Is this pick-off legal?

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Larry1953

Rule 8.01 (comment) when the pitcher disengages the rubber he must drop his hands to his sides....

Rule 8.01(e) If a pitcher removes his pivot foot from contact with the pitcher's plate by stepping backward with that foot, he thereby becomes an infielder.....

Rule 8.01(f) A pitcher must indicate visually to the umpire-in-chief, the batter AND ANY RUNNERS the hand with which he INTENDS to pitch which may be done by wearing his glove on the other hand while touching the pitcher's plate. The pitcher is not permitted to pitch with the other hand until the batter is retired etc, etc....

To which the pitcher could reply "I showed you I was going to PITCH with my left hand but when I am an infielder I like to THROW with my right hand.

Still, the rules specifically mentioned THE RUNNERS presumably so they would know which hand the pitcher might try to pick them off with.*

I think the rules need to be clarified to say once the pitcher steps off the rubber he may throw with either hand or, to the contrary, that the pitcher must throw with the "indicated hand" as long as he is standing on the mound.

Pitching rules exist for F1 when he is pitching not when he is throwing. Would you want the same set of throwing rules for your catcher? Who says that he can't dump the mitt, transfer the ball to his catching hand and throw to 1st?

It's obvious that you are a coach so let me put it this way. Deception is legal as long as F1 doesn't break the rules. When F1 legally steps off the rubber, he can do what ever any other fielder can do.

[Larry1953]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Pitching rules exist for F1 when he is pitching not when he is throwing. Would you want the same set of throwing rules for your catcher? Who says that he can't dump the mitt, transfer the ball to his catching hand and throw to 1st?

It's obvious that you are a coach so let me put it this way. Deception is legal as long as F1 doesn't break the rules. When F1 legally steps off the rubber, he can do what ever any other fielder can do.

Ozzy, you got me pegged :-). I hope my naïveté and ignorance don't prove too annoying to you guys. Believe me, I really appreciate the opportunity to access the expertise here. Everybody can ump from an armchair at home with ultra slo-mo replays. But it is a lot tougher than it looks with balls flying around at 100 mph and world class speedsters flying around the bases. And the amazing thing is that replays usually show that the umpires miss calls a lot less frequently than you get the wrong mail in your mailbox. I really do respect y'all's professionalism and dedication.

I am unfortunately no longer even a coach. The son I coached from a 6 year old T-Baller through a 15 year old Senior Little Leaguer went on to serve in Afghanistan as a First Lieutenant hunting down the bad guys. He brought his platoon all back home alive and well. Hopefully some of the things he learned on the ballfield like hustle and heads up play helped him to accomplish that. His knob year college roommate at the Citadel wasn't so lucky. With that you come to understand that there are worse things in life than a missed call.

Thanks again!