Picking off a runner at 2b that is stealing from 1b

Only if all criteria is met:
1. The runner is actually stealing and not faking.
2. The pitcher does nothing to commit himself to the plate.
3. And, the steal occurs BEFORE the pitcher makes a move toward 2B.

The odds are slim to this being effective. Simply b/c F1 will balk 9 times out of 10 for several reasons.
1. He commits to the plate.
2. His move to 2B is not fluid. There is a pause or he steps toward 3B more instead of 2B.
3. The runner bluffs the steal.
4. He makes his move to 2B before the runner attempts.
5. HE IS A 10 YEAR OLD.

This will not work most of the time so why try it or worry about it. You may come across 1 kid out of 100 who can do this at all. And, no one above HS will ever do this. HS is a little more lenient in that they do allow the bluff part. But, again, 1 out of 100 who can do it without balking.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Umpire:
Only if all criteria is met:
1. The runner is actually stealing and not faking.
2. The pitcher does nothing to commit himself to the plate.
3. And, the steal occurs BEFORE the pitcher makes a move toward 2B.

The odds are slim to this being effective. Simply b/c F1 will balk 9 times out of 10 for several reasons.
1. He commits to the plate.
2. His move to 2B is not fluid. There is a pause or he steps toward 3B more instead of 2B.
3. The runner bluffs the steal.
4. He makes his move to 2B before the runner attempts.
5. HE IS A 10 YEAR OLD.

This will not work most of the time so why try it or worry about it. You may come across 1 kid out of 100 who can do this at all. And, no one above HS will ever do this. HS is a little more lenient in that they do allow the bluff part. But, again, 1 out of 100 who can do it without balking.

Thanks for the explanation. I would never try this or coach it. So it is no different then a runner stealing 3b and you make a move to 3rd as long as there is a play there.

Yes, the move to third is much easier to do.

We'll do it, but ONLY with full-count, two outs, and only a runner on 1st in a key situation. You can't show it too many times.

We've been bit by it a time or two, but it's worked more than it hasn't. You'd be surprised the number of HS umps that don't know the "...making a play on the runner" part of the rule.

Interesting. Can someone give me the exact rule out of the the HS rule book that I can look this up in?

ART. 4 . . . Balk. If there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a pitcher while he is touching the pitcher's plate is a balk:

b. failing to step with the non-pivot foot directly toward a base (occupied or unoccupied) when throwing or feinting there in an attempt to put out, or drive back a runner; or throwing or feinting to any unoccupied base when it is not an attempt to put out or drive back a runner;

Caseplay
6.2.4 SITUATION A

With R1 on third and R2 on first, F1 stretches and comes set. He then swings his entire nonpivot foot behind the back edge of the pitcher's plate, steps toward second and (a) throws the ball to second in an attempt to retire R2, who is advancing there or (b) feints throw to second to drive R2 back to first, who has neither attempted nor feinted an advance to second.

RULING: In (a), this is legal. In (b), it is a balk.

This is really interesting to learn. I'd suggest, at younger ages, or heck, even most of the HS ball I've seen, 2 outs, full count, you're guaranteed the runner is going on the pitch.

Most teams throw over to first on the first pitch. Then they'll go home and the runner gets a jump on the second one.

But I wouldn't do it with the runner on third on the chance R2 doesn't go, then you'll balk R1 in.

I think that's the one scenario where this play could work. And like Rick says, you can only get away once per game or once per tournament.

This is why coaches say,"Make sure he is going home." Most are thinking a throw to the base, not ahead of them. A new a manager that would consistantly get R2s out at third this way.