Rule Change Eliminates a Fake Pickoff

I hate this.

One of my favorite things to do is to scream "balk" whenever a pitcher tries this move -- even though I know it's not a balk.

 

I would be in favor of the death penalty for coaches who order this in the 10-year-old ranks -- and there are a lot of 'em -- but I don't have a great feeling either way on this one.i don't think it will speed up the game a whole ton as opposed to some of the things they could do regarding the batter staying in the box.

 

It works one time a year, which is the only reason pitchers do it at any level.

The result of this is runners at first and third will take even bigger leads, pitchers will throw to first more often to hold the runner closer, and the game pace will bog down even more. Way to go, MLB.

 

On the other hand, you'll actually be telling the truth when this happens now.

 

I always enjoyed, with beat writer friends and SIDs, calling for the automatic ejection of anyone who yelled "Balk!" after this move.

 

RIP stupid over-coaching nonsense. Please take the freeze-the-kicker timeout with you.

 

This could change the AL pennant race. Max Scherzer has baseball's only good fake-to-third, throw-to-first pickoff move.

 

I remember when someone turned a double play against the Braves a few years back on that play. Got Chipper Jones and Yunel Escobar, but I don't remember the opponent.

 

“It’s funny,” the umpire Ted Barrett said. ...

"the umpire?

What, is he like Ohio State University?

 

I saw this work with the bases loaded last season. Don't remember who, what or where. Don't remember if it was an MLB or college game. (I'm as clueless as the runner on first who got picked).

 

You've never read a New York Times story before?