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Lefty Pick off

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Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by blm:
I was told the other night by a coach that a lefty MUST go to the 45 angle or its a balk. He said it does not matter if he went straight toward first its still a balk. Is he correct???

I thought he was wrong but I have been wrong many times before.


He's wrong. Can't really get much more wrong. But, he's not alone. I've had Legion coaches who pitched in the majors who didn't have a clue about the balk rules. One explained, "that was the managers job, I just pitched."
R rotatorcuffMember
YEP... way wrong. Lefty can move toward first anywhere from straight towards first or up to 45 degrees toward home.....The right FOOT cannot pass the plane of the rubber and then pick to first, but the KNEE can. If you ever get the coach a lefty, keep that in mind- and then have the rulebook handy for any umps that think it's a balk. He'll pick dozens, you'll look like the best pitching coach in the world, and be an umpire's friend if you don't show them up too much on all the protests you win
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by rotatorcuff:
YEP... way wrong. Lefty can move toward first anywhere from straight towards first or up to 45 degrees toward home.....The right FOOT cannot pass the plane of the rubber and then pick to first, but the KNEE can. If you ever get the coach a lefty, keep that in mind- and then have the rulebook handy for any umps that think it's a balk. He'll pick dozens, you'll look like the best pitching coach in the world, and be an umpire's friend if you don't show them up too much on all the protests you win


1. The pitcher may not break the BACK plane of the rubber with his entire foot and throw to first.

2. I don't know many umpires who do not know this rule.

3. Runners and Basecoaches I know are smart enough to be wary whenever a pitcher makes that obviously awkward motion to break the plane with his knee but not his foot.

3. You bring a rule book out on the field in a game I'm working and you'll get to warm-up the bus.

4. Never lost a protest. Only had two in 30 years.

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