Pick off at second base

[UmpireMikerDiaz]

Is it a balk when attempting to pick off a runner at second base when turning glove side (spin or open Move)? We are having quite the discussion on this pickoff move. A new umpire who says he has been to MLB umpire school says it is.  Our old school umpires in the league says it is not a balk.

[Jimurray]

57 minutes ago, UmpireMikerDiaz said:

Is it a balk when attempting to pick off a runner at second base when turning glove side (spin or open Move)? We are having quite the discussion on this pickoff move. A new umpire who says he has been to MLB umpire school says it is.  Our old school umpires in the league says it is not a balk.

I'm guessing he didn't get a job out of umpire school.

[Tog Gee]

Not a balk. Pitcher can turn either arm side or glove side.

[Tog Gee]

Some say it's very hard to balk when picking off to second.

 

[BigBlue4u]

On 8/11/2024 at 4:03 PM, UmpireMikerDiaz said:

Is it a balk when attempting to pick off a runner at second base when turning glove side (spin or open Move)? We are having quite the discussion on this pickoff move. A new umpire who says he has been to MLB umpire school says it is.

Keep in mind that the balk rule and what consists of a balk at the major league level can often be considerably different than in NFHS or NCAA.

[MadMax]

On 8/11/2024 at 6:03 PM, UmpireMikerDiaz said:

when turning glove side

Glove side?  What is “glove side”? When a pitcher – either-handed – is in the set position, his throwing hand is towards 2B, and his glove is towards the/Home Plate. Right? Make sense? 

I think where the confusion is coming isn’t so much the “glove side”, but more… if/when F1 makes that spin/inside move so as to throw to 2B, is his free foot stepping – with ground contact – towards HP (first) to make the move? If it is, that’s a move/commit-to-pitch, and would be a Balk. 
How is he enacting / initiating the move? Is he simply lifting the free foot and propelling it over the rubber towards 2B? Or – this is where the Balk aspect comes in – is he tapping / pumping it against the ground, towards HP and pushing it back to go over the rubber towards 2B? 

I once Balked a F1 who performed an “inside move!” (emphasis added by HC barking against my calling the Balk), but his free foot went more towards 1B, never landing past / beyond the rubber, and that bisecting line from 1B to 3B. 

Maybe this sloppy footwork is the crux of the discussion / disagreement? 

[UmpireMikerDiaz]

2 hours ago, MadMax said:

Glove side?  What is “glove side”? When a pitcher – either-handed – is in the set position, his throwing hand is towards 2B, and his glove is towards the/Home Plate. Right? Make sense? 

I think where the confusion is coming isn’t so much the “glove side”, but more… if/when F1 makes that spin/inside move so as to throw to 2B, is his free foot stepping – with ground contact – towards HP (first) to make the move? If it is, that’s a move/commit-to-pitch, and would be a Balk. 
How is he enacting / initiating the move? Is he simply lifting the free foot and propelling it over the rubber towards 2B? Or – this is where the Balk aspect comes in – is he tapping / pumping it against the ground, towards HP and pushing it back to go over the rubber towards 2B? 

I once Balked a F1 who performed an “inside move!” (emphasis added by HC barking against my calling the Balk), but his free foot went more towards 1B, never landing past / beyond the rubber, and that bisecting line from 1B to 3B. 

Maybe this sloppy footwork is the crux of the discussion / disagreement? 

This is where the spin move is done and the umpire in question says that this move is a balk no matter if the pitcher throws the ball to second after he has stepped to the base, or he fakes it and keeps the ball.  I am in agreement that when the pitcher after making the spin move does step to second with his free foot after his other foot is planted that there is no balk.  It is a balk if the pitcher throws while making the spin move or just turns his torso and throw without moving his feet,

[Velho]

For those trying to follow along