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I will differ slightly with Rich. As Jim Evans teaches it, there are three types of balks.
First a little history:
The balk rule has been with us since 1876, and its intent both then and now is to help assure good gamesmanship.
The Original Major League Code of 1876 stated, in part:
Rule IV. Pitching Section 5.
Should the pitcher make any motion to deliver the ball to the bat and fail so to deliver it - except the ball be accidentally dropped. The umpire shall call a balk, and players occupying the bases shall take one base each.
While on the surface it might appear that the rule pertained to the batter/pitcher relationship, it was actually an early effort to prevent the defense from taking an undue advantage of the baserunners. Baseball has always been tilted to the offense, and if there were no rule regarding pitchers mechanics and practices, the baserunners would be severely hampered in their ability and opportunity to lead off, steal bases and, ultimately, score runs.
By 1898, the balk rule looked much like todays, with one major exception. In 1898 a pitcher could be in contact with the rubber, staring at third base or second base, then fire a snap throw to first base. That lasted one year: Too many guys were getting picked off.
Thats when a rule we still have today entered the book: The pitcher must step towards the base to which he was throwing (or legally feinting). Did that rule affect baserunning? Is Seattle in Washington state?
After the 1899 rule change, teams stole 600 more bases than in the previous year, and the Baltimore Orioles set a modern season record with 364 stolen bases.
But back to the types of balks.
There are three distinct types of balks: the deceptive balk, the mechanical (technical) balk, and the penal (punitive) balk.
1. Deceptive: The pitcher is attempting, by design and action, to illegally deceive or fool the baserunner. The defense is attempting to gain an unfair advantage over the offense.
2. Mechanical: The pitcher isnt really trying to deceive anyone. He simply isnt proceeding in his mechanics as section 8.01 would have him.
3. Penal: Certain actions by a pitcher, so says the rules committee, are illegal and the appropriate penalty, therefore, is a balk.
Most beginning umpires concentrate on the deceptive balks. Even some veterans are heard to say, "if it ain't deceptive it ain't a balk."
On contrary side of that issue, many veterans and umpires with experience at higher levels insist the Mechanical balks are the ones the need to be called the most consistently.
Deceptive Balks:
Of the 13 balks listed in OBR rule 8.05, only six of these are commonly held to be illegally deceptive balks:
8.05(a) 8.05(g) 8.05(i) 8.05(j) 8.05(k) 8.05(m)
Mechanic Balks:
If we accept the premise found in Jim Evans Baseball Rules Annotated that mechanic balks are those that occur when the pitcher doesnt behave as directed in OBR 8.01, then the following qualify as mechanic balks.
8.05(c) 8.05(e) 8.05(f)
Penal Balks:
Certain actions, again, according to the rulesmakers, should be illegal, and the appropriate penalty should be a balk. Why? Primarily because these actions tend to stifle the offense, and as stated previously, baseball rules do, indeed, favor the offense. Stealing and scoring is encouraged. The Penal balks then are:
8.05(b) 8.05(d) 8.05(h) 8.05 (l)
Advice for calling balks will range from "don't" to "get'em all" and everything in between. Your best allies in this area are the practice of the umpires in your local association, time and experience. (Time does not equal experience, by the way.)
Most trainers will advice rookies to call everybalk you see. This helps the learning process and the discrimination process, after all, you can't discriminate that of which you are unaware.
Later, as you move up. You will define for yourself and your games the "tolerance" you will use in calling balks.
Of course, there are still those "black and white" rules guys who insist that everything in the rule book is sacred and most be enforced as written. You will not find those umpires working the top levels of our advocation.
Good luck.
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