Stepping Off Side or Front of Rubber

[Astrosdawg07]

Someone told me tonight that it was legal to step off the front off the rubber with runners on. As well as step off the side of the rubber... To my understanding at least as far as FED is concerned this is a balk. Help please ;)

[mstaylor]

There is only two ways to disengage legally. The first is to step back. The second is tto drag your foot off while making a move to a base.

Anything else is going to either a balk or part of a jump, jab or spin move.

[GR_ump]

Mike,

When you say jab or spin move are you refering to the move when a RH pitcher in the set takes a short step forward and in front of the rubber with his pivot foot and then steps (with his free foot) and throws to first base? This was a move that Jim Evans explained to us at a clinic this year as being allowed in MLB as legal however I did not hear him give it a name. It sure was a new one to me...unfortunately I had balked it in years before.

[mstaylor]

That is a jab step. A jump step is where the pitcher jumps up with both feet, spins and lands toward first.

[GR_ump]

Thanks Mike, and I assume then the "spin move" is basically used to describe the fake to third and spin around to 1st.

Greg

[noumpere]

Thanks Mike, and I assume then the "spin move" is basically used to describe the fake to third and spin around to 1st.

Greg

I'd guess it's just spinning on the pivot foot and throwing to first(with an appropriate step with the free foot, etc.)

[mstaylor]

I'd guess it's just spinning on the pivot foot and throwing to first(with an appropriate step with the free foot, etc.)

Exactly.

[GR_ump]

So for the follow up question, does a jab step qualify as "disengaging" the rubber. Basically after the jab does the pitcher have to throw if he steps toward first, if he does throw was he a fielder for the purposes of awards should the ball go out of play?

[mstaylor]

Spin, jab or jump steps are all considered in contact so he has to throw and if it goes out of play, it is one base.

[GR_ump]

Thanks Mike, it is now clear in my mind. Just in time for the post season ;-)