Valid pitching appearance?

[pruett3]

It seems like the same move to me. Just to a different base. I understand what the rule says. Why is 1st base treated differently than any other base?

[johnnyg08]

I really don't know other than that's just the way the rule is written. Maybe because that's where the most runners are as well as the move SB attempts...so they do it to keep the game fair for the offense and defense?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by pruett3

It seems like the same move to me. Just to a different base. I understand what the rule says. Why is 1st base treated differently than any other base?

It's been that way for over a century. (First, feints to all bases were allowed, then no feints were allowed (this lasted for only a short time -- 1 year?), then the current rule -- no feints to first.)

I know that doesn't answer "why" it's this way -- but I don't see it changing soon.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by pruett3

Why is 1st base treated differently than any other base?

1. Second base is the farthest from the catcher, which makes it the easiest base to steal.
2. Reaching 2B puts a runner in scoring position, so it's important to the offense to get him there and important to the defense to keep him on 1B.
3. That's why 1B is (almost always) the only base where the runner is held on.
4. More runners reach 1B than any other base.

All of these points apply only to 1B, which explains why it's treated differently. The intent of the rules is to balance offense and defense with respect to advancing a runner to 2B.

[bluehair]

Originally Posted by mbyron

More runners reach 1B than any other base.

I hope you have statistics to prove that bold statement

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by mbyron

1. Second base is the farthest from the catcher, which makes it the easiest base to steal.
2. Reaching 2B puts a runner in scoring position, so it's important to the offense to get him there and important to the defense to keep him on 1B.
3. That's why 1B is (almost always) the only base where the runner is held on.
4. More runners reach 1B than any other base.

All of these points apply only to 1B, which explains why it's treated differently. The intent of the rules is to balance offense and defense with respect to advancing a runner to 2B.

Evans has explained that his research indicates that even the early rules makers understood that scoring was more exciting than not scoring. The rules regarding first actually lean heavily towards the offense to protect the runner and provide a greater chance of scoring.