Balk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- The word balk or baulk has an archaic meaning of something left untouched, maintained in the Scots term bauk, which led to the word's meaning a hindrance or check. From this is derived various contemporary meanings: a horse is said to baulk when it refuses its rider's instructions, baulk refers to an evasive technique/manoeuvre in the sport of Australian rules football, balk refers to the area on a billiard table behind the balkline, and balk is an action in baseball, which is the topic of this article.
In baseball, a pitcher may commit a number of illegal motions or actions which constitute a balk. If a balk occurs, the current play is allowed to continue. If each baserunner advances one base safely, the infraction is ignored. Otherwise, the balk is called "no pitch" and each runner is awarded one base (in contrast to a walk, in which runners only advance if forced).
There are two motivations behind the balk rule. A pitcher is constrained to a certain set of motions prior to and during a pitch; if these are violated, a procedural balk will be called (see also pitching positions). Pitcher's actions that illegally deceive baserunners are called punitive balks.
The first balk rule in Major League Baseball was introduced in 1898.[1]
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[edit] Balkable actions
With a runner on base and the pitcher on or astride the rubber, it is a balk when the pitcher:
- switches his pitching stance from the windup position to the set position (or vice versa) without properly disengaging the rubber;
- when going from the stretch to the set position, fails to make a complete stop with his hands together before beginning to pitch;
- throws from the rubber to a base without stepping toward (gaining distance in the direction of) that base;
- throws from the rubber to a base where there is no runner and no possibility of a play;
- steps or feints from the rubber to first base without completing the throw;
- pitches a quick return pitch, that is, pitches with the intent to catch the batter off-guard;
- pitches or mimics a part of his pitching motion while not in contact with the rubber;
- drops the ball while on the rubber;
- after a feint or throw to a base from the rubber, fails to disengage the rubber before reengaging and pitching;
- after beginning to pitch, interrupts his pitching motion;
- begins to pitch while the catcher is out of the catcher's box when giving an intentional walk;
- while pitching, removes his pivot foot from the pitching rubber, except to pivot or as a natural consequence of stepping forward to release the pitch
- inordinately delays the game;
- pitches while facing away from the batter;
- after bringing his hands together on the rubber, separates them except in making a pitch or a throw; or
- stands on or astride the rubber without the ball, or mimics a pitch without the ball
Note that some subtle balks which are called in high levels of play may be ignored at lower levels of play; conversely, some pitchers have poor habits or mechanics which are tolerated at higher levels, but would be called as a balk in lower levels that focus on developing good fundamentals.
[edit] Clarifications
A pitcher is allowed to feint toward third base, and then turn and throw or feint to first base if his pivot foot disengages the rubber after his initial feint. This is called the "fake to third throw to first play".
If no runners are on base and the pitcher commits an otherwise balkable action, several consequences may result. Most balks are deceptive to runners but not to the batter; these infractions are ignored when no runners are on base. When a pitcher commits an illegal action that is confusing to the batter, time will be called and the game will restart with a normal pitch; there is no further penalty. Finally, illegal quick return pitches are penalized by adding one ball to the batter's count. If a pitcher repeatedly commits illegal actions without runners on base, he may be subject to ejection from the game for persistently violating the rules.
[edit] Common misconceptions
Perhaps the most common misconception about the balk rule is the incorrect line, "Balks are things a pitcher does to deceive a runner". This concept is not stated or implied in any of the rules of baseball. There are many legal ways for pitchers to deceive runners; pickoffs, look backs, and quick deliveries all employ deception in various ways. Only actions that violate the balk rules, above, may be penalized with a balk; some of the balkable actions are indeed deceptive.
A pitcher is allowed to do almost anything once off the rubber, since most of the balk rules only apply when the pitcher is on or astride the rubber. Once disengaged from the rubber, the pitcher may feint a throw, throw without stepping, etc. He only is prohibited from mimicing a pitching motion toward home plate.
In general, a pitcher is allowed to feint a throw to second or third base without throwing the ball.
