All pickoffs must be made to the base, not a fielder, unless the pitcher steps off first. A spin move to second and throwing to the shortstop at his position, is indeed a balk, as it was not directed to a base.

 

Not true for 2nd base. It would be balk if F1 threw to 1st or 3rd and they were not "at the base."

It is true for 2nd base. All pickoffs must be made or "feinted" to the base. You can fake to second and then throw to the shortstop. But you must perform all pickoffs or fakes to the base, including stepping directly to the base. Spinning and throwing to the shortstop at his normal position is absolutely a balk.

For the record, the ump NEVER called a balk. Cooper yelled all 3 times but he never gave in. Guess it is a source of much confusion after all.

 

Cooper ran the pickle against NCC the night before but they didn't bite. Kid strolled as slowly as possible to second and didn't draw a throw, runner stayed on third. I think it was a turning point in this game but I don't know why. The wheels fell off the SHDHS bus right after that.

 

The play at the plate was surreal. The runner was clearly out, but there was a bit of a tussle at the dish while they untangled. Runners were advancing at the other bases if I remember correctly. I have no clue what prompted the ejection but judging from the catcher's reaction, Blue called it right away. It was the worst of the many bad calls he made yesterday. I honestly thought all the fuss was if the runner was gonna be thrown out for coming in too hard.

It is true for 2nd base. All pickoffs must be made or "feinted" to the base. You can fake to second and then throw to the shortstop. But you must perform all pickoffs or fakes to the base, including stepping directly to the base. Spinning and throwing to the shortstop at his normal position is absolutely a balk.

 

From the Harry Wendelstedt(?) manual:

 

P15: R2, one out, 2-1 count. The pitcher steps to second base, but throws the ball to the shortstop at his position.

Ruling:This move is legal. The pitcher has fulfilled his requirements when he stepped to second base. As long as he does not step to second and throw to another base, he may throw the ball to any fielder at their position.

 

The play at the plate was surreal. The runner was clearly out, but there was a bit of a tussle at the dish while they untangled. Runners were advancing at the other bases if I remember correctly. I have no clue what prompted the ejection but judging from the catcher's reaction, Blue called it right away. It was the worst of the many bad calls he made yesterday. I honestly thought all the fuss was if the runner was gonna be thrown out for coming in too hard.

 

Is it possible he was restricted to the dugout? If not, the ump forgot to report it.

Is it possible he was restricted to the dugout? If not, the ump forgot to report it.

 

If it's the ump I am thinking it is based on some of the comments, it is possible he forgot to report it or doesn't know he has to.

 

As for the ejection (if there was one). Based on the description of the play, as I was not there and did not see it, I believe there is a rule that states you have to give the runner at least a part of the plate. If he was blocking the entire plate, it becomes a player safety situation and could be the reason for the ejection. Once again that is pure speculation as I was not there and did not see nor hear what happened.

(a) The pitcher, while touching his plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery;

Rule 8.05(a) Comment: If a lefthanded or righthanded pitcher swings his free foot past the back edge of the pitcher’s rubber, he is required to pitch to the batter except to throw to second base on a pick-off-play. (b) The pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first base and fails to complete the throw;

© The pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base;

Rule 8.05© Comment: Requires the pitcher, while touching his plate, to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off of his free foot without actually stepping or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk.

A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base but does not require him to throw (except to first base only) because he steps. It is possible, with runners on first and third, for the pitcher to step toward third and not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. This is legal. However, if, with runners on first and third, the pitcher, while in contact with the rubber, steps toward third and then immediately and in practically the same motion “wheels” and throws to first base, it is obviously an attempt to deceive the runner at first base, and in such a move it is practically impossible to step directly toward first base before the throw to first base, and such a move shall be called a balk. Of course, if the pitcher steps off the rubber and then makes such a move, it is not a balk.

 

 

If the pitcher does not step directly to second it is a balk. The pitcher must step directly to the base before throwing to that "BASE". Stepping does not require you to throw to second or third, but the rule states if you do, you throw to "that base". You could theoretically step toward second and not throw (this would complete the requirement) and in another play throw to the SS.

