With runners on first and third, the pitcher feints a pick-off to third base and then turns and picks off the runner at first. What is the ruling?

• A. This is a legal move and the out will stand.
• B. The third-to-first move is illegal and a balk will be declared.
• C. The play is ruled dead.
• D. The runner from third is forced to third.

Answer: (A)

A pickoff can be executed with a feint to one base followed by a throw to a different base. The feint to third is a legal part of the pickoff move, and throwing to first to try to retire the runner is allowed as long as the pitcher is completing a legal pickoff, not delivering a pitch to the batter. Therefore no balk is called and the motion is legitimate.

In this situation, the runner at first is the one targeted and is out on the pickoff. The runner on third isn’t forced to advance or affected by this particular out, so he stays on third. The ball remains live through the attempt and becomes dead after the out at first is recorded.