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.