throw to F5

[SoCal Lurker]

In a Pony Bronco game with R3, my son was pitching and saw F5 flash the subtle pick to third signal.  Alas, F5 was just scratching an itch, not giving the signal.  (Ahh, 12 year old boys!)  So as my son makes his move to third, F5 just stares at him, not moving toward the bag; caught in mid motion, by son threw to F5 and was balked for not throwing to the bag.

 

So, if I understand correctly, my son legally could have:

• stopped his motion to third, thereby making a legal feint (unless the tournament was applying the new third base balk rule);
• thrown at third gently and hoped F5 would move quickly enough to catch the ball.

Anything else he could do (and do I have any of that wrong)?

 

Thx

 

SCL

[noumpere]

In a Pony Bronco game with R3, my son was pitching and saw F5 flash the subtle pick to third signal.  Alas, F5 was just scratching an itch, not giving the signal.  (Ahh, 12 year old boys!)  So as my son makes his move to third, F5 just stares at him, not moving toward the bag; caught in mid motion, by son threw to F5 and was balked for not throwing to the bag.

 

So, if I understand correctly, my son legally could have:

• stopped his motion to third, thereby making a legal feint (unless the tournament was applying the new third base balk rule);
• thrown at third gently and hoped F5 would move quickly enough to catch the ball.

Anything else he could do (and do I have any of that wrong)?

 

Thx

 

SCL

He could do what he did and it was not a balk. lol.  (assuming that the tournament was not using the new rule just like in your first statement)

 

So if the umpire got that wrong then the umpire might have gotten either of the other items wrong too.

[SoCal Lurker]

 

In a Pony Bronco game with R3, my son was pitching and saw F5 flash the subtle pick to third signal.  Alas, F5 was just scratching an itch, not giving the signal.  (Ahh, 12 year old boys!)  So as my son makes his move to third, F5 just stares at him, not moving toward the bag; caught in mid motion, by son threw to F5 and was balked for not throwing to the bag.

 

So, if I understand correctly, my son legally could have:

• stopped his motion to third, thereby making a legal feint (unless the tournament was applying the new third base balk rule);
• thrown at third gently and hoped F5 would move quickly enough to catch the ball.

Anything else he could do (and do I have any of that wrong)?

 

Thx

 

SCL

He could do what he did and it was not a balk. lol.  (assuming that the tournament was not using the new rule just like in your first statement)

 

So if the umpire got that wrong then the umpire might have gotten either of the other items wrong too.

 

 

OK, help me here -- I thought from pitcher's plate in the stretch positon he had to pitch, disengage, feint (but not to first [and potentially not to third]), or throw to a base? Why isn't it a balk to throw to F5 away from the base (and when is it a balk to throw to an infielder not on a base)?

[Aging_Arbiter]

The infielder must be in the immediate vicinit of the base to make a play.

[noumpere]

The infielder must be in the immediate vicinit of the base to make a play.

That's true at first.

 

It's not true at second where the fielder only needs to be nearer that base than another.

 

It's true at third under OBR and anywhere they have adopted the new rule where first is treated like third.  It's not true under last years OBR or anywhere that has not adopted the new rule.

[grayhawk]

First, since Pony uses modified OBR, I believe they have already incorporated the new rule making feints to third illegal, so the umpire likely got it right.

Second, under the new rule, F1 can throw to third, or throw to F5 if he is judged by th umpire to be making a play on R3. "Making a play" will be interpreted differently by each umpire. Some will require the throw to be close to the bag while others (like me) will just need to be convinced that a play is on with no "close to the bag" requirement.

[MPLSMatt]

Here's the FED case play.  It may or may not be relevant since PONY is OBR but it's my insight.   I'd say it depends on where F5 was playing:

 

6.2.4 SITUATION J:

With R1 on first base and two outs, F1 attempts to pick off R1. As F1 pivots to throw, he realizes that F3 is not on the base, but is in his normal defensive position. F1 completes the throw without interruption. The coach of the defensive team wants a balk called on F1.

RULING: As long as F3 is in the proximity of the base, F1 would not be guilty of a balk. Proximity is umpire judgment and is based on whether the fielder is close enough to the base to legitimately make a play on the runner.

[mstaylor]

If using the new rule, balk, if not, he is fine. I have been working Pony and they said Pony said call the new rule.