Worst rule in baseball...
 

The step balk.

Called against the Padres tonight when the left handed pitcher threw to first. Incredibly subjective rule that is rarely called by umpires because it leads to fifteen minute arguments. It is never called in a World Series for a reason. In my opinion, do away with all step balks and if the runners can't adjust, that is their problem.

Actually it gets called quite a bit. It's against the rules to argue a step balk - that's why the ump slaps his leg - to show it's a step balk and stop the manager in his tracks.

Might have been a balk two ways, step and back edge of the rubber:

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?co...95267&c_id=mlb

I'm in FED mode now so I'll have to review whether it's any part of the free foot in OBR. Need the whole foot in FED.

I just wonder why any umpire allows the LHP to swing his leg back, loop it around, and land the foot on the 45 degree mark. What about stepping directly is hard to get and why do we (as a group) allow pitchers to do that?

It was a good call and the Padres TV guys are some of the worst homers I've heard yet.

Agree. He's clearly moving to HP and then throws to 1B. Easy call.

jim it seems as though, if it was a violation of the back edge of the rubber, U1 would have blinked, moved or even called something. The pitcher seemed to gain some appreciable distance twoards first but PU evidently did'nt think so and that was his call. I thought it was marginal but he called what he called and made his decision that it wasn't.

Two guys with a better angle than me didn't call it (the back edge) and my view was trying to project the pitchers foot position thru the pitcher's body so I don't have much of a case.

I'll admit I don't know what a "step balk" is so can someone help me with that?

8.05c requires that F1 step directly to a base when throwing there. "Step directly to a base" is interpreted as gaining distance and direction to the base. "Direction to the base" is interpreted as stepping within 45° of a straight line to the base — more toward the base than toward the plate, in the case of 1B.

F1 didn't do that in the video.

I also think he moved toward the plate, which also committed him to pitch to the batter. 8.05a

Thanks for the quick reply. I saw that in the video as well and thought that might have been the reason but wasn't aware of the specific rule.

Other than they just missed it (which happens) is there any reason the U1 or U3 didn't call that instead of the PU? Seems they would have been in a better position to see the step to home, then redirect to 1st. I say this as a coach, not umpire, so I'm not sure who has responsibility to watch what during a delivery, but I only picked up on the movement when they showed the camera view from behind 3rd base.

MLBUM 7.5

Any part of the foot past the back edge - must pitch or move to 2B..

Moving the knee past is OK.

Its hard to tell from the video whether his foot broke the plane. I think his knee clearly did. He was definitely on the ragged edge of stepping toward the plate relative to the 45 degree line though. Wouldn't U1 have the best view of both these violations?

I think Mgrs must have in their contract to be tossed from a specific number of games to show support for their players. Otherwise why get tossed over this obvious balk?

It appears to me for passing the back of the rubber with free foot and not coming home, not for not stepping directly to 1b.

Step balks do not lead to 15 minute arguments, they lead to 5 minute tirades after the ejection. When a manager comes the top of the stairs on a balk call and the umpire lifts his leg and taps it, that indicates a step balk and it cannot be argued with. If the manager even comes out onto the field after that signal is given, the manager is ejected. A manager may question any other balk call, then once explained, he cannot argue.

As per the MLBUM

• A manager may come out and question the reason for a balk call (other than a step balk) and shall not be ejected for his visit to learn why the balk was called. He may be ejected if he argues the call after explanation.

Also, a step balk is illegal by rule so like it or not, it has to be enforced. The runners cannot adjust (and should not be forced to) illegal acts by the pitcher. Note that I did not use the word deceive because it is the pitcher's job to deceive the batter and the runners. The deception must, of course, be done legally.