Rich MRD wroteDoes 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.
rcaverly bob jenkins wroteHeck, he could... As long it as it wasn't an attempt to deceive the runner or make a travesty of the game. Oh, wait...
john5396 bob jenkins wroteHeck, he could do a cartwheel or a backflip, if he wanted to. 😉 Backflip, not legal. Backflip with 1/2 twist - legal. After all he has step toward the base with his non pivot foot....
ozzy6900 rcaverly wroteAs long it as it wasn't an attempt to deceive the runner or make a travesty of the game. Oh, wait... 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.
MRD 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
Rich DG wroteThe 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.
youngump MRD wroteAccording 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 Besides the general counterintuitiveness of this position wouldn't it matter which hand the pitcher was throwing with which way they couldn't spin?
Mark T.​ DeNucci, Sr.​ DG wroteThe MHSAA office should get out of the office and watch some baseball. 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.
Rita C youngump wroteBesides the general counterintuitiveness of this position wouldn't it matter which hand the pitcher was throwing with which way they couldn't spin? Yep. Shows they need one more clue. Rita
Rita C MRD wroteDoes it matter which way a pitcher turns when he tries to pick a runner at second? There just can't be a hesitation toward first. Rita
bob jenkins MRD wroteAccording 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 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.