw to an 'unoccupied' base?

No, it's not, but that doesn't answer the question. I've posed this question to a few very good HS/college umpires and all think this is no balk because he's allowed to throw to second for the purpose of making a play. OTOH, I point out that this is a specific exception and that it's (like you've said) a balk when one throws to an unoccupied base.

The retort is that "the fielder is never required to throw to second."

So that's where it sits.