spin move to second
 

Does it matter which way a pitcher turns when he tries to pick a runner at second?

No. The inside move and outside move are both legal.

Heck, he could do a cartwheel or a backflip, if he wanted to. ;)

As long it as it wasn't an attempt to deceive the runner or make a travesty of the game. Oh, wait...

Backflip, not legal. Backflip with 1/2 twist - legal. After all he has step toward the base with his non pivot foot....

Deceiving the runner is part of the pitcher's job. A properly executed pick off always involves deceiving the runner. The question is was the deception legal or illegal.

spin move to second
 

According to the MHSAA office in E. Lansing, Mi without disengaging it is impossible for a pitcher to spin clockwise without making a movement towards home, therefore , their interpretation is that a clockwise spin constitutes a balk

oops! I meant counterclockwise

The MHSAA office should get out of the office and watch some baseball.

And should stop at Walmart on the way to buy three clues for a dollar.

Besides the general counterintuitiveness of this position wouldn't it matter which hand the pitcher was throwing with which way they couldn't spin?

As both OhioHSAA and MichiganHSAA registered baseball umpires, but MTD, Jr., and I concur with your assessment. We have seen it at least a half a dozen times this year in both Ohio and Michigan.

MTD, Sr.

Yep. Shows they need one more clue.

Rita

There just can't be a hesitation toward first.

Rita

Are you sure they don't mean *after* picking up the pivot foot (toward the balance point; for a RH pitcher)?

Otherwise, I agree with the rest of the comments.