Friday, August 22, 2008

IBRS: the balk

IBRS. Bringing to light some of the lesser known and misunderstood rules of the great American pastime.

Here's my best attempt at explaining a situation that always has me scratching my head, the balk.

pivot foot - the foot on which the pitcher pivots before throwing (right foot for a right-handed pitcher)

free foot - the foot on which the pitcher falls or places his weight during delivery of the pitch (left foot for a right-handed pitcher)

the rubber - the "pitcher's plate" on top of the mound

the stretch - first part of Set when the pitcher may lean in (or "stretch") toward home to get signs from the catcher, or make whatever preliminary motions are necessary for his pitch

delivery - when the pitcher comes set and throws the pitch

coming set - the beginning of the delivery, usually marked when the pitcher brings his hands together in front of his body

time of pitch - when the pitcher makes a move toward home plate after coming set

release - when the pitcher throws the ball

The 2 possible pitching positions are:

Option (1) SET
- the pitcher stands with his toes pointed toward 1B or 3B (depending on his handedness; a LHP would have his feet pointed toward first, a RHP toward 3B)

The pitcher begins SET with one hand at his side.

He then comes SET (bringing his hands together in front of his body), his pivot foot in contact with the rubber, and his free foot in front of (on the HP side of) the rubber. This is SET position.

He may then go to STRETCH.

He must then come to a complete stop with the ball in both hands in front of his body (basically returning to SET position). The stop may be considered optional if there are no baserunners.

He can then either deliver the pitch, throw to a base, or take a step off the rubber with his pivot foot.

Once the pitcher has reached the time of pitch, or in other words, once he makes a move toward home, he must complete the pitch.

Option (2) WIND-UP - the pitcher stands with his toes pointed toward home plate (This position tends to take longer and the pitcher risks a stolen base if there is a baserunner. Many pitchers will vary their choice based on the presence or absence of baserunners.)

The pitcher's pivot foot must be on the rubber, with both hands holding the ball in front of his body. This is WIND-UP position.

He takes signs from the catcher while in position.

He can then either deliver the pitch, throw to a base, or take a step off the rubber with his pivot foot.

His pivot foot must not leave the ground. During delivery he can take a step backward and a step toward home with his free foot.

There is NO set or stretch position with the WIND-UP.

Again, once the pitcher makes a move toward home, he must complete the pitch.

The purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deceiving any or all baserunners. Therefore, the umpire can make a judgment call based on what he interprets the pitcher's intent to be.
The umpire may call a balk if there are runners on and the pitcher:

(while touching the rubber) makes any motion associated with his pitch and then doesn't pitch. (You could also say that if he makes any motion associated with pitching in general and doesn't throw the pitch, it is a balk.)

(while touching the rubber) fakes to first with no throw. (I don't really know how you fake to first with a throw. It's not really a fake then, is it?)

(while touching the rubber) throws to a base without stepping toward that base first. (Just because he steps, though, doesn't mean he has to throw.)

(while touching the rubber) throws (or fakes a throw) to an unoccupied base. (However, if there's a runner on first, the pitcher can turn 180 degrees and throw to second, presumably because if the runner attempts to steal, he would end up at second. Otherwise, the purpose of throwing to an unoccupied base might be delaying the game, see below.)

makes an illegal pitch. (Like a quick pitch. That's basically just a balk when there's no one on base.)

throws the pitch without looking at the batter. (Tricky... Might be more impressive if he threw the pitch without looking at the catcher.)

attempts to pitch while not in contact with the rubber. (That means any motion associated with pitching.)

delays the game. (There's some silly 12-second rule pertaining to how long the pitcher can make the batter stand in the box. I think, though, that this only applies with the bases empty. See: throwing to an unoccupied base, above.)

SETs to pitch without having a ball. (Even just getting that look in his eyes...)

(while touching the rubber) drops the ball. (Either on purpose or by accident. If the ball slips out of his hand and rolls foul, it is a ball if the bases are empty and a balk if there are runners.)

(while in position) removes one hand from the ball (for any reason other than throwing the ball).

(while intentionally walking a batter) throws to the catcher who is outside the catcher's box.

(while pitching from the SET position) does not come to a complete stop.

The penalty:

The baserunner(s) will advance one base.



For the complete list of rules and semi-decent explanations, head over to MLB.com and check out the official rules for pitchers.

I'm no expert. Hell, I'm not even reasonably well-educated when it comes to this stuff. If I've erred or just plain screwed up, let me know or just ignore it.