Pick off move to first base

Short instructional video showing the basic moves to first base for a right handed pitcher. Go to mikescottbaseball.com for more videos and baseball instruction.

[@bbarker5766]

I want to thank you for the pitching video's that you've posted and my son is moving up to the level now where the runners can take a lead and the pitchers can pick. Being a first baseman as I have been it's been tough to find good instruction for him pitching but your video's have helped him a lot and this one will help make his pick off move better!!

[@F00LPR00F169]

A 30 year old using this video, Thank you for taking the time to prepare this and go over details of each move.

[@BlueberryAzure]

Im so glad I finally found someone I can share my baseball knowledge with. :)

[@carrangil]

this is not a balk...he disengages his throwing foot off the rubber and as long as he throws it to first without hesitation it is not a balk... the throwing foot does not have to go back behind the rubber.

[@Kooler253]

Gilbert Carranza yes it does, it has to clear the rubber, all mlb players do it and so does the league I play in

[@alanhess9306]

@@Kooler253 No, it is not a balk. A pitcher NEVER has to disengage the rubber before picking to a base. Gilbert is correct and you don't know wtf you are talking about.

[@shanewhitefeather6298]

Hey, this video is eight-years-old today; Friday, September 14th, 2018. One more year and it's a Classic! Great Stuff

[@shanewhitefeather6298]

NO WAIT ... It's 9 years old today!

[@ElijahLynn]

Great video Mike! Exactly what I was looking for!

[@JoeCubicle]

VERY well explained and demonstrated!

[@jeffbohne2892]

If you are only 9 years old, I can assure you it would be a wise choice for you to watch this video closely. This is one of the best videos I have seen describing a pick off for a right handed pitcher. Take that from a person who has been involved in the game of baseball for over 40 years. If you can indeed make a better, more informative video, please do. I would love to see it!

[@gmoneydavis5750]

Also remember to be accurate with your throw.⚾️

[@mstflame3509]

Jon Lester is typing..

[@gmoneydavis5750]

@@mstflame3509 what

[@AlanWongASHI-ATSU]

i do this now during games thanks to this awesome video

[@kelp4066]

If a pitcher disengages pitchers plate by stepping back with their pivot foot first, they do not have to throw. If they do, and the ball is thrown out of play, the runners are awarded two bases. If they make the pick off move properly without stepping of behind pitchers plate first, and throw goes out of play, runners are only awarded one base. Also, Allen Miller is correct about Fed rules as applies to "open stance" being a balk if both feet are not mostly between pitcher plate and home plate. (Don't be too picky if stride foot hangs over a little.) While not states as such in OBR, I have been trained that it applies there as well. Also keep in mind that most High Schools are using National Federation of HS rules aka Federation or Fed rules. Majors, Cal Ripkin, LL, and I believe Pony use basically Official Baseball Rules aka OBR. There are some differences, so what might be ok in one league may not be ok in another and sometimes Umps who work both forget which apply. If some of you are not aware, besides the printed "rules" the ruling body that writes the rules (NFHS or MBL or Little League etc.) also have supplemental material called "Case Plays". Case plays are descriptions of situations that have or might happen and then commentary is given as to how to rule on that situation. Some of these case play scenarios happen in a way that do not exactly meet the wording as used to describe a rule. So there is some rule interpretation applied by the ruling body's Rules Committee, which give guidance as to how umpires should rule the play.

[@abillips83]

Correctly called. Balks could be called on everyone of these moves. Minus the fact no one is teaching pitching from an open stretch stance . This video is NOT a good example of correct pickoff moves.

[@sean10west]

love this video!

[@timburke1426]

Really liked your lesson

[@pheniafilms]

great tips..gonna be a big help thanks

[@wogdoggy]

excellent instruction ,,great stuff thank you

[@Poltoid]

You got that right! Damn, that rule was quite tricky to learn....

[@sportsman7al]

FYI new NFHS rules don't allow you to start nor come set in the "open" position. you maybe able to get away with starting open, but coming set open will result in a balk. You must come set with both feet between the pitching plate and home (draw a line from the edge of pitching plate to home plate and you must be set inside of it). Otherwise this is a great video and as a high school pitching coach I strongly recommend three moves to the bag. Only use your best when you genuinely feel you have a shot to get a runner.

