Balk Or No Balk

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bfoster

If a RHP's windup usually consists of him stepping to the side with his free-foot, is there a good rule of thumb for distinguising between the start of his windup and his stepping to throw to first?

1. Why is he pitching from the windup with R1?

2. I distinguish it like this: in the windup, he steps back with his free foot. In a pickoff, he steps forward with his free foot.

3. As Bob said: watch his whole body. If you can't tell what he's doing and he throws over, it's probably a balk for simulating a pitch.