Pitcher balk ?- throw to 1st

[DUNDALKCHOPPER]

My understanding is while on the rubber a pitcher must step to 1st when throwing on a pick-off. If the pitcher just lifts his pivot foot and throws without a step to first.. or even just jumps up and throws while airborn- is he no longer considered on the mound ?. I am not sure if the rule calls for him to replant the pivot foot on the ground in order for him to be considered OFF the rubber.

[RPatrino]

Are you meaning, 'off the rubber'?

[maven]

After coming set, F1 may legally do just 3 things:

1. Pitch to the batter
2. Legally disengage
3. Step and throw to a base (or feint if allowed)

To disengage legally (step off), his first move must involve the pivot foot. It must move directly backward and behind the rubber. The pivot foot must plant before the hands separate, though if the move is clearly a step off many umpires will allow the hands to separate as the foot is coming down.

Once disengaged, the pitcher is an infielder and may throw or feint to any base as he wishes.

[Lapopez]

Originally Posted by maven

To disengage legally (step off), his first move must involve the pivot foot. It must move directly backward and behind the rubber. The pivot foot must plant before the hands separate, though if the move is clearly [emphasis added] a step off many umpires will allow the hands to separate as the foot is coming down.

You see Dundal, it all depends on how fast the pitcher steps back. That threshold, when once exceeded and the pitcher is doing a “move from the rubber” and not actually disengaging legally, is your judgment. But not to worry, it’s very clear, in fact, it’s “textbook." See this for example: NLCS blown base award

[maven]

Originally Posted by Lapopez

You see Dundal, it all depends on how fast the pitcher steps back. That threshold, when once exceeded and the pitcher is doing a “move from the rubber” and not actually disengaging legally, is your judgment. But not to worry, it’s very clear, in fact, it’s “textbook." See this for example: NLCS blown base award

It does not depend on how fast the move is. That is utterly incorrect and potentially misleading for a poster who seems to be asking a sincere question.

If a move is not clearly legal disengagement, then the move must comply with the "step and throw" provisions or risk being called a balk.

This principle explains why all umpires in the play referenced ruled the move a throw "from the rubber" — a jump step — and thus a 1-base award when the ball went out of play. If you are eager to debate that ruling further, I would encourage you to post it in the other thread.

[Lapopez]

Originally Posted by maven

If a move is not clearly legal disengagement, then the move must comply with the "step and throw" provisions or risk being called a balk.

That's twice now that you've mentioned "clearly/not clearly," yet you have put forth nothing to help Dundal judge whether stepping BACK (!) is a move "from the rubber." If speed isn't your criteria, what is?

[rbmartin]

Originally Posted by Lapopez

If speed isn't your criteria, what is?

The speed of the event does not change the rule. It may make it more difficult for an umpire to discern what happened (ie make it more likely to get away with an infraction), but the rule is consistant regardless of the speed at which it happens.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Lapopez

That's twice now that you've mentioned "clearly/not clearly," yet you have put forth nothing to help Dundal judge whether stepping BACK (!) is a move "from the rubber." If speed isn't your criteria, what is?

I provided criteria of legal disengagement. The remark you were quoting concerns umpire judgment and how strictly we enforce the restriction on separating the hands.

There are no independent criteria of "clarity." The term refers to umpire judgment, not the move.

[Lapopez]

Originally Posted by maven

If you are eager to debate that ruling further, I would encourage you to post it in the other thread.

Challenge taken... NLCS blown base award

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by DUNDALKCHOPPER

My understanding is while on the rubber a pitcher must step to 1st when throwing on a pick-off. If the pitcher just lifts his pivot foot and throws without a step to first.. or even just jumps up and throws while airborn- is he no longer considered on the mound ?. I am not sure if the rule calls for him to replant the pivot foot on the ground in order for him to be considered OFF the rubber.

He just lifts the pivot foot and throws? I've not seen that one, but it would be a balk.

The jump step is considered a move from the rubber, but the pitcher must land (so your example where he throws while airborne is a balk) and the non-pivot foot must gain distance and direction to first before the throw.