[@lilboat6690]

Thank you for this I just entered varsity

[@MrPelotero53]

great video, thanks

[@dacoach1122]

great post..thanks

[@kidcougar008]

@cah1289 actually there is a bawk, it counts as a ball for the batter

[@gmanbaseball5]

thanx quick move to first worx best for me

[@Zapodo14]

@Dannynike24 you dont have to set if you pick off

[@nuttyllama69]

at 1:15 the guy ib the background saw a sasquatch and started runnin

[@evolutionofcando379]

thanks

[@jeffbohne2892]

Not at all. If you are thinking he has to pause, that is not the case if the pitcher is throwing over to first base. What part of this looks like a balk?

[@Decius.]

Thanks

[@ThePapayaKing]

From a very technical reading of the rules, you are correct. However, the "jump step" has been allowed in all majors codes of baseball (OBR, NCAA, NFHS) for many years. I don't know why/how this came to be allowed other than perhaps repeated ignoring by umpires, but it's de facto legal today.

[@tonyvannello8657]

Thank u

[@Mamazaca1]

can you do the quick move in high school ball ? because many players step off behind the rubber then throw to first. please reply

[@67L48]

Many players prefer to step off behind the rubber, because this allows them to feint a throw. Disengaging from the rubber turns the pitcher into an infielder ... special pitching rules do not apply. In each of his moves, he is NOT disengaging from the rubber. Thus, he remains a pitcher per rulebook definitions. Therefore, he MUST throw to 1B. Pitchers cannot feint a throw to 1B. Most right-handers don't practice this move and haven't found the advantage to what is being taught in this video. Thus, it's safer for most pitchers to simply step off and then have an option of throwing or not throwing.

[@wyattnemec789]

ty for the help but dont u have to put ur foot behind the rubber?

[@alanhess9306]

NO

[@mac2894]

The partially open ("hybrid") set position is illegal in a lot of youth leagues. Everyone make sure to read your local rules!

[@Kittycat92420]

Thanks

[@Mamazaca1]

i know this rule if allowed in the MLB but im not sure about CIF rules

[@Bricks1226]

Do you have to be on the rubber when you do the pickoff move?

[@cursed_legend2215]

No. If you throw to first on the rubber or step to the side like he is it's a balk. To throw to your back side you must step BACK and throw. If you bring your arm through without throwing, it's also a ball. To second base and your chest side, you may step off to the back of the rubber OR you can pick up your leg, and commit to the base as long as you have no motions to home plate.

[@MikeDCWeld]

No. But if you don't first step behind the rubber with your pivot foot you are *required* to make the throw. If you step back first, you can fake a throw to first, however should you throw it out of play, the runners are awarded 2 bases instead of 1 because you are now considered an infielder, not a pitcher.

[@alanhess9306]

@@cursed_legend2215 A pitcher never has to step back off the rubber before making a throw to any base. The jab step by a right hander, where his pivot foot ends up in front of the rubber, is legal.

[@stephenbrown5341]

I coach 12u baseball and I ran into this rule this past season. Please explain this to me. I have played baseball my whole life and it has always been my understanding that from the windup the pitcher has to go home but from this reading in the MLB rulebook. Please shed some light on this for me. The rule states straight out of the MLB rulebook, which I will copy to this post, that a pitcher out of the windup and do 3 things MLB 5.07 Pitching From the Windup Position, the pitcher may: (A) deliver the ball to the batter, or (B) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or (C) disengage the rubber (if he does he must drop his hand to his sides). In disengaging the rubber the pitcher must step off with his pivot foot and not his free foot first. He may not go into a set or stretch position-if he does it is a balk. From what I read the pitcher can go to first base out of the windup as long as he steps in that direction. From what I see to be the problem is most pitchers step sideways in the direction of first to start their motion going home which would not leave them the ability to have a pick off to first since the 2 motions must be different. BUT if a pitcher was to step straight off the back of the rubber to start their motion home then they would have the ability to be able to step straight to first for a pick off. What are you thought please?

[@dfboiler]

stephen brown PIVOT foot is the part you are not grasping.

[@alanhess9306]

The ML rule allows pick off from the windup position but the HS rule does not.

[@Zylwarias]

good pitchers would vary pitching stances, like bieng open and going home, alternating them

[@rb1950ful]

Hi Mike. Just a question about the "quick move". It does not look like you are coming to a stop with this pick off. Is that not a balk?

[@alanhess9306]

no

[@cesarvargasdesign]

So on the third quick move, when he is about to come to the set position then throws (at 6:43), he doesn't have to come set? If that's the case, can he do it in the middle of his "coming set" and step off then throw, let's say at (6:44)? Where are the points where you can disengage the rubber if you're not throwing home?

