Thought it was a balk

quote:

Originally posted by Doughnutman:
Runners on first and third, runner on first breaks for second on the pitchers delivery to the plate, pitcher threw the ball to the third baseman who was about 20 ft off of the base. The third baseman threw to second and a rundown ensued.

The move was smooth and had a practiced look to it. But the third baseman wasn't anywhere close to the bag. Is this a balk? It wasn't called.

No balk. Don't confuse the pitching regulations regarding first base with other bases.

No balk. Don't confuse the pitching regulations regarding first base with other bases.

Even though the pitcher was still on the rubber when he made the throw and the third baseman wasn't anywhere near the bag?

quote:

Originally posted by Doughnutman:
No balk. Don't confuse the pitching regulations regarding first base with other bases.

Even though the pitcher was still on the rubber when he made the throw and the third baseman wasn't anywhere near the bag?

Are you now saying that F1 didn't step toward the base?

He stepped towards the base. I thought the problem was that he threw it to a fielder that didn't have a play on the base. The third baseman was 20 feet away from the base, almost in the grass outfield. I am obviously not an umpire but I thought that if the pitcher was still touching the rubber he had to throw to a fielder that was trying to make a play on a runner. Not just to a random fielder. It was very strange because I had never seen that done before at any level.

Just a strange play I guess.

What the other post meant is this the ruling for first only. This is because you have to throw to first, but not any other base. As long as the fielder is closer to the base than another then it is OK.
Same play but he throws to the SS. If the SS is closer to second and there is no R2 then it's a balk for delaying the game. If he is closer to third then even that is OK.

Thanks for the info.

quote:

Originally posted by Doughnutman:
Hustle never has a bad day

Unless you pop a hamstring.