That was a nice call today: I rarely hear a balk called and see the runner sent to second from the dugout, normally one of us on the field get to do that. I know you think we were asleep out there, but just between you and me, we all saw the pitcher's move, but only you and a few spectators thought it was a balk. Was it a balk? No. If it was I would have called it, and it is only a balk when I say it is.

Let's be clear about some definitions here: first, the pitcher is only twelve years old, at the top of the age level for his league, second, leading off may or may not be allowed, it really does not matter at this point, and finally at this level almost anytime a pitcher is moving slowly and deliberately you will not hear me call "balk."

Let's also be clear that this is going to be a controversial letter right from the outset. Perhaps no single rule is discussed more by umpires than the balk rule. By explaining my perspective you should be able to see how I can consistently apply these rules to the game being played in front of me, and not an abstract game being played in a book somewhere.

Rule 8.05 is a whole mess of ambiguity and controversy added to which are the complication of the case studies. The umpire is told to first and foremost consider the intent of the pitcher in calling a balk, but that does not go well with the dropping of a ball "accidentally or intentionally." The interpretations tell the umpire that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the deliberate deception of the runner by the pitcher, but isn't the pitcher always trying to deliberately deceive the runner?

Rule 8.05 is really a collection of rules: things that a pitcher cannot do with a runner on base. Some are mechanical and require no judgement on intent; some are intentional, and obvious; some are so subtle that no one really sees them except the highly trained observer.

So where do I stand on the balk rule at this age level?

First, one of the major problems faced by the youth baseball umpire at this level is sloppy base running. Often it becomes a sand lot game of pushing farther and farther, teasing and taunting. We have all seen runners taking monster leads even though the pitcher is in the preliminary position or taking forever to return to a base.

You have to teach a young pitcher to simply observe the runner antics and to realize the whole intent here is to keep the runner off balance. Consider it lucky if you nail the runner because the time was right. Train your pitcher and catcher to take advantage of the runner's mistakes and not worry about the hotdogging. A good runner knows not to stray too far from the bag until the pitcher has come to the set position and will hustle back after the catcher gets the ball. Anything else deserves to be picked off. Since the runner, batter, player on the bench, coach, or even the fans cannot force a pitcher to commit a balk under 4.06(a)(3) I can turn a blind eye to many things.

What about shoulder movement? Watch the pros. You will see pitchers whose entire body turns to first base as they come to the set position. You will see pitchers whose foot is open towards first base prior to coming to the set position. If this is part of the pitcher's normal style I will have no complaints. But even more, if the pitcher's move is slow and deliberate I am not about to get too excited either. To me this means if that pitcher takes a long determined gander at your runners and his shoulders turn all the way to point at first base then back I am not going to call a balk (at this level!). What more warning could your runner need? Now, if your runner is on first and the pitcher suddenly makes any movement: a lift of a heel, a twitch of the arm, a flip of the head, pop of the back knee, that says "I'm throwing" and doesn't, you will hear me make the call.

Here is one I often forgive: The pitcher separates from the rubber by stepping forward with the pivot foot. The move was slowly done, hands dropped to the side. He usually want to talk to his catcher, or to ask the plate umpire a question. The runner leisurely walks back to the base. A balk? By strict reading yes, but today, no. This often happens when the mound is worn down completely to a large hole in front of the rubber. To step backwards off the rubber, as required in the rules, means attempting a beautiful high-kick dance maneuver! If this game were moved up one notch, on a good mound, in tournament, or with older players ... I am not going to be as forgiving.

Would I like if this never happened? Absolutely, In time we can teach the pitcher the proper way to disengage the rubber but for now it would be wrong to call the balk.

Here's another: the pitcher sets up in the windup but on the urging from the bench slowly moves to the set position. A balk? Yes, but again today at this level, NO!. There was no intention to deceive anyone just a pitcher learning about the game trying to please his coach. He was not even concerned about your runner, just about his stance and pleasing his coach. If that move had been a sudden readjustment, or part of some mind-game on the part of the pitcher ... oops! A balk!

One I cannot forgive is the failure to come to a "stop" when delivering from the set position. Different leagues define the term "stop" to mean everything from a quick bounce as the glove changes direction to a full and complete one second minimum hold. Note however, there is no requirement for the pitcher to come to any form of a stop if they are pitching from the full windup! By the way, the pitcher can "set" in a different position everytime, but he will get only one set. Hold, then move to another hold, and the first time I will be out to talk to you, the next time I will call a balk.

