Batter runner reaches first on a throw that pull the first baseman off the bag. The pitcher is on the mound, standing on the rubber but not engaged, and the first baseman fakes a throw to the pitcher and holds the ball. is this a balk? FED rules.
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Yes. Pitcher cannot be on the dirt or the area where the dirt circle would be without the ball.
Yes. Pitcher cannot be on the dirt or the area where the dirt circle would be without the ball.
Just to avoid confusion down the road, that's the NCAA rule.
In FED, the pitcher cannot be within five feet of the rubber on a hidden-ball play.
And in this case, I'd have to see it to know if it was illegal. There has to be an element of intent on the part of the pitcher to conduct this subterfuge or the runner has to be put at a disadvantage--otherwise, it's a balk every time the pitcher gets the ball back from the catcher.
... and in OBR it's "on or astride the rubber."
