For years, one of the most controversial rules (and its application in games) in MLB has been the decline.
The official MLB page says there will be a disallowance “when a pitcher makes an illegal move on the mound that the umpire deems misleading to the runner(s).
If called, this will result in all men on base being assigned the next base.
As a comment, MLB also stated that “pitchers with high balk totals are also generally adept at knocking out runners, as their moves to first base are usually so deceptive that they borderline illegality. Any umpire, if he notices an illegal pitcher move, may call a disallowance.
Which brings us to Andy Pettitte.
Pettitte, who pitched for the New York Yankees and won five World Series rings, was a master of the pick move.
According to Codify Baseball, he picked a baserunner in eight consecutive games in 1997.
“No other pitcher in MLB history has had a selection streak longer than five games,” the account said.
Andy Pettitte picked a baserunner in EIGHT consecutive games in 1997. 😵 No other pitcher in MLB history has had a pick streak longer than five games. pic.twitter.com/mFUarLDupI
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) March 4, 2022
Pettitte got away with some hesitation
Pettitte’s pass to first base was hugely deceptive, and he got more than his fair share of outs with it.
It was so good that you have to question its legitimacy.
Codify, in its feed, added a poll to see where people were on Twitter: 67.4% said the movement in the video should have been called a pushback.
Twitter user Brian Bishop, also in the thread, explained why he thought it was a refusal: “Everyone says it’s a refusal is okay, the front foot has to go more towards first base than home, basically a diagonal line from the front corner of the rubber. However, the best left-handed moves are almost always hesitant moves, the art barely cheats inside that imaginary line,” he said. -he declares.
Everyone says it’s a denial is right, the front foot needs to go more toward first base than home, basically a diagonal line from the front corner of the rubber. However, the best left-handed moves are almost always hesitant moves, the art barely cheats inside this imaginary line.
— Brian Bishop (@BenitoBishop88) March 4, 2022
Pettitte had a great career, but he took advantage of a tricky rule more than once.
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