Another Is This Balk?

[JaxRolo]

R3, right handed pitcher. R3 takes a lead. Pitcher in the set position.

Pitchers upper body starts leaning to 3rd base, his feet not moving. After the lean to 3rd he then steps and throws to 3rd picking off the runner. I called balk. Did I blow it?

[moblue]

I wouldn't have called it if he followed through and threw to third. Now, if there was a stop between the lean and the step, which it sounds like there was, balk.

[Mr Umpire]

I have no balk unless he paused again. Even if he delivered a pitch, I have no balk as long as his free foot goes toward the plate. Also, even if he didn't throw the ball, I have no balk. Allowed to feint to 3B. Nothing says his upper body commits him one way or the other, just the feet. I remember a Toronto pitcher by the last name of Eichorn who had his upper body go toward 3B. But, his foot went toward the plate and he threw sidearm.

Unless he pauses or does something else to balk, I have no balk on this.

[MCLEOD36]

It sounds like a lean stop and then throw, thus looks like a balk..... Had a leaner, varsity pitcher about 5'4, 115 (with rocks in his pockets) pouring rain and windy. He started leaning, I thought maybe a wind gust, so I let it go then he came to the plate and partner in B balked him. In that case, a double move as well. After pitch, he came to me and asked for a new ball, I said hey big kid, no more leaning. He smiled and said that was the first time ever he was referred to as a big kid. He never did it again.

[noumpere]

R3, right handed pitcher. R3 takes a lead. Pitcher in the set position.

Pitchers upper body starts leaning to 3rd base, his feet not moving. After the lean to 3rd he then steps and throws to 3rd picking off the runner. I called balk. Did I blow it?

AS I envision it, the lean was a move toward third, and he then followed (continuously) with the rest of the move. Legal.

If he leaned toward third and pitched, I'd have a balk.

Allowance made, of course, depending on the age of the players.

[carolinablue]

Had this same sit. the other day in a middle school game except it was a lefty going to 1B. He would lean and then step and throw. Coach wanted a balk but I wouldn't call it, he never paused and always threw to 1B when he did it. I don't know what he was complaining about, the lean was a dead giveaway that he was coming to 1B.

[kwiggie]

I don't know what he was complaining about, the lean was a dead giveaway that he was coming to 1B.

This is what I have been screaming at the screen since I read the op.

My take, no balk