Balk Move?

[blue23ll]

Watching LSU vs. Missouri, Missouri lefty picks off R1 with what looked like to me a balk move.  Instead of stepping directly to 1b, the pitcher's free foot is moving toward the plate and then he plants very close to the 45 degree line and throws to first. Is this a balk? 

[udbrky]

"Close"? in the 1b side or HP side?

[blue23ll]

Hard to tell on the TV, but I would say right on the line. The issue I have is the movement toward the plate. 

[MidAmUmp]

Video?

I went back and watched some of the game. I'd say when the runner got picked to end the 4th was really close. The others I saw were fine but I didn't watch much of it.

I've had that kid a few times and he's got a helluva move.

[VAUmp]

If you can see daylight between the pitchers legs when he steps (when you're behind the plate), the move is good.

[johnnyg08]

14 hours ago, MidAmUmp said:

Video?

I went back and watched some of the game. I'd say when the runner got picked to end the 4th was really close. The others I saw were fine but I didn't watch much of it.

I've had that kid a few times and he's got a helluva move.

What's the date of the game?  I have yesterday's (Sunday, the 17th) as a foul out to F9 to end the 4th.  

[MidAmUmp]

1 hour ago, johnnyg08 said:

What's the date of the game?  I have yesterday's (Sunday, the 17th) as a foul out to F9 to end the 4th.  

It may not have been the 4th. I was just scrolling through watching the top of a few innings. Could have been the 3rd or 5th. 

[maineump]

My guess is that there were 4 umpires in the game. If none of them called it, then it was probably OK. 4 guys get the right angles.

Even with watching video, the angles are all off from where they need to be to make a call.

[johnnyg08]

Yet nobody can tell me the inning?  Geez.  I'm willing to grab the clip and post it, but give a guy a little help here!  :-) 

[Haid D' Salaami]

On 4/17/2016 at 2:44 PM, blue23ll said:

Watching LSU vs. Missouri, Missouri lefty picks off R1 with what looked like to me a balk move.  Instead of stepping directly to 1b, the pitcher's free foot is moving toward the plate and then he plants very close to the 45 degree line and throws to first. Is this a balk? 

what the heck is the 45degree line? I've never heard of that

[maven]

24 minutes ago, Haid D' Salaami said:

what the heck is the 45degree line? I've never heard of that

The line that marks the difference between a step toward 1B and a step toward HP. It's approximately 45° from a line connecting the rubber and 1B.

[Haid D' Salaami]

where is this in the rule book

[maineump]

Maybe the 45 FOOT line?  

Just has to make the move more to the base, than to the plate.

[noumpere]

1 hour ago, Haid D' Salaami said:

what the heck is the 45degree line? I've never heard of that

Beer that's above 45* should be further cooled.

[maven]

22 minutes ago, noumpere said:

Beer that's above 45* should be further cooled.

Mmmmm, beer....

 

[udbrky]

1 hour ago, Haid D' Salaami said:

where is this in the rule book

How do I get out of this box on a quote?

 

The line from rubber to 1B and the line from rubber to HP meet at the rubber and form a 90 degree angle.

6-2-4b says he has to step directly to the base. This follows mathematically, that to go to the base, he has to step more towards the base than any other place.

In the case book, it is 6.2.4 SITUATIONB says he has to be within the 45 degree angle to 1B to throw to 1st, otherwise, deliver the pitch.

I did have a question on a pitcher I had last week. He came down slightly behind the plate on his pickoff attempt. It was not so much that his entire foot was passing behind the plate, but about half of his foot was on the 2b side of the rubber. I couldn't come up with an ironclad reason to balk him. He clearly stepped toward 1st, just was odd in doing it. It wasn't like he was stepping towards 2nd.

[Cav]

25 minutes ago, udbrky said:

1 hour ago, Haid D' Salaami said:

The line from rubber to 1B and the line from rubber to HP meet at the rubber and form a 90 degree angle.

Not precisely.  But, if F1 were to step to the beginning of the RL then the step would be legal. 

[Haid D' Salaami]

Is this a High School rule?

[Cav]

What rule are you talking about?

[noumpere]

13 minutes ago, Haid D' Salaami said:

Is this a High School rule?

The rule cite by udbrcky is a HS cite.  The concept applies in all codes.

[Richvee]

I remember, years ago, there was a spring training when they actually drew chalk lines from the corners of the rubber towards the respective 45 foot mark of the foul lines. Must have been 40+ years ago. But I remember my uncle explaining to me why they had the lines there.

[ricka56]

I always thought that lefties were allowed to cheat on that mythical 45 degree line to compensate for that form of mental retardation.