This is the text of a clinic speech I gave over the summer to High School level umpires. Read it, pick at it, add to it, pass it along -
JJ
BALKS
I First, the easy part. In High School baseball, HOW do you call a balk?
Throw your arms up and yell as loud as you can, “BALK!”
II Here’s another easy part. In High School baseball, what is the award for a balk?
Each base runner moves up one base. That’s it. Ball’s dead immediately as soon as you call the balk.
III Now it starts to get tougher. Who calls a balk?
Despite what you’ve heard, the answer here is “Anyone who sees it.” This isn’t Pro ball, or college ball, so your partner might not have the same level of experience as you. We’re not into “Base guy takes the pitcher above the waist; plate guy from the belt down”. Reaction times are different with every umpire. We blink. We freeze. In High School baseball, if you see a balk, call it.
IV Tougher still. Who explains the balk to an inquiring coach?
Odds are REAL good that the guy who called it will have to explain it. Occasionally, a coach will go to the senior umpire on the crew and ask if he agrees with the rookie’s call. Just like any other call, even if you don’t agree with your partner’s call there are ways to mask that fact from a coach. “He had a different angle than I did, coach”. “I blinked”.
You get the idea. It helps when one umpire calls a balk if his partner throws his hands up, too. It REALLY helps if you both saw the balk and called it simultaneously. One of the beauties of baseball is that from the time you call a balk until the coach can get to you, you have time to think about your upcoming explanation.
V OK, it’s getting tougher. What IS a balk?
The Federation Rule Book says, “A balk is an illegal act committed by the pitcher with a runner or runners on base which entitles each runner to advance one base.”
That’s all…….Thank you!
Oh, wait.
VI The toughest part. How will you know what is and what isn’t a balk?
An old umpire I worked with once said, “Balks are like pornography – you’ll know it when you see it.” To some extent he was right. I’m not going to stand up here and demonstrate balks – this isn’t a week long clinic, and besides, even though I’ve been umping for 25 years I still haven’t seen them all. I got a call yesterday from another IHSA Rules Interpreter – who’s been at it even longer than I have – asking if this is a balk. (Give Example).
While I won’t demonstrate, I will give a few guidelines, and I’ll ask other vets in the room to pitch in.
1. From the last example, when pitching from the set position, the non-pivot foot must gain ground toward the base being thrown to. And don’t forget that 45-degree thing!
2. The pitcher cannot simulate any part of his pitching motion while straddling the rubber. This is any movement that leads you to believe that he is beginning his motion. The rulebook is pretty clear on what the pitcher can and cannot do with his arms, legs, and hands. Read Rule 6 on Pitching, and read the Case Book plays listed on Rule 6.
3. It’s all about deception. If you’re deceived, odds are the runner is, too, and it’s probably a balk. One example I will give that we see in High School ball is the pitcher, working from the WINDUP with a runner on third base, starts his hands up AS HE STEPS OFF, and then he picks the runner off. Is this legal? Why not?
4. Remember, FED, NCAA, and Pro all have somewhat differing descriptions of what is a balk and how to enforce it. If you work multiple levels of ball, you have to stay sharp.
Does anyone have any balk scenarios they’d like to discuss?