Patented Rick Sutcliffe Pick-Off Move Now a Balk

Man, I wish I could find a video clip of the world famous Rick Sutcliffe trick pick-off move. Alas, I cannot, although if one appears online in the next several days, I'll update this post. In case you haven't yet heard the news, MLB has made a rules change:

NEW YORK (AP) -- One of the oldest trick plays in baseball is now a balk.

Under a rule change imposed by Major League Baseball, pitchers will no longer be allowed to fake a pickoff to third base and throw to first as a way to dupe a runner on first base into breaking for second. Next season, that move would be a balk. Pitchers can still step off the rubber and fake to third.

Back when Rick Sutcliffe pitched for the Cubs, every now and then he'd try to execute this fake to third, throw to first pick-off move. It was the most painful and silly thing to watch, and all Cubdom would collectively groan every time he tried it. I honestly don't think it EVER worked for Sut, but whenever he'd get runners on the corners, you knew it was coming.

It may be a silly rule change, but it is a sillier move. Calling it a balk now once and for all brings an end to such tomfoolery. Just play the game, boys.

Here's a little more on the story.