Are you calling a Balk?

[jicecone]

Mediocre Varsity teams. Score not important. R3. Pitcher is in windup and steps on to the plate with both hands together. After taking sign and setting ball in glove he removes hand about 4 inches out of glove, returns it to his glove and begins his motion. Coach insists pitcher has balked. We move on.

One week later, same team , same coach ahead by 9 runs in 7th inning and everyone yells for pitcher to step off. Lo and behold he does, but not with the pivot foot. He looks over and says "that is two you owe me". I tell him after the game that both cases were technical balks and he says " a balk is a balk." We agreed to disagree and moved on.

I know the differences, are you calling these?

[JJ]

How else is the kid going to learn? It will also stop the other coach from griping - he's less apt to gripe in a game he's winning easily, but what is he's losing and you ignore the balks?

JJ

[johnnyg08]

Varsity. Balk it. That's the only way they learn. Kind of like speeding tickets.

[dash_riprock]

You can start calling it now, or wait 'til the losing team puts up a 9-spot in the last inning after you passed on it because of the big lead. Your choice.

[MrUmpire]

1. Call the balks.

2. Tell the coach that if he is counting, he'll be in the parking lot by the time he gets to 4.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Taking the ball out of the glove and not completing the pitching motion is not a technical balk. It's a balk. Any movement once the pitcher has assumed the windup position other than a step backward with the pivot foot commits the pitcher to pitch (FED). Anything else is a balk. When the pitcher removed his hand (with or without the baseball) from his glove, he effectively started his motion and the runner was free to take off and steal, but was held in check by the illegal deception.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

1. Call the balks.

2. Tell the coach that if he is counting, he'll be in the parking lot by the time he gets to 4.

Thank you for your advise on the balk but, I don't need to bark out commands or make threating statements to let the coach know I am in charge or satisfy my ego. I know I have the final say and there is no need to flaunt it.

[DG]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Tell the coach that if he is counting, he'll be in the parking lot by the time he gets to 4.

You giving him 4 strikes?

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by jicecone

Mediocre Varsity teams. Score not important. R3. Pitcher is in windup and steps on to the plate with both hands together. After taking sign and setting ball in glove he removes hand about 4 inches out of glove, returns it to his glove and begins his motion. Coach insists pitcher has balked. We move on.

One week later, same team , same coach ahead by 9 runs in 7th inning and everyone yells for pitcher to step off. Lo and behold he does, but not with the pivot foot. He looks over and says "that is two you owe me". I tell him after the game that both cases were technical balks and he says " a balk is a balk." We agreed to disagree and moved on.

I know the differences, are you calling these?

What does the skill level have to do with it?

For the record, I would balk 13-14 year olds on those.

Accidentally dropping the ball is also a balk. You calling those?

Rita

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Rita C

What does the skill level have to do with it?

For the record, I would balk 13-14 year olds on those.

Accidentally dropping the ball is also a balk. You calling those?

Rita

I would balk 9-10 year old Mustang Leaguers as well. They are balks, and as such put the offense at an unfair disadvantage, which is the reason for the rule.

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I would balk 9-10 year old Mustang Leaguers as well. They are balks, and as such put the offense at an unfair disadvantage, which is the reason for the rule.

I would too, if I umpired games with balks at that age level.

Mean old lady that I am, I made a 10 year old girl cry yesterday calling illegal pitches. But I was thanked for calling them afterwards. Parents who care, know their kids aren't going to learn if it isn't called.

I think it's a matter of respect for the players and the game.

Rita

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I would balk 9-10 year old Mustang Leaguers as well. They are balks, and as such put the offense at an unfair disadvantage, which is the reason for the rule.

No wonder you get all the big games. If anyone can put third graders in their place, it's you.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

No wonder you get all the big games. If anyone can put third graders in their place, it's you.

So true, I put you in your place all the time. Oh, sorry for the insult third graders.

[ozzy6900]

Maybe I'm mistaken, but as I read this thread it seems like we have forgotten the 2 type of balk calls. There used to be a standard of practice:

FED - Immediately dead ball - "TIME! That's a balk!" nothing else can happen.

NCAA & OBR - Delayed - "That's a balk!" then get back into position in case action continues.

From this thread, it seems that many are running in different directions on the balk call.

Oh, and once the little tykes get on the big diamond, balks are called - no warnings..... that's called baseball. (yes, I am fully aware that there are some small diamond leagues that call balks - no need to remind us.)

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

So true, I put you in your place all the time. Oh, sorry for the insult third graders.

Your attempt at comedy is like your underwear.

It's old, it stinks, and it never changes!