What Does A Balk Mean In Baseball?
Contents
Balk means illegal action by the pitcher when one or more runners are on base.
What is a balk?
In baseball, a balk is a motion made by the pitcher when he pretends to pitch the ball but stops his arm before actually throwing it. A balk is considered illegal and results in a dead ball and all runners advancing one base.
When can a balk be called?
There are several instances when a balk can be called. If the pitcher does any of the following things, it’s a balk:
– If the pitcher feints a throw to first base, he has to commit to the throw.
– If the pitcher stops his pitching motion while on the mound (though he is allowed to do a “quick pitch”), he has to commit to throwing the ball.
– If the pitcher makes an illegal pitch, he has to commit to throwing that pitch. For example, if he throws a ball that doesn’t bounce before reaching home plate, it’s a balk.
– If there are runners on first and second base, and the pitcher tries to pick off one of the runners without throwing to home plate, it’s a balk.
What are the consequences of a balk?
A balk results in a dead ball, and each runner is awarded one base. If the bases are loaded, the run counts. If the pitcher was trying to pick off a runner when he committed the balk, that runner is not awarded an extra base.
How can a balk be prevented?
There are nine ways a pitcher can commit a balk, according to the Major League Baseball rule book.
• If he intentionally delays the game.
• If he refuses to pitch when it’s his turn in the order.
• If he throws to a base other than the one he’s currently pitching to.
• If he steps off the pitching rubber with one or both feet without throwing the ball first.
• If his pivot foot comes off the ground before he delivers the ball to home plate.
• If he drops either end of the ball while in his pitching motion (this doesn’t apply when a ball is intentionally dropped in order to deception a runner).
• If he delivers the ball to home plate while not facing it.
• If his Usually, balks are committed when a pitcher does something to try and deceive a runner on base. That might be faking out a pickoff throw or trying to quick pitch someone.
