Balk
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Bob_Shaw_1964.jpg/170px-Bob_Shaw_1964.jpg)
Inbaseball,apitchermay commit illegal motions or actions that constitute abalk.Most of these violations involve pitchers pretending to pitch when they have no intention of doing so. In games played under theOfficial Baseball Rulesthat govern professional play in the United States and Canada, a balk results in adead ballor delayed dead ball. In certain other circumstances, a balk may be wholly or partially disregarded. In the United States, under theNational Federation of State High School Associations(NFHS Baseball Rules), a balk results in an immediate dead ball. In the event a balk is enforced, the pitch is generally (but not always) nullified, each runner is awarded one base, and the batter (generally) remains at bat with the previous count. The balk rule inMajor League Baseballwas introduced in 1898.[1]
According to the Official Baseball Rules: "Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner."[2]
Balk actions
[edit]A pitcher is restricted to a certain set of motions and one of two basicpitching positionsbefore and during a pitch. If these regulations are violated with one or more runners on base, an umpire may call a balk. The batter athome platedoes not advance on a balk.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Mike_Hauschild_%2844117497882%29.jpg/220px-Mike_Hauschild_%2844117497882%29.jpg)
With a runner on base and the pitcher on or astride (with one leg on each side of) therubber,under Official Baseball Rules, it is a balk when the pitcher:[3]
- Switches pitching position from the windup to the set (or vice versa) without properly disengaging the rubber
- While on the rubber, makes a motion associated with a pitch and does not complete the delivery
- When pitching from the set position, fails to make a complete stop with his hands together before beginning to pitch
- Throws from the mound to a base without stepping toward (gaining distance in the direction of that base)
- Throws or feints a throw from the rubber to an unoccupied base, unless a play is imminent
- Steps or feints from the rubber to first or third base without completing the throw
- Delivers aquick return,a pitch thrown right after receiving the ball back, with intent to catch the batter off-guard
- Drops the ball while on the rubber, even if by accident, if the ball does not subsequently cross a foul line
- Unnecessarily 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
- Stands on or astride the rubber without the ball, or mimics a pitch without the ball
- Attempts to throw to a fielder in a spot not directly at a base
- Delivers a pitch during asqueeze playor a steal of home, if the catcher or some other player steps on or in front of home plate without possession of the ball, or touches the batter (or the bat). The ball is dead, the batter is awarded first base, the pitcher is charged with a balk, and the run scores
With the addition of new pace-of-play rules introduced for the2023 season,a pitcher is charged with a balk if he attempts a pickoff more than twice in a single at-bat without recording an out, and without the runner advancing.
Under NFHS Rules, a balk occurs when[4]
- There is any feinting toward the batter or first base, or any dropping of the ball (even though accidental) and the ball does not cross a foul line.
- The pitcher fails to step with the non-pivot foot directly toward a base (occupied or unoccupied) when throwing or feinting there in an attempt to put out, or drive back a runner; or throwing or feinting to any unoccupied base when it is not an attempt to put out or drive back a runner.
- An illegal pitch from any position.
- Failing to pitch to the batter in a continuous motion immediately after any movement of any part of the body such as he habitually uses in his delivery
- Taking a hand off the ball while in a set position (unless he pitches to the batter or throws toward a base or he steps toward and feints a throw to second or third base)
- Failing to pitch to the batter when the entire non-pivot foot passes behind the perpendicular plane of the back edge of the pitcher’s plate, except when feinting or throwing to second base in an attempt to put out a runner
- The pitcher makes a movement naturally associated with pitching and/or places his feet on the pitcher's plate without the ball.
The pitcher's acts ofspittingon the ball, defacing or altering the ball, rubbing the ball on the clothing or body, or applying a foreign substance to the ball are not balks; however, it will result in the pitcher'sejectionfrom the game if caught.
Clarifications
[edit]A pitcher was allowed to feint toward third (or second) base, and then turn and throw or feint to first base if the pitcher's pivot foot disengaged the rubber after the initial feint. This is called the "fake to third, throw to first" play. However,Major League Baseballclassified this as a balk beginning with the 2013 season.[5]
If no runners are on base and the pitcher commits an otherwise balkable action, there generally is no penalty. However, delivering a quick return or pitching while off the rubber (which constitute balks when runners are on base) results in a ball being called with the bases empty. If the pitcher commits an act confusing to the batter with nobody on, stops their delivery, or otherwise violates, play is restarted without penalty and time is called. If a pitcher repeatedly commits illegal actions without runners on base, they may be subject to ejection for persistently violating the rules.
