Outlawing the Horn Play; Fake to 3rd, throw to 1st

[Rich the Giants fan]

First-and-third trick move on way out?

Should MLB outlaw the fake to third, throw to first? I think so. It's clearly an attempt to decieve the runner, which should be a balk.

[ol' aches and pains]

It never works anyway, I wouldn't miss it.

[TexAg]

what about the pickoff at 2nd when the pitcher rotates back at the top of his motion?!

[bluesky5]

Outlaw it? For who? For what?

Rickey Watters, the gift that keeps on giving.

[DerekD]

what about the pickoff at 2nd when the pitcher rotates back at the top of his motion?!

If he's stepping stepping back, he's not in his motion. He has made the first part of his step towards 2B look like his motion.

[milladrive]

As long as the pitcher steps off the rubber before faking or tossing to a bag, I think it's perfectly okay. The controversy is primarily about the pitcher faking to third while still on the rubber, then stepping off to either fake a toss to first or actually making the toss.

Like I say, as long as the he steps off the rubber without beginning his motion to the plate, he should be allowed to throw or fake to any base he wishes. Jmho.

[KCGHOST]

Steve Busby is the only pitcher I ever saw who could pull off the fake to third throw to first play. The difference in him and all the goobers who dabble at it today is that he would was serious about. And he would throw to third enough to make the play look real. Naturally to make this work you have to be in sync with your 3B.

[DaaBoTownSox]

Yes, outlaw this already.

[ipitch]

Steve Busby is the only pitcher I ever saw who could pull off the fake to third throw to first play.

You must not watch a lot of baseball if you haven't seen it work since 1980 or so!

It ended a game last year...

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17846911

[brett]

Why was it allowed to throw to third off the rubber in the first place? Anyway, I always thought that if you faked to third you should be required to actually throw to first-not allowed to fake. The problem with the double fake is that its a no risk way for a pitcher to bail out and waste some time when he doesn't really know what to do or have any intention to go anywhere. A double fake should be like a delay of game.

[BeatEmBucs]

Steve Busby is the only pitcher I ever saw who could pull off the fake to third throw to first play. The difference in him and all the goobers who dabble at it today is that he would was serious about. And he would throw to third enough to make the play look real. Naturally to make this work you have to be in sync with your 3B.

I saw Mike Fetters make the play work back in 2002 or 2003. Of course he had an intensity on the mound not seen since Al Hrabosky. Personally I think the idiot who gets fooled by that move should be outlawed in baseball.

[StanTheMan]

Why was it allowed to throw to third off the rubber in the first place?

Ummmmmm.... Ever watched a Lefty throw to first?


RHP throwing to third is merely a product of the pitcher facing the base he/she is throwing towards.

[abolishthedh]

There is no need to outlaw that. One of the things which makes baseball unique and interesting is that MLB avoids outlawing things just because someone doesn't like it. Just let them play.

IMHO, this has become a topic of discussion recently because of Bryce Harper's recent steal of home. Though stealing home is an exciting play, we shouldn't make a rule change just because someone wants to see more steals of home.

[ipitch]

There is no need to outlaw that. One of the things which makes baseball unique and interesting is that MLB avoids outlawing things just because someone doesn't like it. Just let them play.

IMHO, this has become a topic of discussion recently because of Bryce Harper's recent steal of home. Though stealing home is an exciting play, we shouldn't make a rule change just because someone wants to see more steals of home.

I don't think Harper's steal had anything to do with it. He stole home on a routine pickoff attempt (with no fake).

[Biggtone23]

Seems like another rule to try to speed up the game rather than enforcing the rule already written about having to throw a pitch within a time limit.