Balk?

[soapbox]

LHP comes set. With R1, attempts pick off. His pivot foot moves backwards towards 3B prior to him throwing over to 1B. He's not stepping off, but rather, sliding his foot back. I believe that after the set, he must deliver to the batter or step towards 1B and throw (unless stepping off).

[bam]

Sliding, you say?  No balk

[ALStripes17]

If his 1st move is sliding the pivot foot back towards 3B, I would balk that immediately.

[Thunderheads]

LHP comes set. With R1, attempts pick off. His pivot foot moves backwards towards 3B prior to him throwing over to 1B. He's not stepping off, but rather, sliding his foot back. I believe that after the set, he must deliver to the batter or step towards 1B and throw (unless stepping off).

is his pivot foot movement the first movement?

[ricka56]

Very hard to visualize. LHP uses his pivot foot to push off of to support a good throw. If LHP's first movement was his pivot foot "slipping", then perhaps this is a balk (can't see it). But if his pivot foot slips while he is in the process of throwing, then a balk call is over-officious.

[sdix00]

Not sure if there is enough info in the OP. 

 

Moving the pivot foot toward 3B is not a balk in and of itself .  .  . yet.   

 

• If this ONE move included a legal step of the free foot toward 1B prior to throwing to 1B, then this move is probably legal. 
• If F1 slides his pivot foot toward 3B, THEN steps to 1B (two moves) "Balk!"
• If F1 slides his pivot foot toward 3b and fails to step to 1B (step balk) "Balk!"

 

 

There are no specific restrictions unique to a LHP vs a RHP.    We allow a RHP to step to 3B with his pivot foot and step to 1B with his free foot in one move (jab step), so a LHP should be able to do the same thing. 

[Mike Prince]

So by what @sdix00 wrote, if F1 basically does a split (both back and towards step at same time), no balk.  Otherwise a balk.

[soapbox]

Pivot foot slid first. Then step and throw. Very close. Probably a balk as described. Thanks.

[Jocko]

@sdix00 - I've looked and looked for a video of a legal jab step to share with some guys that don't understand. Got one? Know where to find one? It's hard to describe and get the point across.

[UmpJM]

dix pretty much has it.

 

If the entire move is "continuous" he is fine.

 

There is no constraint on what the pitcher does with his pivot foot during a pick-off move defined in the rules.

 

As Jocko suggests, on a "jab step" move (which is perfectly legal), the pivot foot ALWAYS moves first.

 

JM

[sdix00]

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31698673/pitphi-rosenberg-picks-off-harrison-in-the-seventh/?query=pickoff

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31669177/laachc-shoemaker-picks-off-vogelbach-to-end-frame/?query=pickoff

[JaxRolo]

I agree with @sdix00

I can't tell in the which way the foot is actually moving

[Jocko]

@sdix00 - took me to mlb shop. Smh

[bleacher_bum]

You can also google (or youtube) "jump turn pick off" and get some videos

[CricketChapman]

@sdix00 - took me to mlb shop. Smh

If you're on a mobile device, choose "open link in new tab." That usually works for me.

[Jocko]

@CricketChapman - nope. Still mlb shop

[bam]

@sdix00 - took me to mlb shop. Smh

Of course it did. The interweb in Alabama is so different than anywhere else.

And why don't I have emoticons on my IPad?

[sdix00]

 

@sdix00 - took me to mlb shop. Smh

Of course it did. The interweb in Alabama is so different than anywhere else.

And why don't I have emoticons on my IPad?

 

 

emoticons?  That's in the next version.