re: Pick off of Josh Smith

Balks
If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when:
(1) The pitcher, while touching his plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery;

Was his natural motion. Always pitched from the stretch position. Don’t recall it ever being called a balk! Runner could not take off on his initial motion, had to wait unitl he made a motion to 1st or home

quote:

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left handed pitcher in high school that had best pick off motion I’ve ever seen. Would pick his right leg straight up and just pause in that position without leaning toward 1st or home.


And he balked every time.

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Yeah, no.

That's not a balk for a left handed pitcher. A balk in that situation means you have to make a move to home plate but not deliver a pitch.

ETA: There's a reason it's easier to steal on right handed pitchers than left handed. The moment a right handers lead foot moves they have nowhere to go but home.