Balk or not

[Guest Ted H.]

MLB rule set - Runner on second, pitcher comes set, and from the pitcher's plate feigns a throw to third as teammates yell "he's going" and the runner never moves. Is the pitcher required to "make a play" and throw to third or is the mere moving toward third a "play."

[pnewton]

As described, I have a balk here. 

A fake to 3rd while still engaged is a balk in any situation in OBR. In the rule sets the allow it, it's a judgement call as to whether a play was actually being attempted.

[Guest Ted H.]

OK....thank you. I interpret the rule that a runner must show some inclination to run. So the defense yelling "he's going" if the runner isn't moving would not qualify, even if the pitcher throws to 3rd. Any runner movement goes back to what you say - it's a judgment call. Thanks again.

[Mudisfun]

If he stepped off the rubber and faked, that is nothing. On the rubber, faking a throw to 3rd in OBR is a balk, regardless if R2 was actually stealing or not. 

[beerguy55]

1 hour ago, Guest Ted H. said:

OK....thank you. I interpret the rule that a runner must show some inclination to run. So the defense yelling "he's going" if the runner isn't moving would not qualify, even if the pitcher throws to 3rd. Any runner movement goes back to what you say - it's a judgment call. Thanks again.

The runner going to third is what allows the pitcher to throw to third (ie. for the purpose of making a play)...not fake to third.

[maven]

3 hours ago, Guest Ted H. said:

OK....thank you. I interpret the rule that a runner must show some inclination to run. So the defense yelling "he's going" if the runner isn't moving would not qualify, even if the pitcher throws to 3rd. Any runner movement goes back to what you say - it's a judgment call. Thanks again.

You're confusing 2 different provisions.

With R2, there's a question of whether F1 is allowed to throw to 3B at all, which is unoccupied. He IS allowed to throw there for the purpose of making a play. So if R2 is advancing or threatening to advance, a throw to 3B is legal.

The other provision is whether F1 is allowed to feint a throw to 3B. And here, the answer is no: if he steps to 3B, he must throw there. The other provision makes such a throw legal; it does not legitimize a feint to 3B.

As described, this is a balk, apart from any judgment call concerning whether R2 is advancing "enough" to invoke the exception clause allowing F1 to throw to an unoccupied base.

[The Man in Blue]

Was the third baseman more or less than 19'11" from the bag? 

[BLWizzRanger]

4 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Was the third baseman more or less than 19'11" from the bag? 

Day time.