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10 replies

Balk Question

R RenoUmp10+ posts
After a very funny looking pickoff attempt at first, after which R1 ended up at third, offensive coach calls time and wants to talk about the pickoff attempt.

The right-handed F1, fully engaged with the rubber, lifted leg and stepped towards first and threw towards first.

Coach argued that in order for F1 to go to first he had to disengage.

While he recognized that a left hander could go to first without disengaging, he argued that a right hander could not.

Admittedly, I have never seen this type of pickoff attempt before; however, my partner and I conferred and couldn't remember a rule that prohibited a right hander from going to first while engaged.

We allowed the move and F1 used it a couple of more times during the game.

We reviewed Rule 6.3 which generally indicates that a pitcher can pivot on the rubber and step towards any base which is occupied. . .

In thinking about the objection a bit further, I came up with the following question . . Can a right handed F1 pivot counterclockwise and step to first without initially giving the impression that he is going home, therefore starting the pitching motion, and committing a balk?

I am second guessing my initial ruling.

Help!!!
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N NavyUmp10+ posts
Of course a RHP can stay engaged and go to first, however as you explain in the OP, it sounds like a balk because lifting his front leg is his natural delivery to pitch and once he starts to pitch (go home) he cannot go to first. A LHP can lift his knee and then come to first because that is considered his natural motion when throwing to first. A RHP can do the same to third.

If a RHP want to go to first while engaged he will have to lift his pivot foot heel as he wheels around and steps to first. BTW, If he does a jump step he is also considered to be engaged for purposes of DB awards
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
From the rubber a pitcher can do three things: disengage, pitch to home, step and throw to a base. None of those have a caveat in the rulebook regarding handedness.

A RHP may step and throw to a base. He may accomplish this legally by performing a "glide step" in shich his non pivot moves smoothly and without interruption from it place is the set position to a position by which it gained distance and direction to first. He need not left his pivot foot heel.

If, instead of a glide step, the RHP lefts his leg (knee) as he would in a move to home, and then turns and steps to first, it would be a balk.

Because of the common misconception regarding RHPs stepping to first and because many pitcher have difficulty performing a glide step without lefting their knee, most RHP disengange perform a jump turn or jab step. The jump turn and jab step have both been ruled acceptable and considered as being in contact with the rubber.
Last edited by Jimmy03
N NavyUmp10+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Jimmy03:
...and because many pitcher have difficulty performing a glide step without lefting their knee, most RHP disengange perform a jump turn or jab step. The jump turn and jab step have both been ruled acceptable and considered as being in contact with the rubber.


This is somewhat contradictory statement. First you say most RHPs disengage then follow that up with it that he is considered to be engaged.

To disengage the pitcher must step back with the pivot foot behind the rubber. If he doesn't do that he has not disengaged.
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by NavyUmp:
quote:
Originally posted by Jimmy03:
...and because many pitcher have difficulty performing a glide step without lefting their knee, most RHP disengange perform a jump turn or jab step. The jump turn and jab step have both been ruled acceptable and considered as being in contact with the rubber.


This is somewhat contradictory statement. First you say most RHPs disengage then follow that up with it that he is considered to be engaged.

To disengage the pitcher must step back with the pivot foot behind the rubber. If he doesn't do that he has not disengaged.


I did not mean to imply that when one is disengaged he is still engaged.

Perhpas a missing comma is to fault. I should havc written that "most RHP disengage, perform a jump turn, or jab step." (three different moves)

Of those three, in the jump turn and jab step he is considered to still be contact with the rubber.
Last edited by Jimmy03
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by NavyUmp:
Jimmy, So we are pretty much saying the same thing. I am not familiar with the glide step so I guess I'll have to see it. And when you talk about the jab-step are you referring to move where the RHP lifts the pivot heel as he steps toward first? Thanks


In a glide step, the RHP lifts his nonpivot foot just enought to clear the ground and swings it round in one continuous motion towards first. There is no real noticable upward motion of the knee. This is legal.

The jabstep can best be desrcribed as a poorly timed jump turn. The pivot foot his the ground first, then the non-pivot foot, bang-bang, nearly simultaneously...both infront of the rubber. His final position is similar to that of a jumpturn. First MLB, then NCAA and FED have ruled this to be a legal move for many years now, although it seemingly violates a strict reading of the rule.
T tojake10+ posts
Guys - if a RHP performs the jump step, with both feet coming down in front of the rubber and then feints a throw to first is that a balk? I ruled it as such and had a coach arguing with me that it wasn't a balk because his pitcher had disengaged from the rubber when he jumped. Does a disengagement need to result in the pivot foot moving behind the pitching plate?

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