Here is the rule for the set 8.01b; Set Position shall be indicated by the pitcher when he stands facing the batter with his pivot foot in contact with, and his other foot in front of, the pitchers plate, holding the ball in both hands in front of his body and coming to a complete stop. From such Set Position he may deliver the ball to the batter, throw to a base or step backward off the pitchers plate with his pivot foot.
Pro pitchers always use the set, when runners are on base. You can throw to any base from the set. You cannot fake a throw to first, but you can, to 2nd and 3rd. You do not have to step off of the rubber before throwing to a base.
The number one balk I see in pony baseball and this is consistent, after umpiring for 10 years behind the plate is the no pause as the hands come together . They have to stop before throwing to the plate. But for some reason the umpires don't ever call it (don't know why) and the kids quick pitch all day! Lol no pause and double sets are common so look out for those.
You are correct that I made a mistake about both feet needing to be in contact. The rule has also changed since I made the video. The free foot can now be off to the side, and what I said was accepted, is now the rule. In the real world, umpires do not enforce the rule to the letter. As long as the pitcher is facing the batter with the pivot foot touching the rubber, and pointed at the batter, they do not concern themselves with much else. I was providing the basics of the rule.
The move that you believe is required, is a move that is accepted, but per the rules prior to 2006 was a balk technically a balk. Here is text from the MLB Umpire Manual. Balks section 7.5 - (i) It is legal for a right-handed pitcher to begin a pick-off move to first base by first moving his foot in the direction of third base provided that he makes a legal step toward first base with the non-pivot foot before throwing there and provided that the move is continuous and without interruption.
You do not have to disengage prior to throwing to a base. That's a myth. Here's the rule; Rule 8.01(a) Comment: In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his free foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber. From the Windup Position, the pitcher may: (1) deliver the ball to the batter, or (2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or (3) disengage the rubber
You must be thinking of High School rules. Where you would be correct. However, in MLB and the Official Rules of Baseball, it IS legal to pickoff from the windup position. Rule 8.01a From the Windup Position, the pitcher may: (1) deliver the ball to the batter, or (2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or (3) disengage the rubber
No, because technically speaking it is natural for the pitcher to take his leg, break the plane of the rubber, and from that point he can either deliver the pitch to home plate, or pick off to second base. Note: After he breaks the vertical plane of the rubber he cannot pick off to any base, other than second. HE MUST GO TO SECOND OR THE PLATE
@ichirojm he needs to read the rules - 2.00 A BALK is an illegal act by the pitcher with a runner or runners on base. NOTE that it states a balk is an illegal act by the PITCHER. And a throw that is offline isn't a balk even by the pitcher.
@Emdamax Yes, you may throw to first while touching the rubber before coming set. You only have to come to the full set position before you deliver a pitch. You never have to disengage before throwing to a base. See rule 8.01(b) and (c)
It depends on whether a force is in effect or not. If a force is in effect, the forced runner is out when he is tagged. If not, the trailing runner is out.
In the rules, it states that only the pivot foot must be in contact. Might have been a while since you've read them last, so I figured I'd let you know that's been changed in the last few years.
The ump must judge whether a motion was started toward the plate, or whether the move was the start of a pitch, or not. Simply lifting the leg and then pivoting toward second, is not a balk, but the move must be directly toward second without interruption, or hesitation. If his foot lands on the back side of the rubber and then he disengages, that's OK.
A PITCHER may throw to a base. You are the pitcher when you are in contact with he rubber. When you disengage you are no longer the pitcher. You do not have to cease being the pitcher before you can throw to a base.
@antiboy551 I gave you the rule from the Official Rules. If it was a Little League Baseball game, then the rule is different. Rule 3.08(a)(1) has an added sentence for LL, which is; (1) If a pitcher, he takes his place on the pitcher’s plate AND THROWS ONE WARMUP PITCH TO THE CATCHER.
Prior to coming to a legal pitching position, a pitcher may touch his hat. Once his hands are together, and he is on the rubber, if he removes his hand from the ball and touches his hat, it is a balk.
@82drumhead - There can't be a balk when no runners are on base. A ball that is dropped or slips out of the hand during a pitch is nothing, unless the ball rolls far enough to cross the foul line, and then it is called ball. Any stop, or interruption with no runners on base is nothing.
