Can't a pitcher from the stretch, with a runner on 2nd base, pick up his front leg, pause and then step directly toward 2nd and either throw or fake the throw? My understanding is if the pitcher does not cross his feet or start his momentum toward home, this is not a balk.

if a runner scores from third on a balk is it an earned run or unearned run?

can any player besides the pitcher get called for a balk?

Baseballal56

Yes, as long as the pitcher does not lean towards home plate or make any motion towards home, he may step with his non-pivot foot towards second and make the throw there

That is my understanding also. Thanks for your input.

Is it possible for a right handed pitcher to step directly towards first in a pick off attempt without balking? Does a right handed pitcher have to step off the back of the rubber in order to throw to first on a pick off attempt? Can a pitcher jump off the rubber and throw?

My Father says that when you are in the stretch postion on the rubber and you close your hands and feet together and lift you leg up you have to go to the plate. But if there is a person on third can't you pick up your foot with your other foot on the rubber and throw it to third?

yes if there is a runner on 3rd you can pick up your front foot, and pick off the third, you may also pick up your foot, fake to third and throw to first..i also don't think you can jump off the rubber, i think thats also a balk.

Why do baseball players spit all the time? I know they used to chew tobacco, but now they are chewing gum. Why do they still spit, especially when they should know the camera is on them?

when you pick up your leg and go to third you can only go to a 45 degree angle. and yes you can jump to make a throw to third but u have to jump with both feet at the same time.

few answers to previous posts:

The catcher can also balk. If the catcher leaves his box before the pitcher starts his motion home, it is a balk.

Run scoring from 3rd on balk depends on who balked. If pitcher balks, earned run.

The pitcher can step towards first base as long as his foot is not on the rubber and in a set position.

If you're a righty you can just step towards 3rd base from the stretch position, the opposite of a lefty just stepping towards 1st base.

If they chew tobacco and choose not to swallow, they have to spit eventually. If chewing gum it's probably just to mimic chew tobacco or simply out of habit. Spitting with cameras monitoring you is more of an accident and cameramen try to avoid showing it.

a coach once told me that if u come set with the glove above your chin that it is a balk. is this true?

If runners are on the corners. The 1st baseman is not holding the runner on first, the 1st baseman is playing off the bag in his regular position. Can the pitcher throw the ball to the 1st baseman, who has not moved and who still is not covering the base or is this a balk?

The rules specify that the pitcher cannot jump and throw from the "set" position; the pitcher must first step toward the base and then throw. The pitcher may step back off the rubber with the pivot foot and make snap throws.

If a pitcher throws to the 1st baseman from the "set" position and the 1st baseman is not covering 1st base that is a balk because the pitcher may only throw home or to a base with a runner or to a base a runner is attempting to take from the "set" position.

I'm pretty sure I read that the "set" position requires the hands and ball to come together below the chin.

This has me nuts (and I'm a long-retired high school and college ump): in reviewing the rulebook today I found that the pitcher may from either the "windup" or "set" position:

1 - deliver a pitch to the batter;

2 - throw to a base to attempt a pick-off by stepping toward that base and then throwing;

3 - step back off the rubber and throw anywhere or fake a throw.

I thought a right-handed pitcher had to step off to attempt a pick-off at first base. I thought maybe it had to do with not moving the pivot foot except to go home or step back off the rubber, but then the pitcher is allowed to turn and step to second base to accept a pick-off. The pitcher can fake a throw to 2nd or 3rd but not 1st, so maybe there is a specific rule regarding a pick-off at 1st but I cannot find it.

batter hits ball and stops at 2b...missing 1b. pitcher toes rubber, steps off and throws to 1b to appeal runner missing 1b...balk or not? (based on the premise of throwing to an unoccupied base vs. appealing runner missing a base)

I checked with a veteran umpire and the pitcher does NOT have to step back off the rubber in order to attempt a pick-off of a runner on 1st from the "set" position. The pitcher may not do a jump-throw, although if you watch the majors sometimes the right-handed pitchers' pick-off move to 1st looks almost like a jump-twist-throw all in one motion. Theoretically, the right-handed pitcher must pivot on the right foot and step to 1st on the left foot and throw. The pitcher can fake a pick-off to 2nd or 3rd from that "set" position but not to 1st. The pitcher can fake a pick-off to 1st if he/she first steps back off the rubber with the pivot foot.

Anon9583 -- appeal of runner missing 1st base: the difference is stepping off the rubber (vs. throwing to 1st from the "set" position). Also, it is an appeal, not a pick-off. I think a balk should be called if the pitcher threw to 1st on an appeal play from the "set" position.

Can a pitcher come set, lift his front leg, lower it and then wheel to second base as long as he does not move toward home plate?

If a left handed pitcher wants to pick off a runner on first, does he have to step directly to 1st? I've seen cases where the pitcher, while going from stretch, will not step toward 1st but move his foot over just enough while stepping toward home, so he actually isn't throwing home then throw to first and pick off runners.

I hope this makes sense.

from the windup can a pitcher without stepping off the rubber make a motion to home and then throw when he is in the middle of the windup to third base to pick off a runner?

I am an assistant coach for a freshman baseball team, this was done against us on April 4, 08 at a baseball game. When I approached the umpire he stated that he did not he did not bend his knee going to third. I explained to ump that when he is in the windup he must go home once he starts the windup.

Thanks,

jmendoza559

Once the windup starts the pitcher has to throw home.

ya, if you set your hands above your chin it actually is a balk. My friend had his pitcher get called for a balk like 5 times during a game because it is such an uncommonly know or called balk, but it was part of his pitching routine.

if the third baseman is standing with one foot outside the baseline holding the runner on is this considered a balk? i was told that if the 1st baseman blocked the bag while holding a runner on it would be called a balk also is this true??