Balk to third base

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Welcome to the HSBBW Rulesman.

From what little I know I think he made the correct call.


Does this help at all?



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IMO you must step towards third. Many times I have seen a pitcher step towards third, fake a throw and turn towards first to try to catch the runner off guard or breaking for second. You have to step towards third but you do not have to throw the ball to third like you do to first.

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Yeah...that's right AL MA 08. Just like my diagram shows!




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The pitcher could have stepped back off the rubber before making a play on the runner.

Probably a good call without seeing it. It's just like a LHP move to first (other than the RHP doesn't have to throw) in that he has to lift, gain ground to the base and make sure he had NO movement toward the plate.

My guess as to what the ump called was that the pitcher lifted and was slightly going toward home when the runner broke. The pitcher saw the break and went to third but in the umpires judgement he had committed to the plate. If he had lifted and went directly toward third then I doubt if he would have balked him.

But without seeing it I can't be sure but that's my guess. Plus Woody's diagram is spot on.

It sounds like the umpire got the correct call for the wrong reason.

If F1 is not faking or throwing to third he is not required to step there. If he is going to chase down the the runner, he does need to properly disengage the rubber.

The OP reads like he did not proprely disengage.

Edited to add: I misread the post and did not pay attention to "attempts pick off" and instead focused on "holds the ball." If F1 indeed feinted from the rubber, a step toward the base ahead of the feint is required.

Sounds to me like the ump choked. You can fake a throw to third. He was going to throw to third. Sounds to me like in mid throw he changed his mind and ran at the guy. He doesnt' need much of a step in that direction. How could he fake a throw there without moving in that direction?

note: unless he's LHP... then all bets are off

J'03 and ts - both make good points. If, as you said, the pitcher attempted to pick off the runner at third; how do you do that without stepping in that direction?

If the runner was moving on first movement of the pitcher and caught the pitcher as he started his move towards third, the pitcher probably did not complete the step toward third and moved directly at the runner after he broke for home.