What defines a "stop?" Unless the league rules specify, a stop occurs when the downward motion of the hands concludes before the upward motion of the free leg begins. That can be a very fine line but it is easy to see when the upward motion of the free foot begins while the arms and glove are still in motion. When leagues interplay this can get complicated.

Can a pitcher throw to a base from the windup position? Sure. As long as the pitcher steps towards a base he can throw to it. What if he steps backwards, as normal, with the free foot then throws to first? That is a balk! Any part of his normal motion requires the ball be delivered to the plate.

Left handed pitchers give coaches the biggest cause for concern but rarely bother the umpire. Simply draw a line from the rubber to the start of the three foot lane. If the pitcher's free foot lands on the first base side of that line then the pitcher stepped towards first base. No balk! This is the same measurement used to determine a legal move by a right-handed pitcher throwing to third base.

And the fabled, step-to-third / throw-to-first balk. (The one that no one ever gets fooled on right?) The pitcher must make a clear step to third base. No arm motion is needed. If that hand simply shoots us into the air and the pitcher wheels around under it you will hear me call a balk. And yes, on the jump move even though the pivot foot leaves the rubber, on slo-motion replay, before the free foot steps towards the base, most leagues agree this is a legal (and slower) move to a base and not a balk.

So, at this age level, when should you hear me call a balk? In my personal opinion only it should be a balk when:

1. The pitcher drops the ball. ("accidentally or intentionally") It's clearly in the rule and how can the umpire decide on the pitcher's intent? Accident or planned it is a balk..
2. When the pitcher fails to deliver the pitch after obviously starting his delivery. Often this happens when the batter suddenly turns to bunt and no defensive player is in position. The pitcher stops, the defense resets, all without penalty ... no, sorry ... the call should be "balk."
3. Anytime the pitcher fakes a throw to first base. Here is an example often seen and rarely called: the runner has rounded first and the pitcher, with the ball and on the rubber, fakes a throw to first ... or ... after rounding first the batter has not yet returned and the pitcher, with the ball and on the rubber, fakes a throw. These are two other examples of the "fake throw" balk that should be called.
4. Anytime the pitcher is on the rubber, some say even the mound, without the ball. Let's be careful here though, the intent of the pitcher has to be taken into some consideration. If the ball is out on the fence and the pitcher is standing momentarily on the rubber I am not going to get too upset but try to pull the hidden ball trick and the call should be "balk".
5. An illegal pitch. This opens a multitude of discussions but most often this includes delivering a ball while not in contact with the rubber. One common thing I see is the batter squaring to sacrifice and the pitcher running in with the ball as part of the delivery. The call is clearly "balk." Another example occurs in leagues where leading off is not permitted. The pitcher, seeing the runner off the base delivers a "quick-pitch." The call should be "balk" and not a leading-off violation.
6. Throwing to a unoccupied base, particularly the practice of throwing to the first baseman who is well off the bag, not attempting to even hold the runner. This is a balk.

How can that happen? Here is one for the case book: With two out and the bases loaded the runners are instructed to go as soon as the pitcher commences his delivery. After all, what is the worse thing that can happen? The chances of an out at the bases are minimized and if the runner beats the throw to first the run might score. .... until the pitcher stopped halfway through his delivery, wheeled and threw to third base for the tag out! The call, in my book, has to be "BALK." If you have to call it once, you can call it in other situations.

I know I have not answered every situation we encountered together this year, but maybe I have opened the door for some dialogue as together we figure this rule out. And just for the record, do you remember the two times I sent your catcher out to talk to the pitcher in the first inning? That was just my way of avoiding a balk situation from developing: something I saw that could be fixed quietly, easily and quickly before it caused a problem for all of us.

Still calling them as I see them,

.... written November 24, 1996

Additional Notes

It would also be important to point out that in High School rules there is no delayed-dead-ball calls on a balk. On a balk the ball is immediately dead and all base awards are made from the last base occupied. This avoids the "runner steals on a ball four balk" brain teasers!

Kim A. Lance added : "I just finished reading your "Dear Coach" letter on balks. An additional note was added about high school rules and so I thought I would send another addition. Under Federation rules, when the pitcher is in the windup position (this is determined by placement of the feet) there are only two things the pitcher can do - (1) pitch the ball (2) step back off the rubber with his/her pivot foot first. The pitcher CANNOT throw directly to a base while on the rubber from the windup position.