OT- Fake to 3rd, then to 1st

by jrams33 on May 18, 2009 6:30 PM CDT

Though I have been a member here for a few years, I rarely post to the board. My contribution to the discourse would be little more than half-baked opinions or poorly thought-out editorials, since I don't have the extensive knowledge of the organization many of you do. (Additionally, I am not techno-savvy enough to make any of those cool gifs.

I would like to draw from some of yours' knowledge of baseball rules to solve a conundrum that has bugged me for some time now. Its an off day and there is little to do but bask in the glow of a seven game winning streak, which is not to scoff at that, because I have been around long enough to not take it for granted, but it seemed an appropriate time to bring this up.

So the question alluded to in the title has to do with clarification of a bizarre rule that says a pitcher with a man on first and third may disengage the rubber and fake toward third and then again towards first. Precisely why is this not a balk, and with that said why does there have to be a man on third and first for a pitcher to use this strategy? Couldn't a RHP (without a man on third and only one on second) lift his leg and then, if the runner tried to steal second, disengage the plate by stepping toward third and then whirl to throw the runner out at second? What stipulation exists that allows this strategy when a runner is on third but not when third base is vacant? And if there is a stipulation, is it only because "that's what the rule says" or is there any underlying logic to why its ok in situation A but not in B?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

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I like that the pitching rubber used to be called the pitcher's plate

8.05 If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when—

(d) The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play;

Call 1-800-DOCTORB. The B is for bargain!

by Panorama on May 18, 2009 6:54 PM CDT reply actions

So

A LHP could fake to 1st then? Like the other night when CJ had the guy picked off but overthrew the 1B he could have simply faked to first and then got the guy in a rundown?

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on May 18, 2009 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions

no fake to first

unless you step off the back

Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!

by SteveP on May 18, 2009 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions

rule

Call 1-800-DOCTORB. The B is for bargain!

by Panorama on May 18, 2009 7:01 PM CDT reply actions

interesting

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.

Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!

by SteveP on May 18, 2009 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions

It seemed like Jeff Nelson

tried this move in every 1st and 3rd he was faced with.

"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."

by scoop16 on May 18, 2009 7:25 PM CDT reply actions

I think umps are pretty inconsistent

in calling the balk. Holland’s pickoff the other night was great, but I nodded when Grieve (I think) said that it might be called a balk on occasion. To me, this is like the checked swing. On replay a majority of checked swings look like swings to me. I couldn’t find much on the checked swing in the rules, just a procedural comment on appealing a ball that might be a checked swing.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on May 19, 2009 1:22 AM CDT reply actions

holland

really pushes the line with crossing his post leg with his foot. he points his knee a bit toward home while keeping his foot angled back when he lifts his leg, making it look like he’s about to cross that plane.

Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!

by SteveP on May 19, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions