Category: Pitching
Type: Tip
Equipment: baseball
Venue: Indoor & Outdoor
A LEFT-HANDED BALK MOVE
Here is a great pick off move for a LH pitcher in throwing to first base. Although slightly deviant, this move is designed to push the limits of a balk call without actually being penalized. We count on the fact that both the umpire and the athlete or coach will not be looking for this movement. It is very deceiving and so close to being a legal move that it becomes the judgment of the umpire…who won’t call it.
Take your normal stretch position from the mound like you are getting the sign. You will notice that your left foot is hugging the rubber. If you know FOR SURE that you will throw to first for a pickoff move you can do this:
Move your heel of your left foot so it comes away from the rubber about 4 to 6 inches. This will now do many things for you:
1. Your foot is now pointed to the left of first base, or the outfield side
2. Your shoulders become more square to first base
3. Your throw to first base will be more accurate
4. Even though there is no 45-degree rule, this will negate it anyway because your angle now starts somewhere behind the rubber and not straight off of it
Now, with this stance understood, you have to incorporate several other points to actually pick someone off.
Submitted by: CoachB
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