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The Baseball Balk Rule
The most confusing rule in baseball is the baseball balk rule. Umpires
don't understand it. Coaches don't understand it. Players don't understand
it and youth should never understand it. In competitive youth baseball, I
always see some coaches go to the umpire and tell the umpire that the opposing
pitcher is committing a balk. At some point over the next 2-3 innings the
umpire assumes the opposing coach knows more about the balk rule than he does
and calls a balk on the pitcher. It is a total psyche job, and probably poor
sportsmanship, but it works.
There is one piece of language in the balk rule that creates all the
confusion: "The pitcher may be called for a balk when he
makes any type of move that is a departure from his natural motion to home
plate. This could be something as obscure as lifting the ball from his glove
without completing his delivery." This leaves open subjectivity
However, the balk rule also cause confusion of it's own by
inconsistent application of it's own basic rules. For example, the rule
implies if the lift foot goes behind the rubber the ball must be delivered to
the plate. However, numerous right-handed pitchers bring their lift foot
behind the rubber and continue their clock-wise motion on throws (or fakes) to
second base. Also, right-handers must spin and take a step toward first
base while throwing. Left-handers can simply fall towards first as they
throw to the first base runner. Many right-handed pitchers have learned to
take a small, quick, two-inch step after they pivot to beat this requirement.
The purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher
from deliberately trying to deceive the runner (and pick him off).
The Pitcher may not:
- Fake a throw to first. He may fake a throw to
any base except first.
- Fake a throw to home and then throw to a base.
- Throw to the plate without coming to a complete stop
from the set position.
- start/then stop his delivery after coming to the set
position.
The pitcher may:
- Throw to first base without coming to a complete stop
from the set position
- Start the wind-up from the set position and skip the
stretch position of the wind-up
- Throw to first base from the wind-up position
| The Balk Rule - Excerpt from the Official Rules of Baseball |
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8.05
If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when
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(a) The pitcher, while touching his plate, makes any
motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails
to make such delivery;
Rule 8.05(a) Comment: If a left-handed or
right-handed pitcher swings his free foot past the
back edge of the pitcher’s rubber, he is required to
pitch to the batter except to throw to second base
on a pick-off-play. (b) The pitcher, while
touching his plate, feints a throw to first base and
fails to complete the throw;
(c) The pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to
step directly toward a base before throwing to that
base;
Rule 8.05(c) Comment: Requires the pitcher,
while touching his plate, to step directly toward a
base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher
turns or spins off of his free foot without actually
stepping or if he turns his body and throws before
stepping, it is a balk.
A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before
throwing to that base but does not require him to
throw (except to first base only) because he steps.
It is possible, with runners on first and third, for
the pitcher to step toward third and not throw,
merely to bluff the runner back to third; then
seeing the runner on first start for second, turn
and step toward and throw to first base. This is
legal. However, if, with runners on first and third,
the pitcher, while in contact with the rubber, steps
toward third and then immediately and in practically
the same motion “wheels” and throws to first base,
it is obviously an attempt to deceive the runner at
first base, and in such a move it is practically
impossible to step directly toward first base before
the throw to first base, and such a move shall be
called a balk. Of course, if the pitcher steps off
the rubber and then makes such a move, it is not a
balk.
(d) The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws,
or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for
the purpose of making a play;
(e) The pitcher makes an illegal pitch;
Rule 8.05(e) Comment: A quick pitch is an
illegal pitch. Umpires will judge a quick pitch as
one delivered before the batter is reasonably set in
the batter’s box. With runners on base the penalty
is a balk; with no runners on base, it is a ball.
The quick pitch is dangerous and should not be
permitted.
(f) The pitcher delivers the ball to the batter
while he is not facing the batter;
(g) The pitcher makes any motion naturally
associated with his pitch while he is not touching
the pitcher’s plate;
(h) The pitcher unnecessarily delays the game;
Rule 8.05(h) Comment: Rule 8.05(h) shall not
apply when a warning is given pursuant to Rule
8.02(c) (which prohibits intentional delay of a game
by throwing to fielders not in an attempt to put a
runner out). If a pitcher is ejected pursuant to
Rule 8.02(c) for continuing to delay the game, the
penalty in Rule 8.05(h) shall also apply. Rule 8.04
(which sets a time limit for a pitcher to deliver
the ball when the bases are unoccupied) applies only
when there are no runners on base.
