Tangent to passing a runner topic.

[youngump]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

from the other topic:
"R1 on third decides to go toward home but then retreats to 3rd.
But pitcher picks up ball and looks toward 2nd. R1 then takes off for home, stops, retreats back to third but finally goes all the way home. "

is there a Look Back Rule issue there?
Was the pitcher in the circle when she picked up the ball?
Does "looks toward 2nd" count as a play or fake play, before the throw?

By rule, I don't think you can avoid this. There's no exception for until the play ends in the LBR. I don't think the rule was intended this way though and I don't the distinction is going to matter in all but the most unusual of circumstances. The LBR is canceled if the pitcher fakes or makes a play. If she's still acting as a fielder she's almost certainly going to do one of those two things.