Author, Covering All The Bases (298 page instructional baseball book) Camp Director (Rising Star Baseball Camp) Baseball Coach (New Rochelle HS, Iona College, Metro NY Cadets, Lehman College)
Enjoyed the video. Finding pointers to improve my sons mechanics and having him get used to his physical abilities and growth. 12 years old (turning 13 in a few months) Slightly under 6ft tall (5' 11+") Working on both wind up and at the stretch. Thanks again.
The narrator says "by rule" more than once that this is a balk. I wish he had been more specific about the exact rule that backs this up. A pitcher can certainly throw to 2B with movement initiated by his free leg/foot. The rules do not make distinctions for differences (other than fake throws) depending on which base the play is going to. Further, the rules do not say a lefty can, but a righty cannot. Obviously, the mechanics to 1B differ for a righty vs lefty, but the underlying requirement to step directly to the base is the same. Why is it a balk if a RH pitcher throws to first, after coming to set, if movement is initiated with left leg stepping directly toward 1B and "step is ahead of the throw"?
I agree totally. There is no rule that says moving the free foot first commits the pitcher to deliver a pitch. Lefties do it all the time when stepping and picking to first. If it is legal for a lefty, it is legal for a righty. This guy is full of crap.
Where is the offical rule for that interpretation? MLB Umpire Manual 56. (c) "When a pitcher swings any part of his free foot past the back edge of the pitcher's rubber, it is a balk if he does not pitch to the batter... If the knee of the pitcher's free leg passes behind the back edge of the rubber but his foot does not, he may legally throw to first base with no violation." And I think that is the reason why many umpires do not make the call.
If the pitcher makes any motion associated with the pitch, he is committed to pitch. The knee buckle and lift of the free foot are associated with the pitch.
Hitters should "measure up" against the net every swing so that they receive the proper feedback from the drill. Otherwise, they will gradually move away from the net and not experience the benefits of the drill.
Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong!!!.. Your supposed to be moving toward the target the whole time and as your going forward your back knee should be bent so you can get that push and you are not supposed to have your front leg bent because you will not be increasing velocity..you will only decrease..and that boys arm slot is horrible..if you keep teaching him like that you are going to hurt his arm..and he is using maybe 20 percent of his available torque because your not letting him use his body..your just making him use his arm which is not good..his chest should be pointing up and pull down as throwing!!! Check out T.A.P torque athletic pafformence..!!
