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9 replies

Pitcher throwing to unoccupied base.

B beltechcMember
The rule book states that a pitcher balks if he throws to an unoccupied base. What if..

Runner on second, after coming set, pitcher lifts leg straight up and notices that the runner is breaking toward third. Can he legally step toward third and make a throw to third while standing on the rubber?

Same senario, can he step and throw tp the shortstop to make a play on the runner?
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D dash_riprock1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by beltechc:

Runner on second, after coming set, pitcher lifts leg straight up and notices that the runner is breaking toward third. Can he legally step toward third and make a throw to third while standing on the rubber?

Same senario, can he step and throw tp the shortstop to make a play on the runner?


All perfectly legal.
MU Mr Umpire100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Noah's Arc:
Same senario runner on 2nd, pitcher turns towards 2nd to pick off runner, no one is at second to cover, runner breaks towards 3rd, pitcher throw to 3rd,... Balk? runner was tagged out by 3rd baseman.


Depends. Did the pitcher release the rubber after feinting to 2B?

If he did, no balk.
If he didn't, balk.
J JWC32100+ posts
The notion that the pitcher can NEVER throw to an unoccupied base is one of the common rules myths. I don't have a FED rulebook in front of me, but OBR 8.05d states that a pitcher balks if: "...while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play.

FED and NCAA follow the same principle.

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