Balk or not????

You always have to break contact to throw to a base. EVen in spin moves the contact as to be broken, it's quick as the pitcher spins but contact is broken.

Yes, but does he have to step back off the rubber before throwing home, or can he just step forward and throw home since he hasn't come set, so long as the the throw comes after his back foot is no longer in contact with the rubber?

He either has to step off or he can throw to third and let F5 throw home.

Since the pitching regulations begin as soon as he contacts the rubber, the fact he's not come set yet is irrelevant. He must disengage to the rear. If he disengages to the front, balk.

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by obrady:
You always have to break contact to throw to a base. EVen in spin moves the contact as to be broken, it's quick as the pitcher spins but contact is broken.

Wrong.

You can always step directly to the base and throw to the base. Even from the windup.

mt has it right.

Texan:
Remember this is a HS board so a pitcher can't make a pick-off from the wind-up in Fed. Anywhere else he may certainly do so. The oddities of Fed.

Good catch, mt.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael S. Taylor:
He either has to step off or he can throw to third and let F5 throw home.

MST, what constitutes a legal pitch in this situation?

In the OP he was pitching from the stretch, so he would have to come set and pitch. The stop doesn't have be much so he can hurry his delivery but he does have to show a stop. From the wind-up he can pretty much get the pitch delivered as quick as possible and still meet the wind-up regs.
If he can get a legal pitch thrown the batter gets a chance to swing at it. If he steps back and throws home the batter has to let it go and clear the box area. If he hits or swings at a nonpitch then it is interference.
I had a varsity manager have a fit on one our best umps over that very call. The runner broke from third, the pitcher hurried but delivered legally. He wanted a balk because he changed his delivery. I got the nasty phone call wanting a ruling followed by multiple emails trying to prove his case.