(i) The pitcher, without having the ball, stands on
or astride the pitcher’s plate or while off the
plate, he feints a pitch;
(j) The pitcher, after coming to a legal pitching
position, removes one hand from the ball other than
in an actual pitch, or in throwing to a base;
(k) The pitcher, while touching his plate,
accidentally or intentionally drops the ball;
(l) The pitcher, while giving an intentional base on
balls, pitches when the catcher is not in the
catcher’s box;
(m) The pitcher delivers the pitch from Set Position
without coming to a stop.
PENALTY: The ball is dead, and each runner shall
advance one base without liability to be put out,
unless the batter reaches first on a hit, an error,
a base on balls, a hit batter, or otherwise, and all
other runners advance at least one base, in which
case the play proceeds without reference to the
balk.
APPROVED RULING: In cases where a pitcher balks and
throws wild, either to a base or to home plate, a
runner or runners may advance beyond the base to
which he is entitled at his own risk.
APPROVED RULING: A runner who misses the first base
to which he is advancing and who is called out on
appeal shall be considered as having advanced one
base for the purpose of this rule. Rule 8.05
Comment: Umpires should bear in mind that the
purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher
from deliberately deceiving the base runner. If
there is doubt in the umpire’s mind, the “intent” of
the pitcher should govern. However, certain
specifics should be borne in mind:
(a) Straddling the pitcher’s rubber without the ball
is to be interpreted as intent to deceive and ruled
a balk.
(b) With a runner on first base the pitcher may make
a complete turn, without hesitating toward first,
and throw to second. This is not to be interpreted
as throwing to an unoccupied base.
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| The Pitcher's Rule There are two legal pitching deliveries, but
technically, the difference between the two is the location of the plant
(landing) foot. If the landing foot is on the pitching plate
(rubber) or behind the plate, the delivery is considered a wind-up
position. if the landing foot is in front of the pitching plate,
the delivery is considered the set or stretch position. |
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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.
Rule 8.01 Comment: 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 pivot foot in contact with
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 pivot foot in contact
with the pitcher’s plate and his other foot free, he
will be considered in the Windup Position.
Rule 8.01(a) Comment: In the Windup Position, a
pitcher is permitted to have his “free” foot on the
rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or
off the side of the rubber.
From the Windup Position, the pitcher 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 pivot foot in contact with, 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 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.”
Rule 8.01(b) Comment: With no runners on base,
the pitcher is not required to come to a complete
stop when using the Set Position. If, however, in
the umpire’s judgment, a pitcher delivers the ball
in a deliberate effort to catch the batter off
guard, this delivery shall be deemed a quick pitch,
for which the penalty is a ball. See Rule 8.05(e)
Comment.
(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.
Rule 8.01(c) Comment: 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.
Rule 8.01(d) Comment: 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.
(e) If the pitcher removes his pivot foot from
contact with the pitcher’s plate by stepping
backward with that foot, he thereby becomes an
infielder and if he makes a wild throw from that
position, it shall be considered the same as a wild
throw by any other infielder.
Rule 8.01(e) Comment: The pitcher, while off the
rubber, may throw to any base. If he makes a wild
throw, such throw is the throw of an infielder and
what follows is governed by the rules covering a
ball thrown by a fielder.
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- The pitcher does not have to step off the rubber to throw to a base.
- The pitcher may throw from the rubber to a base from the windup
position.
- The pitcher may fake a throw to second or third base from the rubber,
but not to first base. This may be done from the windup or the set position.
- A jump turn is legal and considered being in contact with the rubber.
- The pitcher may place his hands in a different set location before each
pitch. He must come to a set before pitching to the batter, but not before
throwing to a base. He may not set twice before the pitch.
- A stretch move prior to the set is optional.
- He must disengage the rubber with his pivot foot first.
- He must step in the direction of the throw and prior to the release of
the throw.
Once he is on the rubber he may do one of three things:
- Throw to a base
- Deliver a pitch
- Disengage the rubber (pivot foot first)
The ball is not immediately dead if a pitch or throw is completed after the
umpire yells "That's a balk."
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