Balk rule

[albert]

This high school coach has a " play"..... right hand pitcher,runner on 1st

Pitcher picks up non-pivot foot ( left ) VERY SLOWLY.....if runner attempts t steal 2nd the 1st baseman yells and the pitcher continues his move inside towards 2nd base in front the runner.

I have argued this is absolutely a balk.

[beerguy55]

16 hours ago, albert said:

This high school coach has a " play"..... right hand pitcher,runner on 1st

Pitcher picks up non-pivot foot ( left ) VERY SLOWLY.....if runner attempts t steal 2nd the 1st baseman yells and the pitcher continues his move inside towards 2nd base in front the runner.

I have argued this is absolutely a balk.

Which rule is being violated?  I don't see it.  Seems to comply where applicable.

 

ART. 4 . . . Balk. If there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a pitcher while he is touching the pitcher’s plate is a balk:

a. any feinting toward the batter or first base, or any dropping of the ball (even though accidental) and the ball does not cross a foul line (6-1-4);  

b. failing to step with the non-pivot foot directly toward a base (occupied or unoccupied) when throwing or feinting there in an attempt to put out, or drive back a runner; or throwing or feinting to any unoccupied base when it is not an attempt to put out or drive back a runner;  

c. making an illegal pitch from any position (6-1, 6-2-1a-d); 

d. failing to pitch to the batter in a continuous motion immediately after any movement of any part of the body such as he habitually uses in his delivery; 

               1. If the pitcher, with a runner on base, stops or hesitates in his delivery because the batter steps out of the box (a) with one foot or (b) with both feet or (c) holds up his hand to request “Time,” it shall not be a balk. In (a) and (c), there is no penalty on either the batter or the pitcher. The umpire shall call “Time” and begin play anew. In (b), a strike shall be called on the batter for violation of 7-3-1. In (a), (b) and (c), if the pitcher legally delivers the ball, it shall be called a strike and the ball remains live. Thus, two strikes are called on the batter in (b). If the umpire judges the batter’s action to be a deliberate attempt to create a balk, he will penalize according to 3-3-1n.

e. taking a hand off the ball while in a set position (6-1-3), unless he pitches to the batter or throws to a base or he steps toward and feints a throw to second or third base as in (b); or

f. failing to pitch to the batter when the entire non-pivot foot passes behind the perpendicular plane of the back edge of the pitcher’s plate, except when feinting or throwing to second base in an attempt to put out a runner. 

 

[JSam21]

Nothing sounds illegal here as long as the leg is in constant motion. 

[834k3r]

@Thunderheads, recommend combining this thread with this one (same question, same username):

 

 

[Double Up]

I concur, throwing to an unoccupied base.  while making a play on a runner is legal, even while in contact.