[@Nellyrcb]

A pitcher can step off the rubber at any given time, therefore they can also pick off at any time.. But there are different types of picks, one in which a pitcher steps behind the rubber and one where he just spins and throws.... I'm speaking more on behalf of the one where the pitcher just steps behind the rubber real fast.

[@cesarvargasdesign]

+Jesse Nelson so even mid set he can step behind? because that seems to good to be true--ive never seen anyone do it--i really want it to be true! plus i play in rec ball so the umps dont know all the rules and they may call balks because thwy dont understand the subtle rules..keep the videos comin😀

[@Nellyrcb]

Yeah, at any point. For example: the base runner can steal at any time so you as the pitcher can also step off at ANY time. And yeah, if your are unsure that the umpires don't know the rules, or are feeling froggy lol then just play it safe... most of them should know that because it is pretty basic.. I play division 1 baseball

[@Elver_Gon69]

Aren't you suppose step your right leg behind the rubber (second base side) to do a pickoff ? That's how I did it back in high school

[@akaj9931]

eleno calleros Nope, if you want to fake throw to first then yes you have to step behind the rubber, but throwing to first you don't need to step behind the rubber.

[@kradim]

You can if you're not in your "set". I do it all the time.

[@CoffeeBeaversEditz]

This was before I was born

[@IArWrecker]

you can just jump and throw and its not a balk. but the thing is if you dont step off first then you must throw. if you step off then you dont have to throw. i quick move all the time without moving my front foot and never been called.

[@cah1289]

@slicknick230 Wrong. Try again. If there is no one on base, it's not a balk--there are no runners to advance. If you are a jackass, and repeatedly stop your windup, you may get ejected--but there is no balk. Anybody who knows anything about baseball knows this.

[@Thatadventureguy321]

Something I keep realizing when you pick-off ; you bring your right foot not to the back of the mound but to the side. Wouldn't that be a balk?

[@alanhess9306]

NO

[@tyscheuermann]

Can this apply for a lefty trying to pick to third base?

[@brock39997]

Gasmask404 yep

[@mylesherzog6757]

Gasmask404 bad idea. No reason to throw over to third unless he has a suicide lead. Third baseman shouldn't be holding him there and all that'll happen is you throw it away and cost him a run

[@tyscheuermann]

Myles Herzog thanks for that. I'm a kinda new pitcher and haven't explored on moves to third but after what you said I'll take your advice.

[@angelkoyoc474]

Buen vídeo amigo me gusto el ultimo

[@NoBozos2]

@Bcurl27 Wrong. From the windup you can: (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 (if he does he must drop his hand to his sides). (OBR 8.01a) You can pick off from windup even without disengaging from the rubber. AFHS rules do not allow #2 however

[@xtremesloth9083]

I was just kidding on my comment man other than the part about me I watched ur video and like ur tips and I really love what you said at the beginning about holding the runner

[@BlueberryAzure]

Oh well I wasn't aware of that. I play under KHSAA rules (kentucky hs) and you have to step your foot completely behind the rubber then turn and throw.

[@alanhess9306]

BlueberryAzure, Nonsense. It has never been required under any rule set to disengage the rubber by stepping behind when picking to a base.

[@natedavis5754]

Michael Scott

[@JohnJohnson-dj2dv]

Get a good strong core, too. You can't be loose and have the good hard throw he talks about if your abs aren't strong and tight. Your throw won't have good velocity if you try to do it all with your arm.

[@malverndude10]

only when throwing to second

[@jay9fan]

@Dannynike24 you cant balk to first base. you dont have to stop unless you go to the plate

[@cah1289]

@Bcurl27 ...that's obviously not true. If there is no one on base there is no such thing as a balk. If there's no one on base you can stop your wind up whenever you want.

[@shoyo4ever15]

? isn't quick move consider balking?

[@alanhess9306]

No

[@ThePapayaKing]

That is the way it should be (for a right hander throwing to first, anyway) if you read the rules literally, so your state association must have decided they didn't like the erosion of the rules in other codes. The jump-step should be a balk, but I've never seen it called. In fact, some casebooks specifically mention it as being allowed. One of those weird anomalies of baseball, I guess.

[@shoothingfire1]

It is not a bulk because u r in a sign position when in set or standing up and you turn your souldger then it is a bulk

[@Avanel]

you are recoiling with your right foot! :) follow through don't go halfway and then lean back again :))

[@Pwnzistor]

@126fun He didn't set

[@alanhess9306]

Pwnzistor, There is no need to come set when picking to a base.

