Mr

[Guest La Marr]

Right handed pitcher comes to the set position on the mound. During pick off move to first, is he required to break contact with the rubber?

[ALStripes17]

Right handed pitcher comes to the set position on the mound. During pick off move to first, is he required to break contact with the rubber?

No rule requires he do that. Simply put, the pitcher needs to gain ground towards first when making his throw there.

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[noumpere]

Another way to think about this (for the OP) -- clearly the rules do NOT require a LH pitcher to break contact on this move -- we see it all the time.  And, no rule distinguishes between a RH pitcher and a LH pitcher.

 

We see the pitcher break contact because (a) some have bought into the myth, or (b) some think it's "faster" to make the jab step type of move.

[basejester]

No.

[ElkOil]

He has to disengage the rubber if he doesn't want to step toward the base when he throws. If he remains on the rubber, he must step toward the base.

[MooseLoop]

It is difficult for right-handed pitchers in the set position to step towards first base without the beginning of the non-pivot leg movement being towards home plate, which requires them to pitch the ball to the batter.  So no rule requires the pitcher to step off before throwing to first base, but as a practical matter, the pitcher is flirting with a start-and-stop balk if he does not.

[Jimurray]

 

2 hours ago, MooseLoop said:

It is difficult for right-handed pitchers in the set position to step towards first base without the beginning of the non-pivot leg movement being towards home plate, which requires them to pitch the ball to the batter.  So no rule requires the pitcher to step off before throwing to first base, but as a practical matter, the pitcher is flirting with a start-and-stop balk if he does not.

What?

[noumpere]

11 hours ago, MooseLoop said:

It is difficult for right-handed pitchers in the set position to step towards first base without the beginning of the non-pivot leg movement being towards home plate, which requires them to pitch the ball to the batter.  So no rule requires the pitcher to step off before throwing to first base, but as a practical matter, the pitcher is flirting with a start-and-stop balk if he does not.

I don't think anyone really has a difficult time deciding between a step to first and a start-stop balk on this type of move.