Balk Rules

[beecee151]

Unless you are a total baseball geek or are a pitcher the balk rules are the hardest to understand. I totally respect those college plus pro pitchers that have this in their brain. Also to all players that need to know what is going on at all times. American league , please get rid of the '73 DH rule especially because of the interleauge games. If you want to be on the field you need to man up to the plate.

[ImShorry]

one does not simply balk into mordor

[RichVilla96]

I now know..THANKS

[mchulse22]

"Talking out of turn... That's a paddlin’. Looking out the window... That's a paddlin’. Staring at my sandals... That's a paddling. Paddling the school canoe...ooh, you better believe that's a paddlin’." Sorry this rule reminds me of this quote.

[zzyzx0788]

@mchulse22 Lol yea it does

[aaguilar0925]

Never knew what a balk was, until today.

[fernando1691]

Wow. Very good. I finally understand a Balk. Thanks.!!

[slipknot789able]

if i played baseball put me out in the outfield the heck with being a pitcher the only good thing about being a pitcher is that you don't work every game

[00jjeffrey]

Vert good

[carpetmartsucks]

Very educational

[doti78]

what if a RHP has his right foot on de rubber, makes a windup, lifts his left leg, holds it there in a pauze and then throws to first without taking his right foot off the rubber... would that be a balk?

[Mrhockey3031]

To pick off a runner at first as a right handed pitcher you need to step off the rubber or else its a balk

[SDSUChemTA]

@Mrhockey3031

Wrong.

See: Rulebook.

[50agit]

After seeing just the pitcher rules, man baseball looks like such technical sport!

[wvuwhat]

Great Video!

[mj830000]

From the wind up can a right handed pitcher step back with his right foot and throw to first with his left foot still on the rubber?

[TheAlexBradley]

@mj830000 yes

[hiendo75]

now i know this stupid rule hihihi. thanks.

[Dead123421]

lol



[PalmettoHarp]

Very well put together video. I never realized how easily a balk could be called or how many different ways a pitcher could commit one.

[Hollywooddave123]

An ump called a balk on me for taking signals from the catcher while I was leaning forward looking at the catcher but my body was kinda straight up facing the sky. Is that a balk?

[teddybearcobrastyler]

@Hollywooddave123 if you're not on the rubber and taking signals its a balk, also if you move your feet in any way to either start a pitch or pickoff, and you don't do either, its a balk.

[missdiva786]

its the stupidest rule in sport period..

[smexykyle]

Good video now I know what to do when I'm on the mound.

[critcosta]

Mike,

Great job on this video. I'm a huge baseball fan (and hopeful broadcaster) and I have always had trouble deciphering what exactly constitutes a balk. Your clear and thorough video really helped!

Thanks!

[fulfordm1]

Great instructional videos. Clear and precise, good examples

[PhilistineTheArtLuvr]

What I'm wondering is if a right-handed pitcher can throw to first as he's making a throw to the home plate. In other words, he's half-way making the throw towards the home plate with his leg up in the air, his throwing arm starting to make a motion towards home plate but the pitcher suddenly turns his upper body around and throws at first base instead. The pitcher might end up losing his balance and falling to the ground for his effort but is it legal?

[salembaseball45]

@PhilistineTheArtLuvr no that is a balk. if they make any motion to the plate, they must go to the plate.

[pokerdonkeyj23]

Quick question. If the pitcher is in the stretch, runner on 1st, steps off the rubber but fakes a throw to first with a actual throwing motion to 1st, is that a balk? Some say yes, others say no. Anyone know the answer to this?

[keydetpiper]

@pokerdonkeyj23 If he steps off the rubber, he can do anything he wants; the balk rule no longer applies. If he's on the rubber though, he cannot fake a throw to first base.

[hockey31997]

balk at 3:50

[astoriazfinest13]

Good video, k? A lot of good stuff about balks here, k? Good teacher, k? barking dogs too, k?

[thegdawg1234]

who else noticed the barking dog at 2:50?

[username20698]

is the ball in play if the batter hits the ball

[username20698]

@username20698 when a balk is called

[bigyaz]

@username20698 Yes, if playing under Official Baseball Rules (OBR). But in high school (NFHS) the play is dead immediately, even if the batter hits a home run.

[Srd1126]

interesting even for a guy like me who if it wasn't for gravity couldn't hit the ground

[Dman59339]

Thanks that really helps me.I got called on a balk in one of my games because I put my my foot right by my other and went to second.Thanks for the help. :)

[danandbrett]

If the runner is half way or more though you can go to the bag if nobody is there.

[rynox77]

Great video.

