Talk:Balk

message: It seems today one or two editors (depending on who the IP address belongs to, have added balkable actions to the list without providing comment or source.  They are not reflected in the rule.  WHile there are instances where such actions may result in a balk being called, the specifics are contained in other portions of the rule already listed.  For example, "throws to the first baseman, who because of his distance from the bag, cannot make a tag attempt on the runner" is not listed in the rule.  However, "unnecessarily delays the game" covers that particular action by the terms of the Comment: "Rule 8.05(h) Comment: Rule 8.05(h) shall not apply when a warning is given pursuant to Rule 8.02(c) (which prohibits intentional delay of a game by throwing to fielders not in an attempt to put a runner out). If a pitcher is ejected pursuant to Rule 8.02(c) for continuing to delay the game, the penalty in Rule 8.05(h) shall also apply."
Also, how is "Engages the rubber with his hands together; the balk may be called once he separates his hands" different from "after bringing his hands together on the rubber, separates them except in making a pitch or a throw"?
I am removing these two on the list for now, pending an explanation of why they belong in this list. Justus R 03:05, 11 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: I've cleaned up the wording on this a bit.  Clearer, but not as elegant. Locarno
But, you could fake a throw to second or third base. Also, for example, you could throw to the shortstop who is 10 feet from the bag if there is a runner on second. I cannot cite an online source, however, this is coming from Jaksa and Roder's Rules of Professional Baseball. You can find their book at rulesofbaseball.com. These guys taught at the only umpiring schools that are licensed to train umpires for Major League Baseball. This example of throwing to the first baseman is specifically covered in that. It is not directly in OBR because it is a casebook example. In fact, I believe it might be in the PBUC Umpire Manual. No offense Justus R, but you cannot claim to be a "rules freak" if you don't know about this example Jpm986 13:27, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Editing list of balkable actions 

message: In the Official Baseball Rules, the rule on calling a balk for delaying the game says   "unnecessarily" not inordinately.  That is why I put in "unnecessarily" in that bullet point.  Also, throwing to the first baseman while in contact with the pitcher's plate when not close enough to make a play on the runner is no different from throwing to another fielder who is not close enough to make a play.  Hence, I removed that listing as being non-comprehensive and not reflective of the rule.  While it is true that such an action can be called a balk, it is certainly not described in that manner.
If there are citations to rules other than OBR that do use that wording, then some compromise language referring to the differing rules certainly may be possible.Justus R 21:54, 12 July 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: This article need not match OBR; it should instead report whatever verifiable rules there are on the balk.  I can confirm that Jaksa/Roder manual is an authoritative source when it comes to baseball rules.  Also there are dozens of errors in the OBR; the "unnecessarily" wording is one of them.  It is obvious to any baseball fan that pitchers at all levels unnecessarily delay the game all the time.  Do I really need to go find a journalist who wrote about this just so we can change the wording here?  Could someone who has a copy of Jaksa/Roder please look this up and reference it? Locarno 18:33, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Editing Article to conform language to OBR 

message: How do you say "balk." Is it "Bawk" as in rhymes with "talk," or like "ballk"?
63.26.67.75 (talk) 00:15, 8 December 2008 (UTC)
thread_title: Pronunciation

message: Someone pointed out that the record for balks in a single season was only partially correct. I confirmed on mlb.com that there is no tie for most balks in a single season. Marendrent (talk) 18:41, 22 January 2009 (UTC)
replies: text:  You are absolutely correct.  I read the figure in the wrong column from Carlton's page on Baseball-reference.com.  Thank you for correcting it. Justus R (talk) 00:47, 25 January 2009 (UTC)
thread_title: Records

message: The definition of a balk in Rule 2 of the Official Baseball Rules:
"A BALK is an illegal act by the pitcher with a runner or runners on base, entitling
all runners to advance one base."
Other rule sets are similar.  If there is a rule set which provides for a balk to be called with no runners on base, please provide a citation. Justus R (talk) 19:33, 10 October 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Must have Runner(s) on Base for Balk Call 

