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by Sigma6 on October 8th, 2003

Sigma6

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What is a balk?

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  • by Mike D on November 2nd, 2003

    Mike D

    Taken from http://www.baseball-almanac.com/rulemenu.shtml

    Rule 8.00 The Pitcher.
    8.01 Legal pitching delivery. There are two legal pitching positions, the Windup Position and the Set Position, and either position may be used at any time. Pitchers shall take signs from the catcher while standing on the rubber. Pitchers may disengage the rubber after taking their signs but may not step quickly onto the rubber and pitch. This may be judged a quick pitch by the umpire. When the pitcher disengages the rubber, he must drop his hands to his sides. Pitchers will not be allowed to disengage the rubber after taking each sign.

    (a) The Windup Position. The pitcher shall stand facing the batter, his entire pivot foot on, or in front of and touching and not off the end of the pitcher's plate, and the other foot free. From this position any natural movement associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without interruption or alteration. He shall not raise either foot from the ground, except that in his actual delivery of the ball to the batter, he may take one step backward, and one step forward with his free foot. When a pitcher holds the ball with both hands in front of his body, with his entire pivot foot on, or in front of and touching but not off the end of the pitcher's plate, and his other foot free, he will be considered in the Windup Position. The pitcher may have one foot, not the pivot foot, off the rubber and any distance he may desire back of a line which is an extension to the back edge of the pitcher's plate, but not at either side of the pitcher's plate. With his "free" foot the pitcher may take one step backward and one step forward, but under no circumstances, to either side, that is to either the first base or third base side of the pitcher's rubber. If a pitcher holds the ball with both hands in front of his body, with his entire pivot foot on or in front of and touching but not off the end of the pitcher's plate, and his other foot free, he will be considered in a windup position. From this position he may:

    (1) deliver the ball to the batter, or

    (2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick off a runner, or

    (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.

    (b) The Set Position. Set Position shall be indicated by the pitcher when he stands facing the batter with his entire pivot foot on, or in front of, and in contact with, and not off the end of the pitcher's plate, and his other foot in front of the pitcher's plate, holding the ball in both hands in front of his body and coming to a complete stop. From such Set Position he may deliver the ball to the batter, throw to a base or step backward off the pitcher's plate with his pivot foot. Before assuming Set Position, the pitcher may elect to make any natural preliminary motion such as that known as "the stretch." But if he so elects, he shall come to Set Position before delivering the ball to the batter. After assuming Set Position, any natural motion associated with his delivery of the ball to the batter commits him to the pitch without alteration or interruption. Preparatory to coming to a set position, the pitcher shall have one hand on his side; from this position he shall go to his set position as defined in Rule 8.01 (b) without interruption and in one continuous motion. The whole width of the foot in contact with the rubber must be on the rubber. A pitcher cannot pitch from off the end of the rubber with just the side of his foot touching the rubber. The pitcher, following his stretch, must

    (a) hold the ball in both hands in front of his body and

    (b) come to a complete stop. This must be enforced. Umpires should watch this closely. Pitchers are constantly attempting to "beat the rule" in their efforts to hold runners on bases and in cases where the pitcher fails to make a complete "stop" called for in the rules, the umpire should immediately call a "Balk."

    (c) At any time during the pitcher's preliminary movements and until his natural pitching motion commits him to the pitch, he may throw to any base provided he steps directly toward such base before making the throw. The pitcher shall step "ahead of the throw." A snap throw followed by the step directly toward the base is a balk.

    (d) If the pitcher makes an illegal pitch with the bases unoccupied, it shall be called a ball unless the batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batter or otherwise. A ball which slips out of a pitcher's hand and crosses the foul line shall be called a ball; otherwise it will be called no pitch. This would be a balk with men on base.

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  • by redlizard on March 2nd, 2004

    redlizard

    There are a couple requirements for a balk. When the pitcher is on the rubber and comes to a set position, which is when they plant their lead foot into the position they throw from they must then make a movement toward their throwing direction. If they are going to throw to a base they have to step in the direction of the base. Once in a set postion a pitcher can't move his body without throwing to the plate or a base, if they do it is a balk. A pitcher can also balk if they do not come to a complete stop when they go into their set position, There is not time limit on the stop as long as they come to a complete stop. A pitcher can also commit a balk if they got to their mouth while on the dirt of the pitchers mound. If a balk is issue each runner on base gets to move up one base and the play is dead. If there are not runners on base then the batter is issued a ball.