If, during an attempt to execute the "hidden ball trick"(where the defensive team deceives the runner(s) as to the ball's location while the play is live), the pitcher stands on the rubber prior to the fielder revealing the ball and applying the tag, the runner is not out. Instead, it is a balk, with all runners on base being awarded their next base.
Common misconceptions
[edit]"Catcher's balk" is not a term in the official rules, but is sometimes used to describe an atypical situation relating to anintentional walk:if the catcher is not completely within the catcher's box when the pitcher releases the ball during delivery, it is a violation.[6]The balk is still charged to the pitcher, because such a pitch is defined as a "Pitcher Illegal Action."[7]
A pitcher is not required to step off the rubber before throwing to an occupied base in apick-offattempt. With one foot on the rubber in either the windup position or the "set" position, the pitcher may either: 1) deliver the ball to the batter: 2) throw to a base for a pickoff; or 3) step off the rubber.[8]
MLB rules state that: "Pitchers shall take signs from the catcher while in contact with the pitcher’s plate" (the rubber), but the rules do not describe the infraction as a balk.[9]
Major League Baseball balk records
[edit]Steve Carltonhad 90 balks during his major league career.[10]
The major league record in a single season is held byDave Stewart,who had 16 balks in 1988 while pitching for theOakland Athletics.[11]
The major league record for the most balks in one game is held byBob Shaw,who had five balks in a May 4, 1963, game while pitching for theMilwaukee Bravesagainst theChicago Cubs.[12]Four of the five balks came when the Cubs'Billy Williamswas on base: one in the first inning, then three more in the third inning. In the latter frame, Shaw walked Williams, and then proceeded to balk him to second, third and home.[13]Shaw's balks were blamed on his difficulty adjusting to a then-new point of emphasis in the rules: umpires were told to strictly enforce the section of the balk rule that required the pitcher, when going from the stretch to the set position, to come to a complete stop with his hands together for one full second before pitching. The rule had been virtually ignored before.[12]
KnuckleballerCharlie Houghwas once called for nine balks in a single major league exhibition game, occurring in March 1988.[14]Hough was called for seven balks in a single inning of the game, as umpires set out to "enforce a full set position" for the coming season.
On September 27, 2022,Miami MarlinsrelieverRichard Bleierwas called for three balks in a row by first-base umpireJohn Tumpane,all while facingNew York MetsbatterPete Alonso.Bleier had given up a single, and was then called for three balks while facing Alonso, balking the runner home. Marlins ManagerDon Mattinglywas ejected for arguing the third balk. After Alonso grounded out for the third out of the inning, Bleier was also ejected for continuing to argue the balks. Until that point, Bleier had never had a balk called against him in his seven-year major league career, over the course of 303 games.[15]This instance tied the record for most balks in an inning and for most balks in a single at bat.[16]CBS Sports opined: "Some balks are obvious. Those are not... You almost have to be looking for a reason to call a balk to ring Bleier up on that motion three -- again, three! -- times in a single inning."[17]
Notable balks
[edit]During the 1947 World Series (New York Yankees vs. Brooklyn Dodgers)Spec Sheadropped the ball trying to pick offJackie Robinsonat first base; after at least one other attempt, he dropped the ball and umpireBabe Pinelliwaved Robinson to second base.[18]
A famous balk came in thefirst All-Star Game of 1961,when strong winds atCandlestick Parkcaused pitcherStu Millerto sway erratically and be called for a balk. This story is often exaggerated in re-tellings of baseball lore, some having Miller being blown off the pitching mound.[19]
TheLos Angeles Dodgersdefeated theTexas Rangerson June 18, 2015, when Rangers relief pitcherKeone Kelacommitted a balk in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tie game with DodgerEnrique Hernándezat third base.[20]There have been at least 25 suchwalk-offbalks (or "balk-offs" ) in major league history since 1914.[21]
Notably, theKansas City Royalswon two games in the2023 seasonvia a balk-off. The first was on August 1 vs. theNew York Metsin the bottom of the 10th inning whenrelief pitcherJosh Walkerbalked before throwing a single pitch, scoringMJ Melendezand resulting in a 7-6 victory for the Royals.[22]The Royals second balk-off victory came 36 days later in a game against theChicago White Soxon September 5 whenGregory Santosbalked with 2 outs in the 9th inning and the bases loaded to scoreMaikel García;coincidentally, this game also ended with a score of 7-6.[23]According toElias Sports Bureau,the 2023 Royals are the only team in theLive Ball Erato ever have multiple balk-off wins in a single season.[24]
On June 14, 2019, DodgerscloserKenley Jansenintentionally balked during a game with theChicago Cubs.With the Dodgers leading, 5–3, and two outs in the top of the ninth inning, the Cubs'Jason Heywardwas on second base. Concerned that a runner at second base could possiblysteal signs,Jansen intentionally balked, advancing the runner to third base.[25]Jansen then struck out batterVíctor Caratinifor the final out of the game.[26]Other intentional balks, while rare, have subsequently occurred in MLB.
