Balk/No Balk: LHP fients pickoff the 3rd base
 

Just home from umpiring a game.

During the game, a left handed pitcher bluffed a pick off throw to third base, and then bluffed a throw to first.

He was pitching from the stretch and the move was made after the stop. His foot was still engaged with the rubber when he made what I considered to be a proper step towards third base. This step took his foot off the rubber.

The offensive team argued that for a left hander to make this move to third, he had is first step off the rubber. My view is that the same regulations apply for a left hander to third as apply for a righty to first. Therefore the move was proper and no balk was called.

But I am always learning so maybe someone has an opinion.

Greetings from The Netherlands (where yes we play baseball too!!).

You got it right, IMO....

This is a very common play, feint to 3B, feint/throw to 1B. No balk, good call.

This should have been the first clue that you absolutely nailed the call. What that pitcher did was perfectly legal. Great no-call!

The pitching rules do not distinguish righties from lefties. Also, there is no rule that requires a pitcher to step off before a pickoff move. Good call.