BALKS: PART TWO
SEE BALKS: PART ONE
Embedded Files
LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS THROWING TO FIRST BASE
This is the grayest of gray areas. According to Rule (3), a pitcher must step "directly" toward a base before throwing to that base. What’s the definition of “directly”? Must he step in a perfect line toward the base? If he's given some wiggle room, when is he bending that wiggle room a little too far in an attempt to make it appear to the runner at first base that he is throwing a pitch to home plate? Sorry if you're reading this website expecting a definitive answer.
The umpire determines that the pitcher isn’t stepping directly toward first base and calls a balk. People always talk about that imaginary "45-degree line" seen in the above image, but you have to decide: is the pitcher stepping toward first or is he stepping toward home? If you want to use the 45-degree line as your guide in this video, the pitcher's living on the edge. An umpire determines the "intent of the pitcher" is to deceive the runner, so a balk was called.
NOTE: There is no mention of "the 45-degree line" in OBR text, only that the pitcher must "step directly toward a base before throwing to that base."
Kershaw can do whatever he wants with his head, as long as he's looking at the batter when delivering a pitch, so the announcers should stop talking about that. He steps directly toward first base, not living on the edge at all. It's safe to say this is not a balk.
Also, notice Kershaw’s “stretch” motions. He starts with one hand to his side, and then does a sloooow, deliberate stretch as he finally brings his hands together and comes to a stop. Because it is all one continuous motion, regardless of how silly it looks, he is doing nothing wrong here. Check out our STEALS OF HOME section to see how this long stretch motion leaves Kershaw vulnerable.
Another case of announcers talking about the pitcher's head, which is not part of the equation at all. The first-base coach knows exactly what he’s looking at (and now so do you!) and mentions it to the umpire. After hearing the coach's mic'd-up comments, the announcers change their opinion and start talking about his step. This is in the World Series, featuring, we would hope, the best of the best umpires, and they do not see a balk. At the very least, Yankee Stadium should’ve been freaking out on these pickoff attempts.
To follow up on the announcer's comments, MLB experimented with having a 45-degree chalk line on the mound in 1974 Spring Training, but it did not make it to the regular season. See Story 1 and Story 2.
Andy Pettitte averaged 5.4 pickoffs per season over his 18-year career. In his first three seasons in the Major Leagues, Pettitte had 12, 10, and 14 pickoffs respectively. Those are insane numbers. After those three years, runners finally caught on, and he never picked off more than 9 in a season for the remainder of his career. What made him so effective? With undoubtedly an insane amount of practice, he makes sure his leg kick (and all of his body) is exactly the same until the precise moment he decides whether he’s going to throw to first or pitch the ball. When he lifts his free foot, it never comes anywhere close to swinging behind the rubber, which is another balk rule we're about to discuss. As far as stepping directly toward first base goes, he’s living on the edge...or is he? If these are balks, then a lot of left-handed pitchers are in trouble.
A compilation of left-handers' pickoff moves to first.
PITCHERS THROWING TO SECOND BASE
RULE 6.02(a)(1) Comment: If a 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.
This rule is in place because if a left-handed pitcher’s free foot is swung behind the rubber, there is absolutely no way that can be part of a natural throwing motion to first base. He would do it in a deliberate attempt to make the runner at first base think he’s either throwing to second or taking a good leg kick before going home, which is why it is a balk. It is a good rule but is very difficult to detect and enforce in lower-level baseball where there are only one or two umpires, as opposed to the four umpires utilized by Major League Baseball. It's also very hard to find an example of this balk call, so let's look at some legal pickoff moves to second base.
THE OUTSIDE MOVE - Here is a pitcher, while in contact with the rubber, spinning off his free foot, turning, stepping toward second, and picking off a runner. This is a good pickoff move. Notice the pitcher spins (and pivots) off his free foot; he does not lift it off the ground. Or maybe he does, ever so slightly, and the umpires don’t catch it.
THE INSIDE MOVE - We aren’t going to applaud the pitcher here for a good pickoff move. This is just bad baserunning. The pitcher lifts his leg and steps toward second base. Because he is stepping toward second base, he does not have to throw; you can fake a throw to second base. The runner breaks for third and is eventually tagged out in a rundown.
(12) It is a balk when… the pitcher delivers the pitch from Set Position without coming to a stop.
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.”
