LHP faking a throw to first base

[Guest Frankie]

I was working a game earlier under NFHS rules, and a left-handed pitcher stepped to first base from the rubber and faked a throw. I did not call a balk, but coaches of the hitting team were incredulous. I was pretty sure that a LHP can fake to both first and second base, but they were pretty adamant and so I wanted to make sure. Is this a balk?

[SH0102]

Yes, it is a balk.  You can not feint a throw to first unless you disengage from the rubber

[maven]

You might be thinking thus:

1. 3B is in front of a RHP
2. A RHP can feint to 3B (FED)
3. 1B in in front of a LHP
4. Thus, a LHP can feint to 1B.

But that's wrong. The pitching restrictions don't discriminate between LHP and RHP: feints are legal to 2B and 3B, illegal to 1B, whether F1 is RH, LH, or bi.

[Guest Frankie]

6 minutes ago, maven said:

You might be thinking thus:

1. 3B is in front of a RHP
2. A RHP can feint to 3B (FED)
3. 1B in in front of a LHP
4. Thus, a LHP can feint to 1B.

But that's wrong. The pitching restrictions don't discriminate between LHP and RHP: feints are legal to 2B and 3B, illegal to 1B, whether F1 is RH, LH, or bi.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Thanks for the help.

[Kyle Flanagan]

Can a RHP ( still engaged on the rubber) feint a throw to 3B without stepping towards the base? Basically just does an arm fake.  

[noumpere]

3 minutes ago, Kyle Flanagan said:

Can a RHP ( still engaged on the rubber) feint a throw to 3B without stepping towards the base? Basically just does an arm fake.  

No.  A step is required.  Arm motion is not required.

[Recontra]

As Maven points out, it's all about feinting a throw to 1st base to protect the runner at 1st base, it has nothing to do with the dominant throwing hand of the pitcher. A right handed pitcher can fake to 3rd just like a left handed pitcher can. The rules are not discriminatory.

The balk rules are there to protect runners, and runners at 1st are much more likely to be trying to steal the next base than runners at 3rd or 2nd, and are much more likely to be taking a bigger lead. Repeated game-delaying feints to 1st may also be a part of this particular balk rule. I tried to find the historical basis for preventing a feint to 1st, and I couldn't find anything. Could be like so many of the other balk rules, that it's been so long since pitchers have been allowed to do certain prohibited things, that we've all forgotten the deception/trick that the rule prevents--like dropping the ball while engaged--we all have just automatically balked that all our lives, that we've never actually seen the deception that would happen if it were permitted.

[Senor Azul]

In 1893 the current distance of 60 feet six inches from the pitcher’s plate to home plate was established. From 1893 to 1898 a pitcher could do almost anything his devious little mind could dream up to get runners out. Then in 1898 and 1899 the first of the balk rules we know today entered the rule book.

1898 rule 32  A Balk shall be:…

When the pitcher feigns to throw the ball to a base he must resume the above position and pause momentarily before delivering the ball to the bat.

If the pitcher fails to comply with the requirements of this rule the umpire must call “A balk.”

Sec. 6. The making of any motion the pitcher habitually makes in his method of delivery, without his immediately delivering the ball to the bat.

Sec. 7. If the pitcher feigns to throw the ball to a base and does not resume his legal position and pause momentarily before delivering the ball to the bat.

1899 Rule 32 A Balk shall be:

Section 1. Any motion made by the pitcher to deliver the ball to the bat or to first base without delivering it.

Sec. 2. The throwing of the ball by the pitcher to any base to catch the base-runner without first stepping directly towards said base immediately before throwing the ball.

[beerguy55]

Which I find interesting since not long before these rules were put in place, as much as a pitcher could do just about anything he wanted the great furor seemed to be over curveballs - that they were deceptive and dishonorable (whether or not they were believed to be real, or optical illusions), and shouldn't be thrown...but go ahead a dip the ball in a bucket of 10w30 if you want.