Pickoff to 1st - contact with rubber
 

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,

He certainly may. Says so right in the rules. Personally, I think 8.01(c) says it most unambiguously.

For some reason, it is a fairly common misconception that he may not.

JM

Well,
 

"If" a pitcher had to disengage -- then EVERY left handed pitcher would be balking EVERYTIME he uses his best move to first.

Actually I posted a few years ago a quote from Mel Sottlemeyer when he was pitching coach for the Yankees.

He said: "Well obvious a right handed pitcher needs to step off the rubber before he throws to first base."

This just shows, as JM, has stated that many don't understand this rule.

T

Maybe a film would help.

Which film? :-) Just caught that now.

Oswald was the pitcher and Kennedy got beaned.

And the pitch was delivered from a grassless knoll.

Truly tasteless ...

Good time to stop.

Is there a new board moderator in town? :confused:

No, just a human being with instincts that tell me that Kennedy Assassination jokes are in poor taste. It's on the short list.

Too soon?

Sorry if that wasn't to your liking, Kevin. I guess there's no accounting for taste (either your's or mine).

It does seem sort of incongruent for the same guy that was recently defending his right to express free thoughts "in this little corner" of the internet to want others to knock it off when their thoughts don't align with his own.

I'll defend your right to express your opinion, form your own moral compass or even to be outraged if you see something that rubs you the wrong way. But I'll draw the line at having someone else telling me that I can't do the same.

"When I returned, Mary Jo and the car were gone."

My bad - wrong Kennedy.

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how'd you enjoy the play?"

Ahem,

I hinted that it was tasteless and suggested that it might be a good time [for all of us, especially the poster prior to you] to stop.

Just where did I tell you a damned thing?

And what in hell is going on around here?

And it would have also been a tasteless joke if the man whose assassination was being joked about were a Republican. This is a humanity issue, not a two-party political one.

Not everything is partisan.

Those seemed like declarative statements to me, not hints or suggestions.

The only thing I'll add is...

Yes, Mr. Zapruder, a pitcher definitely can make a legal pick-off move to first base without disengaging the rubber.

Even as a righty...which seems to be lost on many.

Ahh, the lone pitcher theory.

Very funny ... yeah, sure.

And well worth saying; just like the comment you quoted.

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

yes.