Watch the video again. I talk about this. Some leagues do not allow a pick off from the windup. The official rules do. If your league doesn't allow it, then you would have to step backward off the rubber with your pivot foot first. When you step off, you are no longer the pitcher, so you can't balk.
@antiboy551 Depending on the age and level of play, the umpire may have been being a little picky, but he was correct. If a player steps on the rubber at the beginning of an inning, he is assumed to be a new pitcher. See rule 3.08 (a) If no announcement of a substitution is made, the substitute shall be considered as having entered the game when- (1) If a pitcher, he takes his place on the pitcher’s plate;
@OrbitalMask - Rule 6.08 The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when- (a) Four “balls” have been called by the umpire;
The pitcher does NOT have to move his pivot foot first. In fact, until 2006, that was "technically illegal." The pivot foot is exactly that. It is the foot that you may pivot on, when stepping and throwing to a base. The ump judges whether the lift of the foot is a move to home, or to the base. He MUST lift the foot before throwing to a base. He cannot spin on the free foot. But, he MAY simply pivot on the pivot foot. It's simply been common practice to jab step. See the next reply.
Rule 8.01c (c) At any time during the pitchers preliminary movements and until his natural pitching motion commits him to the pitch, he may throw to any base provided he steps directly toward such base before making the throw. Rule 8.01(c) Comment: The pitcher shall step ahead of the throw. A snap throw followed by the step directly toward the base is a balk. The step where the pivot foot moves has been accepted for years as part of a "pivot" on that foot. It is not required.
Rule 8.01a From the Windup Position, the pitcher may: (1) deliver the ball to the batter, or (2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or (3) disengage the rubber
Can you throw over to first from the preliminary set position? That is, can you turn and throw over when you are stretched before coming set? Don't you have to come set first or step behind the rubber to disengage?
An fascinating discussion is price comment. I feel that it is best to write more on this matter, it might not be a taboo topic however usually individuals are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Chee
Hi. I'm just starting baseball as a pitcher. If I am starting from the "wind up" position and I want to pick off a runner from 1st 2nd or 3rd would it be a balk if I didn't move my back foot off the base? (Pee wee AA league)
It's entirely a judgment by the umpire, as to whether the pitcher stepped in a manner that requires him to pitch, or throw to a base. There is no 45 degree line, although that MAY be used as part of the judgment. The MLB Umpire manual simply states that the free foot must land in spot different from where it started, and closer to, and in the direction of; first base.
No. The ball is dead when the batter is touched by the ball. He is out on strike 3 and runners may not advance. Rule 5.09 The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, without liability to be put out, when- (a) A pitched ball touches a batter, or his clothing, while in his legal batting position; 6.05 A batter is out when- (f) He attempts to hit a third strike and the ball touches him;
Jim, what are the rules regarding touching your hat while on the mound ? I know you cant go to your mouth but what about your hat ? What is the penalty...balk ?
@forgetfulsinner. You're confusing scoring rules with acts by the catcher. A BALK is an illegal act by the PITCHER with a runner or runners on base. However, if the catcher violates rule 4.03a or 7.07, the penalty is a balk. Splitting hairs, but by definition, only the pitcher can balk.
Wait - you just said, "if the catcher violates rule 4.03a or 7.07, the penalty is a balk." You then immediately after that say a catcher can't balk. Make up your mind!
Here is the rule for the set 8.01b; Set Position shall be indicated by the pitcher when he stands facing the batter with his pivot foot in contact with, and his other foot in front of, the pitchers plate, holding the ball in both hands in front of his body and coming to a complete stop. From such Set Position he may deliver the ball to the batter, throw to a base or step backward off the pitchers plate with his pivot foot.
Pro pitchers always use the set, when runners are on base. You can throw to any base from the set. You cannot fake a throw to first, but you can, to 2nd and 3rd. You do not have to step off of the rubber before throwing to a base.
The number one balk I see in pony baseball and this is consistent, after umpiring for 10 years behind the plate is the no pause as the hands come together . They have to stop before throwing to the plate. But for some reason the umpires don't ever call it (don't know why) and the kids quick pitch all day! Lol no pause and double sets are common so look out for those.
You are correct that I made a mistake about both feet needing to be in contact.
