> Just to clarify-the picther clearly was not "pitching."

What defines a pitch is being in contact with the rubber and throwing toward the
plate. You can not redefine what a pitch is. If you are going to make an appeal
to the plate you must first step off with the pivot foot. Then make the appeal.
If you are in contact with the rubber when you throw home it is by definition a
pitch.

It does not make a difference what the pitcher intended to do. What he failed to
do was step off therefore from the rubber he is a pitcher and throwing at that
time is a pitch. By stepping off he then becomes an infielder and can throw (not
pitch)to any base he would like. But just as he cannot fake to first from the
rubber you cannot throw home from the rubber except to deliver a pitch.

Therefore it is either a ball or an IP.

clay