[@masonellison6240]

@1:15

[@nickmaldonado5848]

by the way you have to step off the rubber so you balked

[@alanhess9306]

Nick, I hope that within the last 4 years you found out that what you posted is totally wrong. A pitcher never has to step off the rubber when picking to a base.

[@johnnyjohnson1370]

You can only disengage the rubber by stepping off back to second.The rubber foot DOES NOT HAVE TO STEP OFF,if you step directly to first and THROW the ball.This is not a balk.College ump here,,lots of even college coaches think it is.NOT TRUE.

[@jeffbohne2892]

Absolutely not! In fact, we teach our kids to not put their foot behind the rubber on their pick-off attempt because if they over throw and the ball goes out of play, the runner gets two bases since the pitcher is then considered a fielder.

[@Poltoid]

1:47 balk

[@alanhess9306]

Nope. No Balk.

[@alanhess9306]

@Bryan Villwock No. He did not violate a rule. That is not a balk.

[@cah1289]

@kidcougar008 Wrong. The only time a ball "may" be called is if the pitcher pitches while off the rubber. This is an obscure rule that nobody knows unless they actually look it up. I have NEVER seen this called, and I don't believe anyone who says they have. Anybody who has played any kind of meaningful baseball knows that, when there is no one on base, there is no "balk." You can stop your wind up dead with no penalty. This is common knowledge. And also, it's "balk", not "bawk."

[@anthonycecaci1075]

He steps towars third on his dummy move which is a Balk with runner on 1st only. When he says long leg movements....When you come set in a closed position towards the plate there is an imaginary line in front of your toes going toward the plate. When you pick off you have to keep your feet on the first base side of that imaginary line when you throw over to first. At least thats how I was always taught and have never been called for a balk because of my feet.....maybe a twitch but not on footwork. You definitely have to pause when you come set if you are going to the plate. You dont have to pause or come set to pick over to first. Thats my favorite time to give my best move.

[@alanhess9306]

His pivot foot moves toward third but that does not matter. His non pivot foot moves toward first base and that makes this move legal. There is no balk here.

[@CvilleThunder29]

I thought you have to pause when you come set...

[@ericwells384]

No not on a pick off. On a regular pitch you have to come set( pause )then through.

[@illtemmperedcoins]

right?

[@cerwin7]

oh and pretty sure technically this is a balk because the only way to "step off" the rubber is backward. you can't step off forward, even though it is tolerated in a pickoff move

[@alanhess9306]

Ycerwin7, your pivot foot can end up in front of the rubber when the pitcher does a jab step and throws to first. Perfectly legal, no balk.

[@willsull22]

You don't have to come set if you are picking off, bc you're stepping off the rubber. Only when you begin motion toward home plate is it a balk if you do not come set. Speaking of direction, his is awful. You should not come set with feet open to home plate. Keep good direction towards home. Pitching like this will open your hips way to early, giving you bad direction to the plate.

[@cerwin7]

why even move right foot at all? i was taught the same but i think the rules say you just have to step toward base and you don't have to move pivot foot.

[@MikeDCWeld]

Because most people physically need to. If you can step towards first and make a fast, accurate throw while keeping your pivot foot pointed at third, good for you. And good luck to the knees of anyone who tries it.

[@caminatorcarroll1547]

pa

[@xx1605]

the quick move is kind of a balk because you have to come set

[@GoBraves44]

Pitcher must come set before he DELIVERS A PITCH

[@Billbobsly]

Jacob Fiorenza you only have II come set to pitch

[@alanhess9306]

X X No, it is not a balk. The pitcher must come set before he delivers a pitch, but no pause is required when picking to a base.

[@dillonrepasy4655]

funny thing is I play baseball and u have to back off behind the mound and then throw it.. if u do it on the mound it's a Bock because your already in motion towards home plate

[@isaacstocks8207]

You can pivot as long as you don't make forward motion

[@dillonrepasy4655]

Yea with ur right foot but I did pivot and I got a balk got called on me

[@alanhess9306]

Dillon, not true. There is no requirement to step back off the rubber before picking to any base.

[@AllRacing14]

but... it is a bag

[@kyledavy1]

anyone who says this is a balk is useless.

[@ErichLRuehs]

So you have to pause a second to go home, to pitch, but you don't have to pause a sec to go to first, right?

[@alanhess9306]

@@ErichLRuehs There must be a discernible pause before delivering a pitch. There does not need to be a pause when picking to a base. No rule book requires a one second pause.