The rule has also changed since I made the video. The free foot can now be off to the side, and what I said was accepted, is now the rule. In the real world, umpires do not enforce the rule to the letter. As long as the pitcher is facing the batter with the pivot foot touching the rubber, and pointed at the batter, they do not concern themselves with much else. I was providing the basics of the rule.
The move that you believe is required, is a move that is accepted, but per the rules prior to 2006 was a balk technically a balk. Here is text from the MLB Umpire Manual.
Balks section 7.5 - (i) It is legal for a right-handed pitcher to begin a pick-off move to first base by first moving his foot in the direction of third base provided that he makes a legal step toward first base with
the non-pivot foot before throwing there and provided that the move is continuous and without interruption.
You do not have to disengage prior to throwing to a base. That's a myth. Here's the rule; Rule 8.01(a) Comment: In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his free foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber.
From the Windup Position, the pitcher may:
(1) deliver the ball to the batter, or
(2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or
(3) disengage the rubber
You must be thinking of High School rules. Where you would be correct. However, in MLB and the Official Rules of Baseball, it IS legal to pickoff from the windup position. Rule 8.01a From the Windup Position, the pitcher may:
(1) deliver the ball to the batter, or
(2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or
(3) disengage the rubber
No, because technically speaking it is natural for the pitcher to take his leg, break the plane of the rubber, and from that point he can either deliver the pitch to home plate, or pick off to second base.
Note: After he breaks the vertical plane of the rubber he cannot pick off to any base, other than second. HE MUST GO TO SECOND OR THE PLATE
@ichirojm he needs to read the rules - 2.00 A BALK is an illegal act by the pitcher with a runner or runners on base. NOTE that it states a balk is an illegal act by the PITCHER. And a throw that is offline isn't a balk even by the pitcher.
@Emdamax Yes, you may throw to first while touching the rubber before coming set. You only have to come to the full set position before you deliver a pitch. You never have to disengage before throwing to a base. See rule 8.01(b) and (c)
must you come set if there is no runner on? (aka a quick pitch?)
It depends on whether a force is in effect or not. If a force is in effect, the forced runner is out when he is tagged. If not, the trailing runner is out.
In the rules, it states that only the pivot foot must be in contact. Might have been a while since you've read them last, so I figured I'd let you know that's been changed in the last few years.
The ump must judge whether a motion was started toward the plate, or whether the move was the start of a pitch, or not. Simply lifting the leg and then pivoting toward second, is not a balk, but the move must be directly toward second without interruption, or hesitation. If his foot lands on the back side of the rubber and then he disengages, that's OK.
A PITCHER may throw to a base. You are the pitcher when you are in contact with he rubber. When you disengage you are no longer the pitcher. You do not have to cease being the pitcher before you can throw to a base.
@antiboy551 I gave you the rule from the Official Rules. If it was a Little League Baseball game, then the rule is different. Rule 3.08(a)(1) has an added sentence for LL, which is; (1) If a pitcher, he takes his place on the pitcher’s plate AND THROWS ONE WARMUP PITCH TO THE CATCHER.
@stefono62 - The rules are the same for both left and right-handed pitchers. A pitcher may fake a throw to second or third, but not to first.
Prior to coming to a legal pitching position, a pitcher may touch his hat. Once his hands are together, and he is on the rubber, if he removes his hand from the ball and touches his hat, it is a balk.
@82drumhead - There can't be a balk when no runners are on base. A ball that is dropped or slips out of the hand during a pitch is nothing, unless the ball rolls far enough to cross the foul line, and then it is called ball. Any stop, or interruption with no runners on base is nothing.
Watch the video again. I talk about this. Some leagues do not allow a pick off from the windup. The official rules do. If your league doesn't allow it, then you would have to step backward off the rubber with your pivot foot first. When you step off, you are no longer the pitcher, so you can't balk.
Another thing. If I was going to pick off a runner at any base what would a better stance be? The wind up or set?
@antiboy551 Depending on the age and level of play, the umpire may have been being a little picky, but he was correct. If a player steps on the rubber at the beginning of an inning, he is assumed to be a new pitcher. See rule 3.08
(a) If no announcement of a substitution is made, the substitute shall be considered as
having entered the game when-
(1) If a pitcher, he takes his place on the pitcher’s plate;
@OrbitalMask - Rule 6.08 The batter becomes a runner and is entitled to first base without liability to be put
out (provided he advances to and touches first base) when-
(a) Four “balls” have been called by the umpire;
Thanks for the info! It'll really help for my ball game today! Sorry about the step off mixup. I wasnt all there if u know what I mean.
