Jump turn to 1B/Throw to unoccupied base
 

Okay guys...I read FED Rule 6 which state a few points about what is/isn't a balk blah, blah, blah...

Can somebody please post a case play/rule for FED that discusses the call for the following situation...

Pitcher in a legal set position. R1 breaks early for 2B...in one motion, pitcher jump turns and throws to 2B. R1 gets in rundown and is tagged out.

If we have a balk here, obviously the rundown does not occur since the balk stops everything. I'm looking for other thought on this call though

How do you rule? Balk? If so, why? If not, why?

Thanks

Pitcher can jump turn to 2B to make a play on advancing runner. No balk.

6.1.3 Sit F is close as I can come to case play.;

He can throw to a base that a runner is occupying or to a base that a runner is advancing to. No balk.

Heck, under FED rules he can throw to a base the runner is feinting an advance to.

JohnnyG,

It is not a balk because the rules state it is permissible for the pitcher to do so.

What's the confusion?

JM

What's the throwing to an unoccupied base rule for FED...is it that he couldn't have thrown to 2B from the windup...or am I totally missing this one? I've read about this rule before, but I actually saw it for the first time last night.

In FED, you can't make a pick off from the windup. He would first have to disengage.

I'm guessing the confusion comes from the old wive's (coach's) tale, "The pitcher can't throw to an unoccupied base." :)

What if he doesn't throw the ball...then do we have a balk?

Sitch: R1 early breaks for 2B, RH Pitcher jump turns to 1B but doesn't throw to 1B, but then simply throws the ball to 2B

Thanks for clearing this up fellas...Locally I'm getting told balk, on here you're all saying legal. Have I seen the light? Thanks for your help.

Balk. If he "jump turns" to 1st, he must throw there.

okay, dash, so you're the 1st person on here who's saying balk...are you saying balk to the fact that he has to throw there or the fact that he simply has to throw to the base where the play is being made?

He said "balk" because you changed the play.

In the OP, there's a "in one motion, pitcher jump turns and throws to 2B."

In the revised play, there's a, "jump turns to 1B but doesn't throw to 1B, but then simply throws the ball to 2B."

The OP is legal. The revised play is a balk. See the difference?

okay, yes I see the difference. thank you.

I thought you had to step to a base to throw and that a jump turn is illegal. :confused:

correct

incorrect

As Bob points out, a jump turn IS a step to a base, since the front foot gains "distance and direction" toward the base.

If we're talking about first base, provided that the jump turn is followed by a throw to the base, the move is legal.

Not necessarily, because a pitcher doesn't always "gain ground." He must do so for it to be legal. If he does not gain ground, it's a balk. I had this occur last week in a D3 NCAA game. The pitcher did his jump turn, but his nonpivot foot (left foot, since he was a righty) just spun in its place as he turned toward first.

The NCAA has emphasized that its umpires watch this, as I guess they believe too many pitchers are, in fact, spinning and not really jumping and turning and gaining ground.

This is from the FED 2009 Rules by Topic book:

If there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a pitcher while he is touching the pitcher's plate is a balk (6-2-4)

Failing to step with the non-pivot foot directly toward a base (occupied or unoccupied) when throwing or feinting there in an attempt to put out, or drive back a runner; or throwing or feinting to any unoccupied base when it is not an attempt to put out or drive back a runner.

That's what makes your OP legal. F1 stepped (as part of the jump turn) to second when throwing there to put out or drive back a runner.