Pickoff to 1st - contact with rubber

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Zapruder

Hi
Apologies if this has already been asked and answered - I searched the forum and couldn't find anything completely definitive.

We're having a little debate at my club in South Africa about whether a pitcher is allowed to stay in contact with the pitching rubber when picking off to first or whether he has to remove his pivot foot first (e.g. either by stepping back off or doing a jump turn).

The MLB rule seems to imply that he can pick off to first with foot still in contact with rubber, because it says that if he feints to first while in contact with the rubber and doesn't complete the throw it is a balk. This implies that it is legal to pick off to first with your back foot in contact with the rubber (as long as you step towards the base).

Rule 8.05
(b) The pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first base and fails to complete the throw;

So my question is - can a pitcher legally come to set position then turn, step towards first and throw, while his foot is still in contact with the rubber?

Thanks!

There's no "imply" about it, it's right in the rules

8.01(b) From such Set Position he may deliver the ball to the batter, throw to a base or step backward off the pitcher’s plate with his pivot foot.

BTW, a jump turn is considered as a move from the rubber, so if you do the jump turn on a pick to 1B you must throw to 1B.

[Zapruder]

Thanks for the answers, guys - much appreciated.

I've always understood it the way you've all confirmed but as you've also said opinions have been known to differ for some reason, lol.

Thanks also for pointing out that a jump throw is considered in contact - hence if you jump turn and don't complete a throw, it's a balk, right?

Cheers

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by Zapruder;667502 it's a balk, right?

yes.