References
[edit]- ^"What Is A Balk In Baseball? | BaseballBiography".
- ^"Official Baseball Rules, Rule 6.02(a) Comment"(PDF).Major League Baseball.2019. p. 76.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2021-11-16.
Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner.
- ^"The Official Site of Major League Baseball: Official info: Official Rules".Archivedfrom the original on 2021-05-06.Retrieved2007-04-02.
- ^"Rule 6".umpirebible.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-10-09.Retrieved2022-04-10.
- ^Brooks, Matt (May 10, 2012)."MLB aiming to nix fake-to-third, throw-to-first pick-off move in 2013".Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on August 23, 2019.RetrievedMay 15,2012.
- ^"Umpires: Feature | MLB: Official info".Archivedfrom the original on 2016-02-04.Retrieved2010-05-10.
- ^"Official Baseball Rules, 6.02 Pitcher Illegal Action"(PDF).Major League Baseball.2019. p. 74.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2021-11-16.
- ^"Official Baseball Rules, Rule 6.02(a) Comment"(PDF).Major League Baseball.2019. p. 76.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2021-11-16.
- ^"Official Baseball Rules, Legal Pitching Delivery"(PDF).Major League Baseball.2019. p. 33.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2021-11-16.
- ^"Baseball-Reference - Steve Carlton".Archivedfrom the original on 2009-02-28.Retrieved2018-03-26.
- ^"Baseball-Reference - Dave Stewart".Archivedfrom the original on 2009-04-01.Retrieved2018-03-26.
- ^abWalfoort, Cleon (May 4, 1963)."Shaw Is Balkiest Pitcher of Them All".Milwaukee Journal.
- ^"May 4, 1963 Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Braves Box Score and Play by Play - Baseball-Reference".Archivedfrom the original on October 9, 2022.RetrievedMarch 26,2018.
- ^"Hough Called for 9 Balks".The New York Times.March 8, 1988.Archivedfrom the original on July 13, 2018.RetrievedJuly 13,2018.
- ^Ladson, Bill. "Not 1, not 2...Marlins' Bleier called for 3 balks in same AB," MLB, Wednesday, September 28, 2022.Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^"Baseball Almanac: MLB Balk Records".Archivedfrom the original on 2022-10-09.Retrieved2022-09-28.
- ^"Marlins' Richard Bleier becomes first pitcher called for three balks in one inning since 1988".CBS Sports.
- ^"1947 World Series by Baseball Almanac".Archivedfrom the original on 2020-09-07.Retrieved2020-06-24.
- ^Noble, Marty (July 11, 2015)."Balk defined 1961 All-Star Game, Stu Miller's career".MLB.RetrievedApril 9,2024.
- ^"Dodgers win on Rangers' balk".MLB.June 18, 2015.RetrievedJune 15,2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^Gilfix, Adam (June 19, 2015),"Talking Balk: All Walk-Off Balks in MLB History",HSAC,archivedfrom the original on June 16, 2019,retrievedJune 15,2019
- ^"Royals 7-6 Mets (Aug 1, 2023) Final Score".ESPN.Retrieved2024-04-07.
- ^"Royals 7-6 White Sox (Sep 5, 2023) Final Score".ESPN.Retrieved2024-04-07.
- ^Rogers, Anne (September 6, 2023)."Royals make history with 2nd walk-off balk of '23".MLB.RetrievedApril 6,2023.
- ^"Los Angeles Dodgers 5, Chicago Cubs 3".Retrosheet.June 14, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on September 7, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 7,2021.
- ^Gurnick, Ken (June 15, 2019)."Ever seen an intentional balk? You have now".MLB.Archivedfrom the original on November 13, 2021.RetrievedJune 15,2019.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png)