Unoccupied Base/Stealing/Pick

[zoops]

Rule 6-2-4b.

 

So if with a right handed pitcher, the runner takes off from 1st while the P is in the set position and the P does the jump move to second (does not step back off the rubber) and throws to second, this is not a balk.  Would he also be ok to do this and not throw to second, and then step and throw to first (or fake a throw to first) if the runner had stopped and retreated?  

 

Or let's say the runner just took a hard step or two towards second and stopped and the pitcher did the jump move to second and did not throw? 

 

I have no balk on all of these, but I want double check.  Thanks

[maven]

1. Yes. He may feint to 2B in order to "put out or drive back" a runner. Once he has disengaged via the feint, he is an infielder and may play on the runner in any fashion he wishes.

 

2. Under FED rules, the umpire must judge whether F1 is legitimately attempting to "put out or drive back" the runner. If so, then his move to (unoccupied) 2B is legal.

 

You have the correct rule reference and are reading it correctly.

[UMP45]

First you must judge whether the RUNNER was making a legitimate attempt to steal second.

[UmpJM]

UMP45,

 

Under OBR rules, I would concur.

 

Under FED, the F1 may throw/feint to the consecutive succeeding unoccupied base even if the runner only "feints" an advance.

 

JM

[BuckeyeMike]

My BU called a balk the other day on this very move.  He said that the pitcher stepped forward instead of back, when he threw to 2B.  Well.....thinking about it over and over, i think it was legal, b/c it was a jump turn instead of a "wheel around" move. 

 

I'd be interested to hear about jump turns to 2nd and whether that matters at all.   I've read numerous posts on here that claim it's almost impossible to balk going to 2nd.........yet my BU called one.  ??

[mstaylor]

He didn't balk to second, he balked stepping home and throwing to second. I would never teach a jump turn to second anyway. It's hard to do and is less accurate. 

[noumpere]

My BU called a balk the other day on this very move.  He said that the pitcher stepped forward instead of back, when he threw to 2B.  Well.....thinking about it over and over, i think it was legal, b/c it was a jump turn instead of a "wheel around" move. 

 

I'd be interested to hear about jump turns to 2nd and whether that matters at all.   I've read numerous posts on here that claim it's almost impossible to balk going to 2nd.........yet my BU called one.  ??

the jump turn to second is legal (assuming the other requirements are met) so if that's what your partner called then he was wrong.

[EMump]

^{As long as the pitcher stepped toward second base there's no requirement on how the pitcher disengages the pitchers plate. Legal play.}

[scrounge]

Did he mean by "stepped forward" to actually be "started his pitching motion"?