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Baseball Instruction/Unorthodox pick off move balk or not
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Question
Can a right hand pitcher raise his left leg,as to pick a runner off third, but instead of throwing to third, bring his left leg back under in the same plane stepping towards first and execute the pick off to first. An umpire called this a balk, his reasoning being once the pitcher raised his left leg this was a motion to the plate. If this is true then why is it not a balk when a right had pitcher raises his leg and throws to third on a pick off, also to second base, when a pitcher raises his left leg and pivots back towards second base on a pick off attempt. Also I have found nothing in the Major League Rules that states a pitcher must break contact with the pitching rubber on a pick off attempt, only that they step towards the base to which they are throwing.
Tim,
Balks are somewhat in the eye of the beholder. I can't answer this question unless I would see the move and then can make a judgement.
If the umpire believes the pitcher is beginning his delivery to the plate, then the pitcher must deliver to the plate; otherwise it is a balk.
It is such a judgement call on this.
Brian
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| Comment | I knew it would be hard to get a picture of this pick off move with not actually seeing it. Though I'm positive I have seen it used once in the past five years at the Major League level. It was used in the pony/colt leagues I played in over thirty years ago, and was initially called a balk. After meeting with the umpires and thier superiors and examining the rule book it was deemed a legal pick off move due to the pitcher not breaking his hands as to go to home plate, plus not breaking the imaginary plane of the pivot leg and after the leg lift the step of the front leg followed the same projectory towards first base. This nullified the assumption that just because a pitcher was in the stretch and raised his front leg it was a motion towards home plate, the agrument being a pitcher is allowed to lift his front leg with men on third or second and it is not considered a balk. Maybe we were wrong thirty odd years ago. Or maybe because it was explained to the umpires they realized it was legal. Thank you for your time and exerpertise. | ||
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Brian Flaspohler
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Questions about baseball rules, general information about the game, statistical analysis, questions about players, questions about Baseball records. I am a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and a lifelong baseball fanatic. Don't ask me questions about training - this is not my area of expertise.
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Lifelong fan, article about player movement from team to team throughout history.
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