Legal Feint to first?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by JR12

Just saying LHP do it all the time and actually throw.

I've been seeing LHP do a kind of jump step this season. Hadn't seen that much before.

When both feet move, even if the pivot foot ends up behind the rubber, the free foot better gain both distance and direction toward the base. And he better throw if it's 1B. This is NOT legally disengaging.

[jdmara]

What has be confused about this move is that he didn't move his non-pivot foot at all. It just looked awkward and I couldn't decide if turning of the shoulders would in and of itself create a balk.

Thanks

-Josh

[dileonardoja]

Originally Posted by jdmara

What has be confused about this move is that he didn't move his non-pivot foot at all. It just looked awkward and I couldn't decide if turning of the shoulders would in and of itself create a balk.

Thanks

-Josh

Have you ever seen a LHP properly disengage and just sling it over to 1B without stepping toward first? Perfectly legal and a pretty good move sometimes. Always keep in mind once he disengages he can legally do pretty much anything (and lets not take "anything" to literally) except reengage with out first breaking his hands

[RPatrino]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I've been seeing LHP do a kind of jump step this season. Hadn't seen that much before.

When both feet move, even if the pivot foot ends up behind the rubber, the free foot better gain both distance and direction toward the base. And he better throw if it's 1B. This is NOT legally disengaging.

Correct!! If this is done in one continuous motion and the ball is not thrown to 1st, it is a BALK! If the pitcher steps off the rubber with his pivot foot, and with the pivot foot planted, turns and fakes, then that is a legal feint.

In the OP, if the pitcher had come set, then stepped off the rubber, he can feint (by turning his shoulders) to first. He must drop his hands prior to re-engaging the rubber, in order to come set again.