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7 replies

Balk?

T TheRick10+ posts
Ok we had this one today and I've never NOT seen this called as a balk:

Runner at second base is attempting to time the right-handed pitcher's delivery to home. Once the pitcher comes set and looks at the runner and looks home, the runner breaks too early. The pitcher hears everyone yelling and simply gives a small leg kick with his left foot and steps to third with out stepping off; essentially picking to third. The runner is called out and no balk is called.

Admittedly, I don't share the same knowledge of the rule book as PIAA or MST, BUT I've always felt very confident that a pitcher can't 'pick' to an unoccupied base with out stepping off first.

I obviously and respectfully approached the field ump to talk this over. His logic is that he was 'making a play on the runner' so he didn't have to step off. Never heard that one before and asked if the ump would help me find that one in the rule book after the game (again respectfully and not loud enough for everyone to hear). I've never been thrown out before but this was hands down the closest I've come. Considering my goal of never getting tossed was on the line, I retreated back to the coaches box.

I've looked and I'm still not finding this rule...maybe it's in fine print! Can anyone point me in the right direction? If I've been wrong this whole time, I wanna fix it ASAP!
“"Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth".” -Roberto Clemente
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F 3FingeredGlove1,000+ posts
The balk rules vary a little bit among OBR, NCAA, and FED. Here's the FED rule. As I read your situation, it isn't a balk in any code.

NFHS 6-2
ART. 4 . . . Balk. If there is a runner or runners, any of the following acts by a
pitcher while he is touching the pitcher’s plate is a balk:
......
b. failing 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;

So, in FED, as long as the pitcher steps (making direction and distance) toward the base, the throw or feint can go to either the runner's legally occupied base or his advance base. NCAA is very similar: The pitcher only needs to be attempting to "retire the runner".

In OBR, if the runner simply feints to third and returns immediately to second, then it would be a balk.
Midlo DadMidlo Dad10,000+ posts
You can go to any base where the runner is, or where there is a play. So, this is not a balk, ever.

Interestingly, I had the same thing come up in a 12u game yesterday, though the play was made on a runner who got an early break from 1st, heading to 2nd, where he was put out. Pitcher did the inward turn as if for a pickoff play on a runner at 2B, threw directly to 2B without ever disengaging the rubber, and the SS applied the tag.
piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TheRick:
Ok we had this one today and I've never NOT seen this called as a balk:

I obviously and respectfully approached the field ump to talk this over. His logic is that he was 'making a play on the runner' so he didn't have to step off. Never heard that one before and asked if the ump would help me find that one in the rule book after the game (again respectfully and not loud enough for everyone to hear). I've never been thrown out before but this was hands down the closest I've come. Considering my goal of never getting tossed was on the line, I retreated back to the coaches box.

I've looked and I'm still not finding this rule...maybe it's in fine print! Can anyone point me in the right direction? If I've been wrong this whole time, I wanna fix it ASAP!


Since you have already been given the NFHS rule, I thought I would give you the OBR rule reference that most youth leagues leagues operate under in the event your game was not being palyed under NFHS rules....

This is NOT a balk under any code......NFHS, NCAA or OBR......

Why is this thought of as a balk? I think the careless umpire student or coach only reads the first part of the rule and not the last.....

Lets take the rule.

Rule 8.05 (d) states a pitcher can not throw or feint a throw to an unoccupied base EXCEPT for the purpose of making a play or trying to make a play.

It would probably come across easier if we worded it like this.....

Rule 8.05 (d) Except for the purpose of making a play or trying to make a play, a pitcher can not throw or feint a throw to an unoccupied base

probably wont help much, but it does put the exception in the forefront.......

Glad you didnt get tossed for arguing this as your umpire was correct.......
Last edited by piaa_ump
F 3FingeredGlove1,000+ posts
OBR is different from FED. In OBR, the runner has to actually be attempting to advance, while in FED he doesn't.

Here's 8.05(d), verbatim. The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play. Note that there is no mention of attempting to make a play, or to drive back a runner.

From the MLBUM, 7.7(2)Runners on first and second, pitcher in set position. Runner bluffs going to third and pitcher throws to third. However, runner did not go. Ruling: Balk, pursuant to OBR 8.05(d).

The key to understanding the above two plays is for the umpire to use good judgement in deciding whether or not the runner was making an actual attempt to advance to third base or whether he was bluffing. These plays will most likely happen with a 3-2 count and two out.

In the OP, the runner was obviously going, so it isn't a balk in any code.
Last edited by 3FingeredGlove
F fvb10100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TheRick:
I retreated back to the coaches box.


This was a good choice because this:

quote:
Originally posted by TheRick:
... [I] asked if the ump would help me find that one in the rule book after the game.


cannot be done respectfully in the opinion of most competent umpires as it is seen as an attemt to show them up; by saying in essense "you don't know the rules". And most umpires take that accusation very seriously.

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