Sly like a Blake Fox: Rice Owls pitcher attempts sneaky pickoff move

This past weekend, Rice Owls pitcher Blake Fox attempted a sly pickoff play during the top of the fifth inning in a game against Louisiana-Lafayette at Minute Maid Park.

Between pitches, Fox removed his glove to wipe his brow. Then, like a missile being fired from its bunker, Fox used a single motion to discharge the glove and throw the ball over to first base.

As entertaining as Fox’s sleight of hand was, it failed to catch the runner or illicit any mention from the disengaged television commentators.

In 2013, Tampa Bay Rays rookie Alex Torres debuted the same pickoff move in a game versus the Red Sox. Torres, too, failed to catch the baserunner, but did get the commentators to take note.