Pickoff Attempt At 2nd - Balk?

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by jicecone

The pivot foot is supposed to land before the pitcher throws to a base. The pitcher has to step off before separating the hands, otherwise he has begun to pitch and then he has to complete it.

Just got back to this. Cant tell if you are correcting my previous post or aggreeing with it.

[jicecone]

I was saying that there is not a requirement that the foot has to land before he separates his hands. It does have to land before he throws to a base though. However, if the pitcher separates their hands before they step off, then they have begun to pitch and have to complete it.

Granted sometimes there is a fine line between when he steps off and separates his hands.

[Steven Tyler]

If you're not stealing, or going on first movement when on 2nd or 3rd, you have no business getting picked off the base.