Pick off play at 1B

[onetime1]

This weekend at the annual Labor Day family reunion picnic the following occurred. My dad is a right handed thrower and on the mound proceeds to give up a beauty bunt single to my little brother who overruns 1B and twists his ankle. My stepmom comes on as the pinch runner and is the tying run with 2 outs in the last inning. The right handed pitcher then comes set with his chest facing 1b and his left foot on the rubber like a left handed pitcher would normally do. He then proceeds to step off with his left foot and does a snap throw to 1B with his inside right hand and picks off my step mom bigger than life. The place erupts and I am not quite sure if we will continue to play baseball at our picnics anymore after that heated argument. Was this a legal pick off play?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by onetime1

This weekend at the annual Labor Day family reunion picnic the following occurred. My dad is a right handed thrower and on the mound proceeds to give up a beauty bunt single to my little brother who overruns 1B and twists his ankle. My stepmom comes on as the pinch runner and is the tying run with 2 outs in the last inning. The right handed pitcher then comes set with his chest facing 1b and his left foot on the rubber like a left handed pitcher would normally do. He then proceeds to step off with his left foot and does a snap throw to 1B with his inside right hand and picks off my step mom bigger than life. The place erupts and I am not quite sure if we will continue to play baseball at our picnics anymore after that heated argument. Was this a legal pick off play?

BALK!!

MTD, Sr.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by onetime1

This weekend at the annual Labor Day family reunion picnic the following occurred. My dad is a right handed thrower and on the mound proceeds to give up a beauty bunt single to my little brother who overruns 1B and twists his ankle. My stepmom comes on as the pinch runner and is the tying run with 2 outs in the last inning. The right handed pitcher then comes set with his chest facing 1b and his left foot on the rubber like a left handed pitcher would normally do. He then proceeds to step off with his left foot and does a snap throw to 1B with his inside right hand and picks off my step mom bigger than life. The place erupts and I am not quite sure if we will continue to play baseball at our picnics anymore after that heated argument. Was this a legal pick off play?

Was he wearing a glove?

[Welpe]

In order to answer this I need to know what kind of cobbler was served at this picnic?

[scrounge]

The legality of this play is dependent on many factors, primarily the probability of sleeping on the couch for the next month.

[onetime1]

Yes wearing a glove on his left hand as usual and came set like usual as well. Then stepped back with his left foot and snapped throw with right hand. Why is this a balk. He was adamant everything was done by the rules.Told my mom once he steps off he becomes an infielder therefore how can infielders deceive runners he yelled.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by onetime1

Why is this a balk.

simulating a pitching motion while not on the rubber.

For FED, see 6.1.3L

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by onetime1

Yes wearing a glove on his left hand as usual and came set like usual as well. Then stepped back with his left foot and snapped throw with right hand. Why is this a balk. He was adamant everything was done by the rules.Told my mom once he steps off he becomes an infielder therefore how can infielders deceive runners he yelled.

Glove on his left hand means he was pitching right-handed. Therefore his right foot would be his pivot foot and to be in contact he would have to have his right foot on the rubber. He didn't so he was simulating a pitch while not in contact. Balk.

[Adam]

This is a clear example of a clever genius finding a wicked loophole in the rules at a time when it's going to do him the most harm. I frankly can't imagine any scenario where I'd attempt a normal pick-off move if my wife was R1, let alone try some bush-league pick-off move.

Whether the move was legal or not, you should tell you Dad to admit he was wrong, apologize to your mom, buy her some flowers, and send an email to the entire family offering a forfeit.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Adam

This is a clear example of a clever genius finding a wicked loophole in the rules at a time when it's going to do him the most harm. I frankly can't imagine any scenario where I'd attempt a normal pick-off move if my wife was R1, let alone try some bush-league pick-off move.

Whether the move was legal or not, you should tell you Dad to admit he was wrong, apologize to your mom, buy her some flowers, and send an email to the entire family offering a forfeit.

But he didn't

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

But he didn't

Yeah, there's that, too.