You very rarely see a Major League pitcher not come to a stop in the Set Position. Fortunately, Rex Brothers of the Rockies gives us a great example. This video has multiple balks in it. For the first one, since his body is shielding our view of his hands, it’s difficult to determine whether or not he came to a stop. The second balk is a textbook example of a pitcher not coming to a stop. You see this a lot in lower levels of baseball. A “bounce” is not a stop. And as the rules state above, the complete stop MUST be enforced. Take a look at the final pitch of this video, and it's up to you to decide whether or not he came to a complete stop.
NOTE: This is the most common balk you see in lower levels of baseball. Enforce the rule; do not think twice about it!
(4) It is a balk when… The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play.
Comment: When determining whether a pitcher throws or feints a throw to an unoccupied base for the purpose of making a play, the umpire should consider whether a runner on the previous base demonstrates or otherwise creates an impression of his intent to advance to such unoccupied base.
There is a runner at first base. The pitcher feels as if he is taking off for second and attempts to throw him out at second. The only problem is the runner never broke for second. Because the pitcher can’t possibly be making a play on a runner at second who is still at first base, he is deemed to be feinting a throw to an unoccupied base here, and a balk is called. Watch the umpire. He’s “late” in calling the balk because he’s checking to see if the runner at first base gave any indication that he was on his way to second base.
TEACHABLE MOMENT: R2 stealing third base while a right-handed pitcher is in the Set Position is by far the most common situation this balk rule arises. While on the rubber, a right-handed pitcher seeing R2 break for third can simply step and throw to third base; THAT IS NOT A BALK.
(11) It is a balk when… the pitcher, while touching his plate, accidentally or intentionally has the ball slip or fall out of his hand or glove. A ball which slips out of the 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.
A lot of announcers make umpires look inept because they themselves don’t know the rules. The announcer in this video says the umpires “were late to call it.” Actually, the umpire was waiting for the ball to come to a stop since if it had passed the first-base line, it would’ve been called a ball…and scored as a very, very, very wild pitch. One of the announcers even says, “I don’t care where the ball slips out. This is on the delivery. It’s going forward. It’s like football. I mean, that is an actual pitch.” That has nothing to do with it.
All of the players on the field have no idea what to do. The batter sprints full speed toward first base for some unknown reason, which is hilarious.
With no runners on base, the pitcher loses his grip and the ball does not cross either foul line. This is a “no pitch.”
Cueto is not on the rubber here. With runners on base, this would not be a balk.
OTHER BALKS AND NON-BALKS
Comment: From the Windup Position… 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.
You see the replay of this balk at the 1:50 mark of the video. The umpire calls it immediately.
Comment: The pitcher shall step “ahead of the throw.” A snap throw followed by the step directly toward the base is a balk.
Self-explanatory. This is the left-handed version of Verlander's balk we talked about earlier.
(5) It is a balk when… the pitcher makes an illegal pitch.
Definition of Terms: An ILLEGAL PITCH is (1) a pitch delivered to the batter when the pitcher does not have his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate; (2) a quick return pitch. An illegal pitch when runners are on base is a balk.
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.
You rarely see illegal "quick pitches" in the Major Leagues. See BATTER'S BOX.
(7) It is a balk when… the pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher’s plate.
An example of this would be a pitcher striding the rubber and coming to his set position to trick the runners into thinking he's on the rubber. Professional players won't do this, but look for this in youth baseball when a pitcher thinks he's found a clever way to deceive runners.
(9) It is a balk when… the pitcher, without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher’s plate or while off the plate, he feints a pitch.
Rule 7's sister. You'll never see this in the Major Leagues.
(6) It is a balk when… the pitcher delivers the ball to the batter while he is not facing the batter.
Rare.
(8) It is a balk when… the pitcher unnecessarily delays the game.
Rare.
(10) It is a balk when… 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.
Rare. Occurs most often when a pitcher has a lapse of concentration and inadvertently brings their hands together and then separates.
RULE 5.07(e) – Effect of Moving Pivot Foot From Plate
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.
The pitcher stepping off the back of the rubber frees himself from all the “while touching his plate” balk rules. He can still commit balks such as pretending to throw a pitch or going into his Windup or Set Position while off the rubber, but he is overwhelmingly much safer.
This is as slick as it gets. The pitcher steps off the back of the rubber (freeing himself from all “while touching his plate” balk rules) and pretends to be taking a breather as he wipes down his forehead, hoping to fool the runner at first. And while all balk rules are in place to prevent the pitcher from deceiving runners, he is off the rubber here, so this move is completely legal -- and clever. Note that he does not have to step directly toward the base and he doesn’t have to step ahead of his throw. The runner was quick enough to get back in this instance. The best way for a pitcher to get this to work is to perform the action of stepping off the rubber and wiping sweat off his forehead five or six times throughout the game to develop a pattern…and then use this snap throw in the later innings when players on the opposing team have gotten used to his ritual.
