Another balk question

[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by Brad M

I coach 12-13 year olds in Canada with full baseball rules. When a righthanded pitcher wants to pick off at first wihtout taking his foot off the rubber, I understand that he must step toward first base and that he must not fake the throw. My question is this. Can he lift his left knee in a similar manner to what he would do when delivering the pitch before he pivots and steps to throw to first, or this considered part of his normal delivery and therefor a deception(balk). I can't find in the rules why this would be illegal when it is OK for a lefty to raise his knee in exactly the same motion as if he were pitching and then step and throw to first.

This is the one advantage lefties have. Righties have the same advantage going to third but there are less pickoff attempts there. A good lefty (Andy Petitie) borders on the line of a balk.

A righty can do the jump turn, jab step move but if he lifts his non-pivot foot (not in a direction towards first), he can either go to second base or pitch.

Here's the rule


OBR 8.01(b) After assuming Set Position, any natural motion associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without alteration or interruption.

Pete Booth



[Edited by PeteBooth on Jun 11th, 2002 at 09:11 AM]