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  • by Anonymous on October 28th, 2003

    Anonymous

    The above definition is completely wrong. A balk is not the same as a walk or hitting the batter. A balk can only be called when there is a runner on base, and that base runner advances one base. The count to the batter remains the same. A balk is a deceptive gesture by the pitcher used to deceive the runner into thinking that he is delivering the ball. There are numerous rules that state what is and is not a balk, but the most common rule pitchers are called for is not pausing in their delivery. When the pitcher raises his glove and comes set at the waste, he must stop for a full second. There are times in almost every game when this could be called, but it rarely is. Many people believe that umpires call balks as an abuse of power to show that they are running the show. Since it is a judgment call, they can get away with doing so, but rarely will you ever see a balk that is not disputed by the pitcher. It is also considered a balk when a pitcher has hit foot on the rubber and drops the ball. A pitcher must also step towards whatever base he is throwing to. For example, a pitcher cannot step towards home plate and throw the ball to first base. A balk cannot be called unless one of the pitcher's feet is on the rubber.

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  • by Scott Clifton on March 26th, 2006

    Scott Clifton

    Rather than re-inventing the wheel, the properly answer what constitutes a balk, go to the source of the rules... http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/pitcher_8.jsp

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  • by ace on May 5th, 2008

    ace

    can you take the sign from the catcher while you are not in contact with the rubber? without quick pitching go from the stretch or windup and pitch?

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  • by falconcoachkb on July 9th, 2007

    falconcoachkb

    Has anyone ever had/heard of a balk called in a youth rec league when runners cant advance (stationary on base unless walk, hit by pitch or batted ball), cant steal, cant advance on passed balls or advance on 3rd strike not caught by the catcher? Just had this happen in a game. There is no stealing, my pitcher started his motion from the windup, stopped and started again. There was a runner on 2nd base and the base ump called a balk, in a playoff game. We have been doing this all year and its called in a playoff game. This moved the runner to 3rd base, my pitcher didnt understand what was happening and it affected his next pitches, the batter got a hit after striking out badly his first time up. My other players were thinking the umps were now allowing the other team to 'steal bases'. We were winning 5-4 at the time, top of second, 2 outs.

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  • by TheDaveRoss on June 3rd, 2005

    TheDaveRoss

    The balk rule is pretty broad, and not well understood. I am not sure I cover all possible balk situations in this, but there are most of them anyhow. Ron Luciano, a Major League Ump once said, "I never called a balk in my life. I didn't understand the rule."

    Balks aren't limited to action by the pitcher, infact any player on the field can cause a balk.

    Catcher: The catcher can cause a balk by having one or more feet outside of the catchers box during the course of a pitch, before the ball leaves the pitchers hand.

    Pitcher:
    -If the pitcher fails to come to a complete stop while in the 'set position', it is a balk.
    -If the pitcher disengages the rubber without dropping his hands to his side, or steps off with his free foot, or goes into a set or stetch position it is a balk.
    -If the pitcher fails to step towards a base while attempting to throw out a runner it is a balk.
    -If men are on base:
    --an erroneus pitch crosses the foul line, it is a balk.
    --a pitcher makes motions normally associated with a pitch but does not make a delivery, it is a balk.
    -- With runners on first and third, if the pitcher makes a motion toward one base and without a second step spins and throws to the otehr base, it is a balk.
    --If a pitcher makes a pitch while the batter is not reasonably set in the batters box, it is a balk.
    --If a pitcher straddles the rubber without the ball in his posession, it is a balk.

    All other defensive players: Any other defensive player may cause a balk by leaving fair territory during the course of a pitch before the ball leaves the pitchers hand.

    Hope that covers most of them anyhow.

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  • by TeeCee on June 6th, 2005

    TeeCee

    Also, if the pitcher drops the ball while on the mound, or if he puts his hand on his mouth, and fails to wipe off, that too is a balk. Also throwing to the next base from the set position. i.e if a runner tries to steal third, the pitcher may not throw to third while engaged on the pitching rubber.

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  • by positivelyjohn on April 2nd, 2007

    positivelyjohn

    SITUATION: Runner on second, pitcher steps off the rubber and is in the process of throwing to second, but he notes while doing this the runner has already broke for third. He catches himself and does not make the throw. He stops his throwing motion as he steps toward second and then turns and steps toward third and throws the advancing runner out. Is this a BALK?
    SIDEBAR QUESTION: What if while in contact with the rubber, he turns to throw to second but sees the runner advancing to third, stops his throw to second and steps and throws to third to get the runner out.
    John for Alabama

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  • by Daniac on June 17th, 2007

    Daniac

    How could a right handed pitcher possible step directly to first without balking? His foot would be going home before going to first. Doesn't he have to step off the back of the rubber to throw to first? Can he jump off the rubber, wheel and throw to first?

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  • by Cesar Alejandro on October 17th, 2003

    Cesar Alejandro

    A balk is when the pitcher begins his pitching motion but then does not follow through with the throw. It's an automatic walk, just like hitting the batter.

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