P/off from the windup

No, the pitcher must step to the bag and make no preliminary motions to the plate...i.e.going into his windup and leg kick

How can he step directly to third without disengaging?

This is something I could never see happening either. As long as he takes his foot and steps to third, and that is all he does, it is not a balk. The thing is, you never see it because it is somewhat awkward.

IF you are talking about Pro rules, he can throw to any base from the windup, and can feint to Second or Third. He must step toward the base (generally), just as he would from the set.

Any motion normally associated with his pitching motion commits him to throw to the plate, however. For ex, he could not perform a backwards 'rocker step' and then do a pickoff.

I am going to try and discuss this from a rule book viewpoint and then totally muddy it up from real world practice.

First off we need to understand that there are a number of errors in the OBR and definately some contradictions..

The OBR rule book says...."from the windup position, the pitcher may:
1. deliver the ball to the batter, or:
2. step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick off a runner, or:
3. Disengage the rubber. In disengaging the rubber the pitcher must step off with his pivot foot first and not his free foot first...

So, the rulebook says its legal.....

However 8.01 A also says this.....

The windup position (condensed) From this position any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration. He shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in his actual delivery of the ball to the batter, he may take one step backward and one step forward with his free foot.

One statement seems to clearly contradict the other.....

From the advanced reference material, we know that in NFHS rules this is illegal. For NCAA and OBR the ruling states:

From the windup position the pitcher may attempt a pick off if:

He steps directly with his non pivot foot toward the base before throwing, gains ground with the step and has not begun any "natural pitching motion" before the step.

Now to the application.....

The vast majority of umpires (that I know) at the higher levels would call this a balk.....and they would base it on the comment in the rules that says that from the windup any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration.

Going further, very few umpires can see how you can step toward a base without violating the portion that says that the pitcher shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in his actual delivery of the ball to the batter, he may take one step backward and one step forward with his free foot.....

Now here is the finish. Although some may say that they have seen this done at the college level, I must say that I have not and I have never seen it done at the pro level.

I believe that if a coach felt confident enough that this move would be legal and not called a balk regularly then it would be widely taught and frequently practiced.......which it clearly is not......

I would balk this move...........until someone could show me an authoritaive interpretation from a accepted source. So far, in my extensive reference material, I can not find one...

Just my .02

When I first read the rule I was pretty sure a pitcher could rock back, bring knee up and step to third for a p/off. The more I read it, however, I became less sure, and now I am almost positive it would be called a balk.

Back in Babe Ruth ball, my son occasionally picked runners off of third by stepping off with his pivot foot as though it were a rocker step. He always gave the field umpire a heads-up to pay close attention to what he was about to do - never got balked. (It's amazing how many runners see the pitcher in the wind-up position and just assume they are safe from a PO.) Not sure if I remember what son was doing with his hands, but it would probably be balked at the HS level and above. FWIW.

So is it a balk if a pitcher, from the wind up position, steps off the rubber with his pivot foot, lifts his stride knee, and then throws over to third?

could be.......once he stepped off an umpire can feel that he is simulating a pitch and call a balk.

Balks are called based on the education and experience of the calling umpire....so what you get away with in pony league will get you balked in HS and what you get away with in HS will get you balked in college and on up......

quote:

Originally posted by MPDad05:
Back in Babe Ruth ball, my son occasionally picked runners off of third by stepping off with his pivot foot as though it were a rocker step. He always gave the field umpire a heads-up to pay close attention to what he was about to do - never got balked. (It's amazing how many runners see the pitcher in the wind-up position and just assume they are safe from a PO.) Not sure if I remember what son was doing with his hands, but it would probably be balked at the HS level and above. FWIW.

What your son was doing may or may not been a balk. Stepping off and throwing is fine but the big difference is going to be what he did with his hands. PIAA referenced it with the simulating a pitch balk. If you step off with the pivot foot but still raise your hands then it's a hand balk not a foot balk.