Is this a balk?

[tjones1]

If you have the pitcher coming to the plate and he goes to first it doesn't matter where his foot lands - it's a balk.

[jdmara]

balk!

-Josh

[mbyron]

Balk. By moving toward home before stepping and throwing to first, F1 fails to step directly toward the base.

Originally Posted by rule 6-2-4

ART. 4 . . . Balk. 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:
...
b. 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;

[johnnyg08]

distance and direction...distance and direction...moves home...gotta go home...

[UmpJM]

johnny,

The whole point of Mark's question and the (correct) responses given by ozzy, tjones, and mbyron is that "distance and direction" is not the whole story.

The pitcher in Mark's sitch DID gain "distance and direction" towards 1B, yet it was STILL a balk when he threw there.

Because he failed to make a "direct step" to 1B before throwing there per 8.05(c).

JM

[johnnyg08]

okay, thanks for clarifying...as you read I did not include "direct step" in my post.