I read in today's newspaper that it appears MLB will no longer make fans suffer through the play where runners are on first and third and the pitcher "fakes" the pickoff throw to third base and then wheels around and makes a soft throw to first base. No runner every gets caught and everyone yells "Balk!"

 

Looks like MLB will implement the change next year. The new rule would be the pitcher could not fake to third unless he first stepped off the rubber.

 

Is it likely high schools will adopt the rule?

I suppose it would help if I said what the penalty would be. The penalty would be a balk.

Will high school follow suit? That I do not know. But I do know that at the high school level it works on occasion so I wouldn't like to see the rule change. It teaches kids that they need to be alert at all times and understand the situation.

This change would be bad for high school baseball. The squeeze play is such an important part of the high school game. The pitcher has to be able to keep the runner on third honest.

I see ZERO reason for MLB to change this rule.

This change would be bad for high school baseball. The squeeze play is such an important part of the high school game. The pitcher has to be able to keep the runner on third honest.

 

The move has more impact on keeping the runner on 1B runner honest and not taking off until pitcher has commited delivery to home plate.

This change would be bad for high school baseball. The squeeze play is such an important part of the high school game. The pitcher has to be able to keep the runner on third honest.

 

This move means zero to the runner on third and outlawing it doesn't affect the pitchers ability to keep him close. A right handed pitcher is looking right at the runner on third and can stare him back to the base or simply step off if he wanders too far off. Left handers can't pull this move off anyway so no change there either.

 

Can't say I care whether it gets outlawed or not. It rarely works at any level, especially where the steal of second in a first in third situation is no longer automatic.