Comment: If after the pitcher starts his windup or comes to a “set position” with a runner on, he does not go through with his pitch because the batter has inadvertently caused the pitcher to interrupt his delivery, it shall not be called a balk. Both the pitcher and batter have violated a rule and the umpire shall call time and both the batter and pitcher start over from “scratch.”
You’ll rarely see this in the Major Leagues. If it ever happens, it’s when a batter attempts to call “Time” to the umpire and steps out of the box, while the umpire has deemed that the pitcher has started his delivery, and so “Time” is not granted. If the pitcher sees the batter step out of the box and stops his delivery, this is a “scratch”, and there is no balk.
This video provides a decent hypothetical for this. For a split-second, the batter calls "Time" and eases up as the pitcher is winding up. With runners on base, if the pitcher had stopped his delivery as a result of seeing the batter ease up, there would be no balk and they would start from “scratch.” Without this rule, batters would be in the pitchers' heads all game long.
THE GOLDEN RULES TO REMEMBER
Any motion naturally associated with a pitcher's stretch, windup, or pitch delivery must be acted out to its completion, except (a) a fake throw to second base or (b) he can stop his stretch at any time in order to attempt a play on a runner.
While on the rubber, if a pitcher decides to throw to first or third base, he must step directly toward the base, step ahead of his throw, and complete the throw. He is required to step toward second base but is NOT required to throw.
While on the rubber, in stepping toward a base, the pitcher must be attempting a play on a baserunner. He can be trying to keep the runner close to his bag or he can be throwing to the base a runner is trying to steal provided that the runner is in the process of trying to steal the base.
When a left-handed pitcher throws to first base while on the rubber, he needs to be making a step toward the base. They try to live on the edge here and step a little bit more toward the dugout. It’s a judgment call by the umpire.
When throwing to first base, a left-handed pitcher's free leg cannot cross behind the rubber. Same goes for a right-handed pitcher throwing to third base.
When delivering a pitch from the Set Position, the pitcher must come to a complete stop with his hands together in front of his body before delivering the pitch.
While on the rubber, the pitcher cannot drop the ball.
In the Windup Position, once the pitcher takes a step with his free foot that is typically part of his Windup motion, he has committed himself to throwing a pitch. If he does not complete his motion and deliver the pitch, it is a balk.
While on the rubber, the pitcher cannot go straight from his Windup Position to his Set Position, or vice versa. He must first step off behind the rubber with his pivot foot.
While off the rubber, the pitcher is relatively safe from committing a balk. He just can’t pretend to be in his Windup or Set Position or pretend to throw a pitch.
Head movement very rarely factors into a balk call. However, the pitcher must be looking at the batter when delivering a pitch.
YOUR TURN
Take what you've learned and make the call!
*** CLICK HERE FOR THE BALK BREAKDOWN ***
0:06 - Started delivery and failed to deliver pitch
0:22 - Ball is dropped while on the rubber
0:36 - This is not a balk. This is a one-base award because the catcher used his mask to retrieve the loose ball.
0:53 - Umpire deemed the pitcher made a quick lift and step toward home before his spin move.
1:06 - Starts delivery motion and stops
1:16 - The slightest flinch and stop by the pitcher signaling the start of his stretch to the set position. Good call.
1:29 - The right-handed pitcher uses the spin move (so by rule he is still in "contact" with the rubber), steps to first, but fails to throw. He fails to throw here because he realized his first-baseman wasn't holding the runner.
1:46 - No idea
1:55 - This is the "double-set" balk. The pitcher acted out his stretch and brought his hands to a complete stop in front of his body. From that position, he can only start his pitching motion, attempt to pick off a runner, or step off the back of the rubber. He cannot come to another set, which he did here. Good call.
2:06 - Hard to tell what was called here. Possibly a flinch in starting his stretch. The clips are edited too tightly together.
2:22 - Obvious
2:34 - The same pitcher doing another double-set.
2:45 - Julio Teheran getting called on his balk move where he lifts his front leg slightly instead of spinning off of it.
3:01 - The pitcher "bounces" instead of coming to a complete stop in the Set Position.
3:17 - Umpires deem the pitcher stepped more toward home plate than first base on the pickoff move.
3:28 - Another lefty living on the edge with his step toward first base.
3:39 - Pitcher technically threw to the base, but the fielder wasn't on the base to make a play on the runner.