message: All rule sets refer to the action of making a false display of pitching or throwing to a base as a "feint", as in OBR Rule 8.05(d) "The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play; ..."
While both words convey a similar sense, there is a difference between them that is intended in the baseball rules.  That is, "feign" means to give a false appearance, while "feint" means to make a deceptive show of an action.  To illustrate: After a balk is called, a pitcher might feign ignorance of the rule that prohibits feinting a throw to an unoccupied base.Justus R (talk) 02:57, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Feint v feign 

message: To anyone outside baseball, the verb "to balk" is very common. I think its more commonly use outside baseball than within. I think this should be mentioned in article, and there should be a link to the Wiktionary definifition of the word.(mercurywoodrose)66.80.6.163 (talk) 16:28, 26 August 2011 (UTC)
thread_title: Common usage

message: This term was used in the article, but not explained.
Can a pitcher balk in throwing to the plate (fail to come to a complete stop), and have the batter swing and get a hit? Swing and hit into a double play?  — Preceding unsigned comment added by NitPicker769 (talk • contribs) 19:02, 24 May 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  Clarification of "delayed dead ball"? 

message: I came here looking for the "philosophy" behind the balk rules.  But the article is very light on reasoning.  It doesn't mention that balk rules are intended to prevent certain kinds of deception until almost the end of the article.  That should be in the first paragraph, IMO.  And in the list of individual prohibited actions, it would be nice if it mentioned the particular deception that is being addressed.  Having said all that, I acknowledge that I am griping without contributing to correcting the problem.  But I am not a baseball player or coach, so I don't feel qualified to do it myself. 2602:306:839B:1150:78C4:1CE6:9290:8FF8 (talk) 20:25, 16 May 2015 (UTC)
thread_title:  Rationale? 

message: I have latterly read the "balks" section of the most current version of the Official Baseball Rules, and the list is slightly deviant, as a result of recent update, than that of the one on this page. I paraphrased this list below in accordance with the most updated list in the rule book. Just wanted a consensus first. Here it is
- With at least one runner on base, a move is considered a balk when:
1) The pitcher, while on the rubber, makes any motion associated with his pitching motion, but fails to deliver a pitch.
2) The pitcher feints a throw to first or third base while on the rubber (The pitcher is permitted to feint a throw to second base; he may throw to an unoccupied second base withal, given a runner on first base. These occurrences are not balks).
3) The pitcher does not take an overt step toward a base wherein he is attempting to pick-off while on the rubber.
4) While on the rubber, the pitcher throws or feints to an unoccupied base, save for acting on an imminent play.
5) The pitcher delivers an illegal pitch such as a quick pitch (pitches thrown rapidly and without taking proper pitching preliminaries first, such as coming to a complete stop after the stretch).
6) The pitcher delivers a pitch while facing away from the batter.
7) The pitcher makes any motion associated with his pitching motion while off of the rubber.
8) The pitcher excessively defers the game.
9) The pitcher stands on the rubber or bestrides it without possession of the ball or feints a pitch.
10) The pitcher removes one hand from the ball while on the rubber upon coming to a legal pitching position, aside from actually delivering the pitch.
11) The pitcher drops the ball while on the rubber, even if inadvertently.
12) The pitcher delivers a pitch while the catcher is not fully in the catcher’s box (with both feet).
13) The pitcher delivers a pitch in the set position without coming to a complete stop.
14) The catcher, or other infielder, steps on or in front of home plate during a steal of home or a squeeze play without possession of the ball (unless they are attempting to field an already thrown ball in the umpire's judgement).
15) The catcher contacts the batter or his bat during a squeeze or steal of home.
16) The pitcher switches from the wind up to the set, or reciprocally, without disengaging the rubber.
- In scenarios 14 and 15, the batter is awarded first base along with the normal balk call procedures (each runner advances one base).
The last two were acquired from observation of other sections of the rule book that mention balking. 1-13 is explicitly stated in the "balks" section. Feel free to suggest an addition if you noticed I missed anything; the rule book is very prolix and I may have overlooked or not read a specific piece.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Guitarguy84 (talk • contribs) 11:58, 25 May 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  Balk list needs to be updated.