Balk Exemptions...Andy Pettitte

Yesterday's pick-off by Andy "The Perpetual Balker" Pettitte of Jose Reyes sent me through the roof. That movement towards home, then the stutter step before releasing the ball to Jeter at 2B was a balk. Here is an excerpt from Rule 8.05 of the Official Rules of MLB. In part, it states:

Rule 8.05(a) Comment: If a lefthanded or righthanded pitcher swings his free foot past the back edge of the pitcher’s rubber, he is required to pitch to the batter except to throw to second base on a pick-off-play. (b) The pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first base and fails to complete the throw;(c) The pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base;Rule 8.05(c) Comment: Requires the pitcher, while touching his plate, to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off of his free foot without actually stepping or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk.

This is exactly what Pettitte did. For the complete rule please go to Balk Rule.

Another infraction by Pettitte, and most left handers, is they are supposed to make a complete break from the rubber before throwing to first base. In part it reads:

8.01...
(3) 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.

Until Major League Baseball amends the rule or provides a codicil, stating that it is against the best interest of baseball to make a call against the NY Yankees, or call a balk against Andy Pettitte, he, Pettitte, should be made to follow the same rules as any right hander, or anyone not named Pettitte. Ironically, Santana was penalized for a balk shortly after this non call.