Rule Change! Third-to-first fake pickoff is now officially a balk

[AsahinaKimi]

Like a professional wrestler hitting his opponent with brass knuckles behind the referee‘s back, the surest way to draw an angry reaction from baseball fans is to break out the old fake-to-third, throw-to-first pickoff move.

Of course, the difference is the pitcher’s intent isn’t to draw a reaction from the crowd. Often times there is real sound strategy involved, whether it's attempting to dupe a base runner into making a mistake, a hitter into showing his hand too early, or even just buying some extra time to collect his thoughts or allow a reliever to warm up.

It really has served a purpose other than to annoy. But I guess that doesn’t change the fact the play rarely worked — you can count the successful attempts every season on one hand — and often killed the flow of a game. And that’s not to mention I've always felt the move fit the technical description of a balk since deception was involved.

more...http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/rule-change-third-first-fake-pickoff-move-now-033809715--mlb.html

[Auggie]

1. It never bothered me. Is this another meager attempt to speed up play?

[AsahinaKimi]

2. Looks like it...

I say whats the rush? Its not Basketball, Hockey or Football. Baseball was supposed to be a game you could kick back and have a beer, eat a hot dog, popcorn.. and enjoy the game. I can't tell you how many double headers I have sat though.. But I remember people would always seem to leave early, its okay..its their option. Why does baseball need to speed up? Let the game unfold as it was intended.

[Kingofalldems]

3. Good. I have never seen it work either.

[chelsea0011]

4. Why is this a balk? Isn't a balk a rule to discourage deceiving the batter?

How does a fake throw to third and a no throw to first deceive the batter? I hate watching the play but love the booing that follows.