"Third-to-First"

[bas2456]

Basketball guy here, but have done some little kids baseball

I was a lefty pitcher in high school. I've always wondered something.

Why is a right-hander allowed to fake to third, with his foot on the rubber, and throw to first, but a left hander isn't allowed to fake to first with his foot on the rubber?

[MrUmpire]

First base is treated differently from the other bases by the rulesmakers... a pitcher may not fake to first while in contact with the pitcher's plate regardless of which hand he pitches with.

Both RHP and LHP, however, may fake to third.

[bas2456]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

First base is treated differently from the other bases by the rulesmakers... a pitcher may not fake to first while in contact with the pitcher's plate regardless of which hand he pitches with.

Both RHP and LHP, however, may fake to third.

When you say a lefty can fake to third, can he do so without stepping off first? I'm guessing no...

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by bas2456

When you say a lefty can fake to third, can he do so without stepping off first? I'm guessing no...

bas2456,

Guess again.

There is nothing in the rules that makes any distinction between a RHP and a LHP and what they are or are not allowed to do. It is perfectly legal for a LHP to make a legal feint to 3B without first disengaging the rubber.

JM

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by bas2456

When you say a lefty can fake to third, can he do so without stepping off first? I'm guessing no...

Why guess? See OBR 8.05 (a) through (m)

As JM notes, there is nothing in the rules that differentiates between the handedness of pitchers.

[Forest Ump]

..... and he has to step with his free foot towards third if he does fake to third.

[griff901c]

Varsity level...lh pitcher..coach tells me he has to stop before going to first.

What? He is deceiving the runner..he must stop.

[Tim C]

"Varsity level...lh pitcher..coach tells me he has to stop before going to first.

"What? He is deceiving the runner..he must stop."

Sometimes the best defense is:

Look the coach directly in the eye . . . and start laughing.

T

[justanotherblue]

I've gone through several responses to this one and after LMAO.. all I can say is, sure coach, and 2012 is coming.

[ManInBlue]

As already said but, it's that way because the rules make it so. It's kind of like what your Mother used to tell you "because I said so." F1 can't fake to 1st while in contact with the rubber, period. F1 CAN fake to third in contact with the rubber, period (provided he steps in the direction of the base).

Has to stop...he's deceiving the runner? Isn't that what a pick off is supposed to do?

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by bas2456

....

Why is a right-hander allowed to fake to third, with his foot on the rubber, and throw to first, but a left hander isn't allowed to fake to first with his foot on the rubber?

bas2456,

The best rationale I've found explaining WHY it is illegal to feint to 1B, and how the rule evolved, is the following from JEA:

Pitching rules in the late 1800's permitted feints to all bases without penalty. In 1899, however, that policy was changed and all feints to all bases were made illegal. That enforcement principle lasted only one year. In 1900, the rule we use today was adopted. A pitcher may feint to any base from the rubber (except first base) if he steps properly prior to the feint.

...

The purpose of this rule is to allow a runner to get a practical lead. If feints were allowed, pitchers could hold
runners much closer at 1st base, and the offense would be stifled. The main purpose of the Balk Rule is to
encourage offense, not to stifle it.

JM