Balk?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Rita C

A gentleman I umpire with had a conversation with another umpire who said he just got back from umpiring an ASA National tournament and that he called a balk during the game.

My friend said, "You mean illegal pitch?" And the other one said, "No, balk."

I couldn't find anything in the ASA rulebook that says there are any balks in ASA. Or am I missing something?

Rita

For the little ball guys. Isn't a balk a dead ball?

[tcannizzo]

Did he also say that he got sent home after that game?

[pob14]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

For the little ball guys. Isn't a balk a dead ball?

IIRC, it is in FED. Not in MLB rules though; it's a delayed dead ball, although they don't call it that.

[CecilOne]

Even though the primary definition of "balk" is
: a ridge of land left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness

There is a fifth definition of "balk" as
: failure of a player to complete a motion;
especially : an illegal motion of the pitcher in baseball while in position

So, a balk literally can be any failure of a player to complete a motion, including a checked swing, diving back to a base after attempting to advance, holding the ball afer a bluff or attempt to throw, etc., etc., etc. The "especially" clause above is not part of the essential definition.

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

For the little ball guys. Isn't a balk a dead ball?

Only in the strange world of NFHS baseball.