RHP Pick off attempt to first. Balk?

[RPatrino]

Jeremy, your post, while lenghty, still confused me. You state, "Without picking up his pivot foot, he turns/pivots, and steps and throws to first base." How can the pitcher, turn/pivot AND step without picking up his pivot foot? Is he twisted toward first with his pivot foot still planted in its original position?

[mbyron]

Step and throw to occupied 1B? Legal. Who cares what the pivot does.

[JeremyGrey]

@mbyron, That's what I thought.

@RPatrino, His pivot foot did come up, as he stepped and threw. He just didn't do the jump/spin thing before the throw that we most often see from righties to first base.

[ozzy6900]

Also, how does RHP step to 1st without picking up his foot? Is he supposed to drag it on the ground? Just lifting the free foot is not a balk!

[RPatrino]

As I interpret the OP, the issue is what the pitcher did with his pivot foot. If things were as described, F1 lifted his free foot, stepped and threw to 1b. As presented, I don't have a balk. He did not move his pivot foot, which, while awkward is not a balk.

[Welpe]

It is perfectly legal for a pitcher to step and throw to an occupied base while in the set position. There is no rule difference between what an LHP and an RHP may do.

[Caesar's Ghost]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Jeremy, your post, while lenghty, still confused me. You state, "Without picking up his pivot foot, he turns/pivots, and steps and throws to first base." How can the pitcher, turn/pivot AND step without picking up his pivot foot? Is he twisted toward first with his pivot foot still planted in its original position?

You can pivot on a foot without lifting it entirely off the ground. Even with spikes on.

You don't see it as much anymore but it was the only legal move to first from the rubber for a RH pitcher for many years -- until they started to allow the jump turn and jab step, both of which were technically illegal.