My Pitcher was Balked Tonight

[UmpJM]

Garth,

While I get your point, especially in regard to "safeing", "outing" (depending on context, of course), "striking", and "balling " (lah me!), "balking" always struck me as a little different. So, I looked it up. Imagine my surprise when I found the following:

Originally Posted by American Heritage Dictionary

Balk

TRANSITIVE VERB: 1. To check or thwart by or as if by an obstacle.

While it may have been more proper to say "The umpire called a balk on my pitcher tonight", I find the phrasing I did use ironically apt.

Basketball?!?!? Great sport, but this is Baseball season!

I've been coaching 13-15 yr. old kids for the last 5 yrs. (baseball, basketball, & football), & somehow it saddens me that some of them (or their parents) choose to specialize year 'round in one sport at such a young age.

Such is life.

JM