tonyd

Thanks for the long explanation. my thought would be if you lift the front leg and pivot to first it would like like you are going to the plate. you would have to swing your raised leg to the left and I would think you are attempting to go to the plate?? By swinging you would not be able to tell if he is delivering or going to first? Thanks for the posts

Confusing because we teach in stealing to go on first movement of the front (lead foot) lifting an inch would lead a runner to think he is going to the plate. The purpose of the balk rule is to not decieve runners. Being around the game along time I was always under the impression you had to step off to go to first. I cannot be the only one that thought this??

Here is a balk question I have. First this is 13 and 14 year olds in a little league Junior game. Runner on first with a right handed pitcher. pitcher throws to first without stepping off the rubber. 1st baseman misses the ball and it goes out of play. runner is awarded second base, only one base. Umpire told me only one base because the pitcher did not step off which would make him an infielder. I argued that you cannot throw to first without stepping off?? If you dont have to step off as a right handed pitcher than what would prevent you from lifting your front leg then swinging around to throw to first? Thanks for the answers