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Balk on Pickoff Attempt??

goMOgoMO100+ posts
Well, our freshman coach, who knows only how to belittle his players, pulled a good one yesterday.

We had a man on first and second, with the first baseman playing behind the runner. They ran a pickoff play where F3 sneaks in behind R1 for the pickoff. The runner got back in time, but our mgr starting yelling "That's a balk! He threw to an unoccupied base. Its a balk, Mr. Umpire".

He repeated this about 5 times. The umpire just ignored him until finally he said "I know what a balk is, thank you".

Besides the fact that it sounded so funny to hear "Mr. Umpire", the coach doesn't even know the definition of an unoccupied base.

Just for the record, since I'm new to high school (Fed) rules, what is the section for balks, and can I find a rulebook online?

Thanks!
goMO
_________________________ I'm feeling pretty good - we've got it narrowed down to only about 1 colleges now!!!
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goMOgoMO100+ posts
Pilsner,

Thanks! I think he believes the base was unoccupied because there wasn't a defender holding the runner on. Unoccupied by a defender, not an offensive player. Although I wouldn't presume to be able to read his mind.

Here's another gem from yesterday. 2 outs, runner on 1st. Popup foul down the right field line, behind first. Clearly foul. R1 runs anyway. As he's rounding second, and the ball lands foul, he yells at the player, "Hey Bobby, its a foul ball. why are you running? please look like you've played a game of baseball before in your life son!".

ouch!
P pilsner500+ posts
quote:
We had a man on first and second, with the first baseman playing behind the runner. They ran a pickoff play where F3 sneaks in behind R1 for the pickoff.


ironhorse,

goMo's post above can be a legal pick-off attempt or could be called a balk depending on the umpire's judgement of the play.

If the first baseman has moved close enough to the runner to make a legit tag attempt then the play could be ok even if the first baseman isn't at the bag. On the other hand if the ump judges that he isn't close enough or made no move from his defensive position toward the runner the ump could call the balk.

Whether the balk should or shouldn't be called is completely up to the judgement of the umpire.

Remember: It is nothing until the ump calls it; and when he calls it, that's what it is.
goMOgoMO100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by pilsner:
[QUOTE]
If the first baseman has moved close enough to the runner to make a legit tag attempt then the play could be ok even if the first baseman isn't at the bag.



so you're saying that F3 doesn't have to be at (or close) to the bag? For example, when playing behind the runner, at least 10 feet from the base, the pitcher could throw right to F3 and as long as he tries to apply a tag, it would not be a balk?

I thought the throw had to be to a base, not just to a fielder. Obviously, F3 sneaking in behind the runner to the base is legal, but I thought the play had to be at the base.
P pilsner500+ posts
quote:
so you're saying that F3 doesn't have to be at (or close) to the bag? For example, when playing behind the runner, at least 10 feet from the base, the pitcher could throw right to F3 and as long as he tries to apply a tag, it would not be a balk?


goMo,
Perhaps my explanation was a bit misleading. I was not implying that the first baseman could be a considerable distance from the bag, catch the ball then chase the runner to tag him.
He (1st baseman) would need to be in proximity of the base when he caught the throw but not necessarily covering it as we normally see when a pick off is attempted. Proximity is umpire judgement and is based on whether the fielder is close enough to the base to legitimately make a play on the runner.
Last edited by pilsner

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