The pitcher does NOT have to move his pivot foot first. In fact, until 2006, that was "technically illegal." The pivot foot is exactly that. It is the foot that you may pivot on, when stepping and throwing to a base. The ump judges whether the lift of the foot is a move to home, or to the base. He MUST lift the foot before throwing to a base. He cannot spin on the free foot. But, he MAY simply pivot on the pivot foot. It's simply been common practice to jab step. See the next reply.
Rule 8.01c (c) At any time during the pitchers preliminary movements and until his natural pitching motion commits him to the pitch, he may throw to any base provided he steps directly toward such base before making the throw.
Rule 8.01(c) Comment: The pitcher shall step ahead of the throw. A snap throw followed by the step directly toward the base is a balk.
The step where the pivot foot moves has been accepted for years as part of a "pivot" on that foot. It is not required.
Rule 8.01a From the Windup Position, the pitcher may:
(1) deliver the ball to the batter, or
(2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or
(3) disengage the rubber
Yes, but you must do it without making ANY motion that is judged by they ump as used for the start of your pitching motion.
Can you throw over to first from the preliminary set position? That is, can you turn and throw over when you are stretched before coming set?
Don't you have to come set first or step behind the rubber to disengage?
@ichirojm The catcher can't balk. Only the pitcher can balk. If you meant pitcher, it isn't a balk either.
An fascinating discussion is price comment. I feel that it is best to write more on this matter, it might not be a taboo topic however usually individuals are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Chee
The set? Never heard it called anything other than the stretch
Hi. I'm just starting baseball as a pitcher. If I am starting from the "wind up" position and I want to pick off a runner from 1st 2nd or 3rd would it be a balk if I didn't move my back foot off the base? (Pee wee AA league)
It's entirely a judgment by the umpire, as to whether the pitcher stepped in a manner that requires him to pitch, or throw to a base. There is no 45 degree line, although that MAY be used as part of the judgment. The MLB Umpire manual simply states that the free foot must land in spot different from where it started, and closer to, and in the direction of; first base.
Until you come set you're aloud to turn your shoulder open and look to a base
When pitching from the set, how long must you bring your hands together prior to throwing the ball?
A little late but it’s until you completely stop moving
to go to third cant u lift your leg up then step towards third with that foot and throw
No. The ball is dead when the batter is touched by the ball. He is out on strike 3 and runners may not advance.
Rule 5.09 The ball becomes dead and runners advance one base, or return to their bases, without liability to be put out, when-
(a) A pitched ball touches a batter, or his clothing, while in his legal batting position;
6.05 A batter is out when-
(f) He attempts to hit a third strike and the ball touches him;
Jim,
what are the rules regarding touching your hat while on the mound ? I know you cant go to your mouth but what about your hat ? What is the penalty...balk ?
Jim,
If two players are on the same base and both are tagged who is out ?
Do u have to put ur leg up?
the catcher can balk. most umpires do not know this .. if he leaves the catchers box... look it up
Yep. I usually like this guy's videos but he's got a lot wrong in this one. It is a 10 year old video though, so maybe some rules have been changed.
runners on 2nd and 3rd ,catcher throws to third,a little wide from the base,its this a balk?
@firstpickjim thanks i will let him know.
Me commenting in 2022
I'll be back in 2025 guys
@forgetfulsinner. You're confusing scoring rules with acts by the catcher.
A BALK is an illegal act by the PITCHER with a runner or runners on base.
However, if the catcher violates rule 4.03a or 7.07, the penalty is a balk. Splitting hairs, but by definition, only the pitcher can balk.
Wait - you just said, "if the catcher violates rule 4.03a or 7.07, the penalty is a balk." You then immediately after that say a catcher can't balk. Make up your mind!
@firstpickjim i told him this as we had a meeting just yesterday and he still argues it"s a balk!
Not the dreaded balk
Diamond no ace anyone?
The Pitcher should never be in the windup in the first place if there is a runner on any base
You see it a lot in LL when bases are loaded or theres a runner on third. (aka when a steal isnt feasible)