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You may be thinking of the comment under Rule 8.05 in the OBR: Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner. If there is doubt in the umpire’s mind, the "intent" of the pitcher should govern. I would not rely on that comment to support a balk call. Most of the illegal deceitful acts are already covered as balks elsewhere in the rules - straddling the rubber without the ball, mimicking the pitching motion when not in contact, feinting a throw to first base, etc.
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Bill |
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Cheers, mb |
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I'm with you. That's a balk every time, and I hate to call balks. Every borderline motion---especially the really crafty lefties---and I let it go. I'll even give a ventriloquist's warning an a quick set or something borderline. But that one you can't let go.
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There are some balks where while there is zero intent, they are textbook balks you have to call. Stepping off with the wrong foot is one, and dropping the ball while in contact with the pitchers plate is another. When you call them nobody argues (unless nobody in your association calls it, then when I step on the field I get the "nobody has ever called it a balk before), you really don't have to sell it that well.
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I don't sell balk calls anymore. For FED: "Time! That's a balk! Started and stopped!" (or "No step" or "Never came set"). Usually the coach can't even get out of the dugout before he knows why I called the balk.
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Cheers, mb |
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NASO puts out some good stuff for Fed rules on balks. Something you might want to look into. Remember, rule with the book not by the book. There are times when you can cringe and not call a balk, then there's that blatent one you have to call even though there is no advantage gained. The problem in dealing with youth league as well as HS coach's is they may or may not understand balk or no balk situations, which leads to an argument.
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Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Balk Rule Explanation | VaCoach | Baseball | 7 | Mon May 07, 2007 09:59pm |
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Fed Balk Rule Question | Phil Vivenzio | Baseball | 9 | Thu Nov 30, 2000 12:07pm |