Balk?

[Guest Truman Cordell]

With runners on First and Third. Can the pitcher( from the stretch )start as if he’s about to pitch, continue around with his float foot and step towards second base which is unoccupied?

[JSam21]

21 minutes ago, Guest Truman Cordell said:

With runners on First and Third. Can the pitcher( from the stretch )start as if he’s about to pitch, continue around with his float foot and step towards second base which is unoccupied?

Is R1 attempting to advance?

[mac266]

1 hour ago, JSam21 said:

Is R1 attempting to advance?

^^^ What he said.

 

99% of coaches forget to read the part of the rule that comes after saying he cannot throw to an unoccupied base.  It says "EXCEPT for the purposes of making a play" on the runner.  So if the runner is trying to advance, the pitcher can throw to the base in front of him, which is unoccupied.

[noumpere]

4 hours ago, JSam21 said:

Is R1 attempting to advance?

It can even be a feint to second or 'giving the impression he is attempting to advance" (or some such words.  Just a normal lead off / secondary lead won't cut it.

[maven]

11 hours ago, noumpere said:

It can even be a feint to second or 'giving the impression he is attempting to advance" (or some such words.  Just a normal lead off / secondary lead won't cut it.

And if R1 feints advancing to 2B, thus legitimizing F1's move to 2B, F1 may also feint (to 2B), which is always legal.