(a) The pitcher, while touching his plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery;

Rule 8.05(a) Comment: If a lefthanded or righthanded pitcher swings his free foot past the back edge of the pitcher’s rubber, he is required to pitch to the batter except to throw to second base on a pick-off-play. (b) The pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first base and fails to complete the throw;

© The pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base;

Rule 8.05© Comment: Requires the pitcher, while touching his plate, to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off of his free foot without actually stepping or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk.

A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base but does not require him to throw (except to first base only) because he steps. It is possible, with runners on first and third, for the pitcher to step toward third and not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. This is legal. However, if, with runners on first and third, the pitcher, while in contact with the rubber, steps toward third and then immediately and in practically the same motion “wheels” and throws to first base, it is obviously an attempt to deceive the runner at first base, and in such a move it is practically impossible to step directly toward first base before the throw to first base, and such a move shall be called a balk. Of course, if the pitcher steps off the rubber and then makes such a move, it is not a balk.

 

 

If the pitcher does not step directly to second it is a balk. The pitcher must step directly to the base before throwing to that "BASE". Stepping does not require you to throw to second or third, but the rule states if you do, you throw to "that base". You could theoretically step toward second and not throw (this would complete the requirement) and in another play throw to the SS.

 

 

I just cited an interp from a MLB umpire and you still disagree?

By the way, the fact that a pitcher is allowed to fake a throw also supports the contention that throwing to F6 who is not ON the bas is not a balk. 2nd base simply is a different animal. The rules you cite specifically deal with 1st base and, now this year, 3rd base.

Just because you decide to stop keeping score doesn't mean Cooper didn't cross the plate two more times. Ask the guy who keeps your book, unless he quit too. Ejecting the catcher was a bad call. Never once did I say the ump wasn't equally atrocious for both teams. That was kind of my point. But I think any guy sitting pretty much behind the plate can see that a pitch is ~ as Bob Uecker would say ~ jusssst a bit outside, and truly some of them were 6+ inches in that direction.

 

Prepare to be further disappointed....ask the St. Henry coach if he threatened that after the play where the Cooper kid stole home while the kid on first drew the pitcher off in a lengthy pickle. He didn't YELL it, but he absolutely said it. Said he would tell his pitchers to get our boys in the head if we tried that again.

 

This was enlightening.

 

To get this straight. Your saying that if Cooper tried to steal home again, then the St. Henry coach told his pitcher to throw at the batter? Is that correct?

The MLB umpire you are referring to last umpired in 1998. I have no idea how the rules were written 15 years ago. I am reading and citing the current rule book that states you must throw to the base you step toward if you throw. Second base does not require you make a throw, but it does not state that second base is exempt of the rule stating you must throw to the base you step toward if you do indeed throw. Not to mention it would be virtually impossible for a right handed pitcher to perform the wheel move stepping directly to second and throw to the SS position.

The MLB umpire you are referring to last umpired in 1998. I have no idea how the rules were written 15 years ago. I am reading and citing the current rule book that states you must throw to the base you step toward if you throw. Second base does not require you make a throw, but it does not state that second base is exempt of the rule stating you must throw to the base you step toward if you do indeed throw. Not to mention it would be virtually impossible for a right handed pitcher to perform the wheel move stepping directly to second and throw to the SS position.

 

I read a lot of umpire message boards to keep up with rules. EVERY one says the same thing. It's not a balk.

 

In addition every sport has interpretations. What does "to be the base" look like? Can it be within 3 feet? 4 feet? 10 feet?

 

Most umpires subscribe to the mantra "it's impossible to balk to second base." I haven't found one way yet.

^I believe it was the Cooper vs Bishop Brossart varsity game last Friday night where they called a balk on the BB pitcher (Verst) making a wierd "action/throw" to second. I'm not sure exactly what he did but there was no argument from the coach.

^I believe it was the Cooper vs Bishop Brossart varsity game last Friday night where they called a balk on the BB pitcher (Verst) making a wierd "action/throw" to second. I'm not sure exactly what he did but there was no argument from the coach.

You are correct, it was the Bishop Brossart game where the ump called a balk on a throw back to 2nd base. I believe but may be mistaken, that the pitcher threw to 2nd without stepping toward the base. He basically didn't step at all, just thew the ball back to 2nd.