[@brendanrussell4714]

Town forest

[@Dannynike24]

isn't the quick move a balk in this vid?

[@alanhess9306]

No

[@ghstR3CONF34R]

warcomedy, good pitchers try to make everything look the same.. So that means you are completely wrong.

[@Richrap1911]

No it isn't. As long as you don't jump or bringing your leg up and down before turning to throw.

[@davidmoran8736]

You balked

[@alanhess9306]

Nope. No Balk.

[@coachtodd1373]

BALK! you must disengage over the back of the rubber. Or, both feet turn as you jump spin. Pivot foot can't step to third as your 1st movement

[@alanhess9306]

Coach Todd 13, Totally wrong. It is not a balk. A pitcher NEVER has to disengage the rubber before picking to a base. What you see here is a jab step with the pivot foot moving toward 3rd base. Totally legal.

[@coachtodd1373]

@@alanhess9306 i guess we will disagree on this my friend. In my opinion per the rules, 1. You must face the batter. He is too open. 2. You have to step directly to the base. His first step is his pivot foot going to third.. thats how i interpret the rule. Now, what's "getting away with" and not being against the rules are two different things. Either way, its not the end of world. As long as people are playing ball, im happy.

[@alanhess9306]

@@coachtodd1373 I never could figure out what the rule requiring the pitcher facing the batter meant. We know that right handed pitchers are facing third when in the set position. And the left handed pitchers are facing first when in the set position. The pivot foot moving toward third is irrelevant. The rule requires the pitcher to step with his free foot toward the base he is throwing to. This is a totally legal jab step. We see this same move hundreds of times during the season. Not a balk.

[@coachtodd1373]

@@alanhess9306 one shoulder towards center and one towards the plate

[@coachtodd1373]

@@alanhess9306 some youth leagues wouldn't allow being that open

[@karenpato1]

Why bother trying to pick off a runner if your first baseman is a right handed thrower? Southpaw first basemen have a natural quicker move and doesn't have to reach across his body.

[@evanroelle]

BALK

[@alanhess9306]

Explain why you think it was a balk and I will explain why you are wrong.

[@BlueberryAzure]

Balk. You have to step behind the rubber.

[@alanhess9306]

Another incorrect comment.

[@wilfredosouffront3062]

What dummy move!?

[@footballer10k86]

Quick move is a balk. You have to have a stop.

[@alanhess9306]

Footballer10K, you are totally wrong. There is no requirement to pause when picking to a base.

[@shngmi]

Everything looks the same

[@MikeDCWeld]

That's kinda the point. If the runner can't distinguish the different moves, the whole thing is a lot more effective.

[@kiousis682]

The quick move would be a balk

[@67L48]

Not per Section 6 of the NFHS Baseball Rulebook. The only diff between his normal and quick is his arm motion. Nothing illegal about that.

[@jollypenguin9764]

All of the moves are balks

[@ElijahLynn]

Jolly Penguin You should explain more about why you feel that way.

[@wheres-colin]

No they arent

[@frankbradish8676]

Fly eclipze

[@Billbobsly]

Jolly Penguin none of them are

[@YazMH]

There goes your Baseball knowledge down the drain buddy

[@patrickmartin6963]

Too bad if you ever used this in a game it would be a balk

[@commandertv9230]

It's not a balk.

[@67L48]

Not if the umpires know the pitching rules. If they're uninformed like you, then I suppose they could err and call it a balk. Bad calls do happen.

[@dillonnickell7851]

Its all a balk

[@holycrusader09]

Too much talking.

[@xtremesloth9083]

what the heck kind of windup is that I am 12 yrs old and windup better than that but then again I m a well trained pitcher u are just a 49 yr old guy

[@finishtheshowmon]

A well trained pitcher who is 12

[@finishtheshowmon]

I give you Xtreme sloth

[@RapIsDeadly]

Hey sloth...I know man. Who does this grandpa think he is. Like he even knows what he's doing. Shit...he needs the experience you have. I would so watch a video of yours so I could see how it's really done.

[@freddyo9137]

Xtreme Sloth Dude he was a major league pitcher

[@sjang816]

Baseball Slugger why are you arguing? he should be about 14ish now, practically a pro. he should be giving the lessons. someone fast obviously, with a name like sloth

[@Glennyco]

Anybody who calls a base a bag, does not know baseball!

[@alanhess9306]

Wow, what a completely stupid comment.