[MrTobin8]

Nice Job!!

[Nettel1]

How don't u guys understand this? I thought it was a good video. Teaches kids what not to do

[alaynaaattack]

who else thought this was confusing???

[konarcflyers]

how fast can you move your shoulders when you are NOT in the set position. i was called on deceiving the runner because i moved my shoulders too fast while i was NOT in the set position but i did not attempt to pick off the runner. thanks

[BobbbyTime]

The bottom line is players should be taught correctly, either have the ball in your hand (preferably) or in the glove before toeing the rubber, if the runner takes off right when this happens and he flinches or whatever, it will be called.Unfortunately this has become common place when a pitcher toes the rubber with hand in glove than seperates, it is however, not only a balk but just bad baseball technique.

[BobbbyTime]

This is kind of funny, He balks at 1:13, technically you cannot step on the rubber with your hands together, it might not get called all the time but at 1:13 he blatently balks, always step on the rubber with hands well apart.

[ab19901]

@BobbbyTime He actually engages the pitcher's plate with his hands apart and then quickly reaches into his glove to get the ball out of his glove. Professional interpretations instruct umpires to ignore this joining of hands as long as the umpire considers it as preparatory. So a momentary reaching in to get the ball out of the glove or quickly adjust the ball in the glove is usually ignored.

[ej638]

Coach knows that i would never balk

[hongpingmike]

good vid.... but there was a dog balking @2:52

[Caz53]

There was a situation where I went to pitch towards the plate, but my leading foot got caught on the uneven mound grooves, and I semi stumbled, and instead of hanging onto the ball (as that would have definitely been a balk), I instead threw the ball 2-3 metres straight into the ground to prevent a massively wild pitch.

Is this considered a balk? Since, technically, I still threw the ball towards the plate. It just didn't reach it.

[ab19901]

@Caz53 With runners on base, it's a balk under all rules because the ball did not cross a foul line. If the ball crosses the foul line, it's considered a pitch and would be a ball.

With no runners on base, it's a "no pitch" under pro and NCAA rules if the pitch does not cross a foul line (if it does it's a ball). Under FED rules (high school), it would be an illegal pitch and a ball with no runners on base if the pitch does not cross a foul line (if it does it's a ball).

[tarrytown94]

This helped alot for umpireing. thanks

[elFlakation]

Great video

It also has some comedy in it

1:35 he drops the ball and instead of picking it up, he pulls one out

LOL He lazy :P

[ChemoRawk]

So THAT''s how Charlie brown lost the championship for his team! Wow!

[DMANHONEY]

thanks... you clarified everything about balks. the wind in the background gets a lil annoying though., but other than that, it's perfect

[jalandburton]

im not a huge baseball fan but i had to know what a balk was, and this video said it perfect.

[TurgeonFan77132]

Then would the no pause balk be considered more or less what they call "quick pitching" a batter if there's runners on base?

[TheSweetestSymphony]

that cleared up alot of confusion. GREAT info vid

[irepelay]

I just seen a Dodgers Vs Diamonbacks game yesterday and It was a balk that won the game, I was confused... But now I know.

[MrBaseballPlyr]

Great Video! Great job Mike.

[randomeventsdood]

Great vid. Thanks for clearing up the balk question for me.

[KemKelvin]

Thanks For Posting

[jamesjonesrocket]

cheers,great video

[bookereddie]

I learned a lot. I'm a casual baseball watcher

[Whityjunior]

thanks for the video (i have the same shoes :D)

[volk410]

Very informative video; thanks for posting this.

[RedGrendel]

Great video...very informative. Thanks for posting.

[ajdabeefboy12345]

Thanks! i need to know this stuff for umpiring. great Video!

[FancyGapClawhammer]

I've been watching and playing baseball all of my life, and I've never understood why pitchers on TV, will nod their head at a base runner while he has his lead. For a runner on first, they'll dip their head down a couple times and then pitch. I've seen them turn to look at second and they'll shake their head at the runner, including third. Is this signaling a possible pickoff or what?

[k2skater319]

Great thing to know, because i threw one before

[Brammy007a]

Balk is THE toughest call for the ump. Thanks, good video.

[rjdonofrio]

Thank you! Great job!

[wildgoose77]

Excellent instruction! However, the wind noise was distracting. Consider investing in a windscreen or a zeppelin for your microphone. Good luck!

[Ponch316]

Great vid, thanks!

[boy2mae]

Great!! I learned a lot and it now makes sense to me.

[jbess1985]

I don't play baseball, but I just learned about the Bulk, never knew about it.

Great video!