RHP Pickoff to First/Shoulder Turn

What the Chinese pitcher did is not a balk. It is perfectly legal.
The essential difference between what you teach (stepping off the rubber first) and what the Chinese pitcher did are the resulting requirements. If the pitcher steps off the rubber with his pivot foot first he is relieved of any further requirements. He can throw to first if he wishes or feint or do nothing at all and he can do any of those with or without a step toward the base.
If the pitcher doesn't step off of the rubber but simply turns toward first base he is required to step toward the base ahead of the throw and throw the ball there. If he fails to do either it is a balk.

Pilsner,

I've been following balk/pickoff discussions on this website for a long time. Some of them get pretty involved and muddled. Your response to the previous post struck me as the clearest, most consise explanation I've seen.

It's not new information, but the way you boiled it down was was extremely helpful.

Thanks!

RPD,

You're quite welcome and thank you for the complimentary words.

CoachTafel,

Welcome to the HS Baseball Web! It's fun to see that you are posting from the other side of the globe.

I bet many of our members would appreciate you telling us more about your baseball program in Shanghai. I know I would be interested!

Julie

pilsner is exactly correct.

Thanks, Pilsner, for the clear answer. I have some apologizing to do . . . the umpires generally don't know the rules and it's a bit frustrating, but this time they were spot on.

MN-Mom asked about our program here. I teach at an international school in Shanghai. Our season, like all our varsity sports, is very short (only 8 weeks long). We have a varsity team and JV team, though I'd say our varsity teams are at about the same level as your typical freshman team in the States.

We play local teams--mostly specialty schools and some adult teams--and are a part of the Asian-Pacific Athletic Conference (APAC), which holds a tournament at the end of the season.

It's a pretty good gig, and the kids are great. It's just a bit tough to find opponents at or near our skill level, but we have a good time. Our field is absolutely beautiful . . . I've personally played on some of the Cactus League spring training fields in Arizona, and the field is as good as those are. Our own little field of dreams . . .

Anyhow, thanks for the follow up. I need to remove my foot from my mouth and follow up with the umpires.

quote:

CoachTafel

CoachTafel, first off sounds like a dream job.
Tell me it's not government, I've been looking for one those for a long time, sports related that is. Which 8 weeks of the year you playing?
To you pay your umpires travel fees? ;')

From what your saying about the move:

"their right handed pitcher simply turned his shoulder, stepped toward, and threw to first base. I'd never seen this before, and insisted that this was a balk.

IMO; the key there is "turned his shoulder first", if closely followed by the step, okay.

If the shoulders start first, you can pretty well see it's the start of a move to 1st.
A legel jab step or jump. No matter how small the step, it's still a step.

I watch very carefully at "if this could be the start of the pitch". For example if the right hander picks the right foot straight up and nothing else is moving I have a balk. IMO if the pivot starts first; then it must change direction (not smooth and continuous).



I've seen some pretty good discussion on this topic lately.