3:54 - Now we can talk about Cueto's delivery! Once you start your windup, it has to be one continuous motion, as was mentioned in the rules above. Cueto tries to get around this by, during his windup motion, trying to keep his body moving in some fashion by either wiggling his butt or his upper body. It's silly. The umpires deemed that at some point during his whole circus show, his body came to a complete stop, which it can't do; it has to all be one continuous motion.
4:10 - Umpires deem the pitcher doesn't come to a complete stop in the set position.
4:27 - You can call a couple of them here. The first one is the only one that matters, which is it looks like he started to step off the back of the rubber but then stopped that motion. Then he added icing on the cake by not stepping ahead of his throw to first.
4:33 - A missed balk in the World Series. Pitcher comes set, his front leg bends slightly like he was going to lift it for delivery, but then he stops and steps off the rubber.
4:44 - Pitcher starts his stretch motion but then stops. He tries to hide the gaffe by pretending to want the catcher to give the signal again.
5:00 - The pitcher comes a complete stop in his Set Position but then decides to take another step with his free foot as is he was beginning a windup.
5:11 - Quick edit. Hard to tell what was called.
5:26 - The flinch and stop.
5:43 - The flinch and stop. It's subtle, but it's definitely there.
6:00 - Pitcher starts his windup, sees the runner at third pretend to steal home, panics, and stops his windup motion.
6:18 - Pitcher in the Set Position. Lifts his free leg and just sets it back down and starts chasing runners around.
6:29 - Quick edits. Hard to tell.
6:43 - Obvious
6:55 - In the replay, you see the pitcher start to bring his glove up toward his body signaling the beginning of his stretch motion but then stops.
7:12 - The flinch and stop.
7:23 - This is a pitcher in the traditional Set Position but deciding to use his Windup motion. Same kind of thing as the 5:00 clip. There's a gray area here because some pitchers Windup positions look identical to their Set Position.
7:39 - Pitcher starts his windup, steps off the back of the rubber, and throws it home. He possibly did this thinking the runner was stealing home. But as soon as he moves his free leg to begin his windup, he's committed himself to delivering the pitch and can't step off the back of the rubber with his pivot foot. It happens fast and it's unusual, hence the delayed yet correct call. Announcer is talking nonsense about the pitcher not stopping or something.
7:55 - Cueto doing his nonsense again. Umpires deem that at some point during his windup motion, his body came to a stop and wasn't all in one continuous motion in a pitch to home plate. Announcers are clueless, but you, the reader, won't be anymore.
8:12 - Fake throw to first base. Should just say he stepped first and didn't throw, for whatever reason.
8:27 - Probably a flinch and stop. It's a quick edit.
8:38 - Probably a flinch and stop. It's not even shown!
8:53 - Looks like a flinch and stop when the pitcher realized the runner was breaking for home.
9:10 - Flinch and stop.
9:20 - Flinch and stop.
9:39 - Flinch and stop. Pitcher tried to be smooth with it and continue the motion after the flinch and stop.
9:54 - Stepped to first and didn't throw.
10:07 - Flinch and stop.
10:22 - Stepped to first and didn't throw. Remember, right-handed pitchers attempting the spin move are still in contact with the rubber. He could step off the back of the rubber with his pivot foot and fake to first till the cows come home.
10:39 - Another balk called due to pitchers using similar footing for their Windup and Set Positions.
10:54 - A flinch and stop that the pitcher tried to quickly disguise as him adjusting his shoulder.
11:10 - Flinch and stop.
11:25 - Starts his motion, fails to deliver pitch.
11:41 - The first real ticky-tack flinch-and-stop call in this list.
11:58 - Pitcher begins his delivery but doesn't deliver the pitch. In this case, it's because his catcher stood up for whatever reason. If the pitcher stopped his delivery because the batter had stepped out of the box, for example, this would be a "scratch" and no balk would be called.
12:16 - Flinch and stop. Told you it was the most common balk in the Major Leagues.
12:30 - Stepping to first and not throwing.
12:42 - Flinch and stop. It's subtle, but it's there. Gotta call it.
12:59 - Probably a flinch and stop. It's a quick edit.
13:10 - Pitcher in his windup position rocks his leg as if to begin his windup but then stops.
13:21 - Another flinch and stop. Tough angle to tell.
13:33 - Offensive team wants a balk called because the throw was not to the base but rather to the fielder positioned off the base.
13:53 - Probably a flinch and stop. It's a quick edit.
MORE BALK DISCUSSION
Here's a fantastic, extended video on balks from former MLB umpire Jim Evans. The only rule change is that the fake to third base is no longer allowed.
Google Sites
Report abuse