when is inside pick to 2nd a balk?

[Tim C]

Here we go again.

IIITBTSB.

A pitcher DOES NOT necessarily need to gain direction when throwing to second:

An example:

Pull hitting RH hitter at the plate.

F6 is playing "in the hole" (strongly positioned towards third base).

R2 is taking a lead.

F1, with his foot in contact with the pitcher's plate, throws to F6 (located much more closely to third than second) where F6 runs R2 back to second.

F1 stepped no where close to a "direct line" or even a 45* angle to second and he DID NOT BALK.

My statement stands. While a pitcher can easily balk with a runner at second, he cannot balk TO second base.

Steve, take out a copy of a "to scale" field. Note that the pitcher's mound is located more closely to second base than home plate.

Go to your documents and you'll see that the famous 45* angle in taken from the pitcher's plate and ALL documentation relates to first and third base . . . now take that diagram and figure out "where exact" the 45* angle would fall if you were marking it too second base . . . interesting, no?

As an unauthortive opinion I contend that there is NO requirement to gain direction when throwing to second base from the pitcher's plate during a pick off attempt.

BTW, Steve I DID NOT coin the phrase "It Is Impossible To Balk To Second Base" -- it was coined by the "true" authoritive opinion on rules that you dislike so much.

I just stole it!

And always remember, Carl Childress once called me, "The Most Dangerous Umpire on the Internet!"


As another umpire is known to say,

Just My Opinion,

(The Original) & Ever Slimming,

Tee

[Edited by Tim C on Mar 3rd, 2003 at 09:09 AM]