Balk or not a balk?

No need to disconnect from the rubber, as long as you complete the throw to first on the pick-off attempt. Once you disconnect from the rubber, you become a fielder, and therefore can fake the throw to first.

Jumping Jack,

Wind-up position or Set position? Under Fed (high school) rules it does make a difference.

if he lifts his leg up any higher than necessary to go toward first, it would be a balk. if he lifts the left leg more than a couple of inches, as if he is starting to pitch, then it is a balk. this is from the stretch obviously...

a RHP? i always believed anytime a RHP throws to first he MUST step off the rubber.. or do u mean a LHP? jsut a little confused

A RHP may step to first and throw from the rubber. If he wants to fake he must disengage. In HS he may not make the same move from the wind-up but in OBR(pro) he can.

BALK! any time a RHP throws to first he must use his right foot to begin the move wheater it is a hop or step back, he can't simply pick his left foot up and go to first.

Again, a RHP does not need to hop or step back from the rubber with his right foot on a move to 1st base as long as he makes the throw to first.

As for the discussion on how high he picks up the left leg on this move. If he picks it up too high it would can be interpretted as disception and be ruled a balk.

I know he doesn't need to go backwards but he needs to at least break the rubber with his right foot, can't just pick his left foot up and go to first when its a RHP

quote:

Originally posted by LIONS10:
I know he doesn't need to go backwards but he needs to at least break the rubber with his right foot, can't just pick his left foot up and go to first when its a RHP

Sure he can. Look at the rule book and see if there are different rules for RHPs and LHPs. In all codes except Fed you may also step directly to a base in the wind-up. In HS you must disengage if you are in the wind-up.
As far as how high you can lift your foot that is a matter of an indivual umpire. There is nothing in the rules about any restriction and if the pitcher defintely swings without any forwad motion then all should be good. My advice to pitchers is if it's that close to the envelope then don't do it.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael S. Taylor:
A RHP may step to first and throw from the rubber. If he wants to fake he must disengage. In HS he may not make the same move from the wind-up but in OBR(pro) he can.

Excellent!Thanks Michael.

im still confused... i was always called for a balk when i was coming into teener league bc i never stepped off first... i know a RHP does not need to step off when goin to 3rd or 2nd... but to 1st he has to break his right foot from the rubber.... can someone please clarify?

The problem is there arre many baseball myths that come from playing youth basbeall. Some come from parents, some from coaches, and unfortunately some from lesser trained umpires.
The end result is if you step first before starting your hands you may step straight from the rubber and throw to first. To fake you must disengage no matter what hand you are.
The local PONY league had a guy that been involved since the late 50s and he insisted that you spin move was illegal. For 90% of the rules he was excellent but in this case he was wrong. This is how myths are spread.
As I've pointed out many times if you read the pitching rules there is no distinction between what a RHP and LHP may do.