Lefty Balk or Not

That to me is a great move. I was fortunate enough to use the same move when I played and it saved me many times. It is not a balk, and I can tell you even at the college level with 3 and sometimes 4 umps it is not going to be called if done correctly. By the way it isn't a balk move, just a good pick-off move. As long as the knee does not cross the BACK edge of the rubber, which is very hard to do, it is not a balk. Assumming that the pitcher does step on the 45 to first. Aggrevating, sure. Legal, you bet. Hey give us lefties something!! We can't catch or play up the middle.

hsballcoach, don't speak for all lefties when you say we can't catch. lol! My screenname says enough, but I starting to pitch too and am working on that deceptive move. It's coming along well too, I'm getting quite a few pick offs.

The rules states that the "free foot" cannot pass the back edge of the rubber, not the knee. Also, it does not say anywhere in the rule book about 45 degrees? I love it when umpires come at me with that one.

Bulldog4ever, you are right about the free foot. We teach our pitchers to turn their knee in so the foot is never a factor, we talk about the knee because if it is safe then the foot always will be. I did not state that before and it probably sounded confusing. It is true that there is nothing about the 45 in the rule book. But it does state that you must step directly toward the base. You will find that just about every ump will use the 45 rule to guide him in that judgement. Below 45 you are safe, past it, you will get a balk called. If you can be right on it, you have a good move to work with. It pains me to see a lefty with a poor move with a lot of practice it can get you some easy outs and will help your team turn more double plays.

Bulldog,HSball... I've been away a day...thanks for posting the foot vs knee distinction. My original post was a little feined ignorance with some tongue in cheek. It also pains me to see a lefty with no move. By the way the only place I've ever saw 45 degrees mentioned in writing is the FEDERATION Case Book pg 47 in the 2005 edition 6.2.4 Situation B.

My problem with this pitcher was when his knee crossed over he'd jerk his front shoulder toward first to fool the runner into thinking he was going to first and then throw home. Having done this a number of times then when he wanted to pick the guy off, he'd repeat the effort and his entire body would begin drifting towards home, he'd then step right on the 45 and bang...! How he was able to do this is testimony his athleticism and hard practice! My problem is that his body was most definitely moving towards home plate already and in my mind committing himself to pitch. Because he was adept and athletic enough to hit the 45 doesn't make it right in my view. Why do we worry so much about "deception" with righties but not lefties. Seems to me not in the spirit of the law Anyway I have to go to therapy!