#43. Please see me comment below that I left for #45. The balk would be ignored in this case

#44. You are correct.

#45. If a pitcher balks but the batter puts the ball in play, this is *not* an option play. Simply, if all of the runners and the batter advance at least one base, then the balk is ignored. If even one runner does not advance, the pitch does not count, the batter returns to bat and all runners are given one base.

As for your third base question, I am not sure, but technically, this is the case for first base and is referred to as a "First Basemen's Balk", although, I don't believe it is generally enforced.

I just recently played in a baseball game where a 3rd baseman had one foot in foul territory and one foot in fair. Is it considered a balk if he attempts to pick you off? Also if a pitcher balks but he still follows through with the pitch and the batter makes the ball live, dont you have a choice to take the balk or the hit?

I had a situation with runner on third base, runner was 1/4 down line and my pitcher through over to third to my third baseman that was not playing the bag. Is this considered a balk? My interpretation of the rule is that it is not, only base it is in effect is on first base. please clarify.

1st & 2nd, 1 out, ump calls balk, pitcher pitches, batter singles, run scores from 2nd, 1st goes to 3rd, isn't the rule that you pick the result, meaning run scores and 1st and 3rd, or is a balk a dead ball, no run, runners on 2nd & 3rd

hello beads...the balk rules are in place & followed so the pitcher does not deceive the runner. under the set position rules, prior to being in the set the pitcher is leaning over looking for his sign. the ball in his hand and the glove hand at his side. as he moves into the set position, he must do so in one continuous and uninterrupted motion. now in the set his hands are together and he comes to a complete stop. this is true whether going to first or to home. some coaches try to beat the rule going to first, saying *he had to pause* because he changed directions in throwing to first. it's not the way the rule reads though. again in real time these movements can happen quite quickly and can be easily missed if you're not watching for it.

anon...the pitcher can only set once. he can't "reset or set again" unless he steps back and off the rubber. noteworthy; when in the wind up a pitcher can legally double pump like in the 1920's. also worth mentioning, is that with nobody on, the pitcher does not have to come to a stop at all when delivering to the plate from the sign taking portion of the set and moving to put his hands together. in concluding the "taking the ball out of the glove once" means the once is upon his delivery to the plate if that's where he's going. hope I helped.

Our pitcher was in the process of bringing his hands together in the stretch and backed off the rubber and threw to first. The ump said he has to come to a complete stop for 1 second before he can throw to first once he starts to bring his hands together. I know that is the rule to home...but you can disengage twirl and throw to first at any point in your stretch routine, right?

from the set position is there a rule on how many times a pitcher removes the ball from his mitt before he pitches? our pitcher got a balk called the umpire said he could only take the ball out of his mitt once.

just wanted to finish the last of the posts. *pitcher can fake a throw to third or second theoretically with his foot on the rubber.*lhp must step back off the rubber to fake a throw to first, he then can throw to third if he chooses. if he fakes to first while his foot is on the rubber it's a balk. note: a lhp has such an advantage in masking his throw to first that you rarely see a lhp step back off the rubber to throw to first as it takes much more time and the pitcher looses the advantage of still pitching home. remember the 45 degree rule and the head switching back and forth eventually facing first. Major league lhp Petit is the best at this. He probably does not adhere to the 45 degree rule but in the majors they won't call it on him. This was told to me from a colleague who had him in the minors many years ago and actually called him for a balk.

*pitcher goes into the wind up he must complete his pitch. *a pitcher may not wind up or stretch while not on the rubber. in fact to avoid the hidden ball trick a pitcher may not even be on the mound without the ball if say the first basemen has it attempting the hidden ball tag. if he stretches or winds up without the ball it is also a balk.

*for raag800...lhp holding a runner at first. from the set position it does not compute that the pitcher's free foot would ever get even or behind the pivot foot. Plus he must eventually not only look at first but also step towards first. There is an imaginary line drawn from the rubber at a 45 degree angle. the non pivot foot must land on the first base side of that line when throwing to first or it's a balk. *Jersey-Joe...that's some good stuff.

*anon15195 if you are correct in transposing the words and do not mean the stretch position then the explanation would be that the pitcher has not started his wind up yet and is probably looking for his sign. A pitcher would not be in that position unless there was at least a man on third. Once he begins the windup he is committed to throw home. *the info on the placing of the feet at the rubber in the wind up is sound. Interestingly enough when in the stretch position the free foot cannot be beyond either side of the rubber, as you can in the wind up.* even if setting at the chin or above is the pitcher's routine it is still a balk and should of never gotten that far. if the pitcher stretches in that manor with no one on it would be considered an illegal pitch and called a ball.

hope this helped...thanks

i am a current umpire for 10-14 year olds. there seems to be a lot of questions concerning pick off throws to first or a fake pick off throw to first. the pitcher becomes a fielder when he steps back off the rubber. he then can fake to first base. he can do what he pleases because he no longer is under the balk rules, he is an infielder.

in the other scenario the pitcher is in the set position and throws to first he is considered on the rubber and the balk rules apply. he cannot fake to first. as a rhp and pointing towards first with his non pivot foot it becomes almost a physical impossibility to keep your pivot foot on the rubber while completing the throw to first. it is the step back with the pivot foot as the first move that is critical so that the pitcher is considered a fielder. in real time it can be done quite quickly and not noticed unless you are looking specifically at the pitcher's feet and watching for the situation.

additionally, a pitcher can throw within close proximity of first base without hesitation if the first baseman happens to not be holding the runner on.

also a pitcher must throw to an occupied base unless he is trying to get a base runner out and not deceiving the runner.

these explanations are broad strokes as there may be some technicalities to the rule, as there are to most baseball rules. the above two examples are with pitchers on the rubber not off the rubber as a fielder.

hope i cleared a few areas up for those of you interested. Thanks.

My confusion. Runners on first and third. Left handed pitcher. Fakes throw to first and throws to third attempting to pick off runner at third. Balk or no balk?

Runner on second, pitcher goes into windup once motion is created he must go home, yes that is a balk...

A pitcher may fake a throw to first if he is not on the rubber.

Runner on second base. Pitcher starts his motion (moves his hands)from a full windup (not from the stretch). Pitcher steps off. Balk?

baseballal56

you are not allowed to pause completely at any point in your delivery, you can move very slowly, but you can not pause at the top of your leg lift for an hour, that's a balk, but regarding the turn, a pitcher can lift his leg turn toward second with his leg, and as long as he doesn't cross his ankle over his back leg, he's aloud to continue his delivery to home without picking off to second.

May a pitcher fake a throw to first base, even while not on the rubber, and not commit a balk? I was taught the pitcher can only fake to third and second base, but not to first. Your input and assistance is greatly appreciated.

Is it considered a balk when after the pitcher takes the initial stretch position on the rubber, then transfers the ball from his glove to his hand and then begins to go to the "set" position? Basically breaking his hands twice.

With a left handed pitcher on the mound, from the stretch position, holding a runner on first, if the pitcher raises his free leg and brings that foot behind the point of his set knee and throws the ball to first is that a balk. I've been told the only way it is not is if the free foot stays in front of the set knee.

From Behind the Plate….

In baseball most plays begin with the pitcher. His actions often raise tempers and bring shouts of “balk” from the crowd. An umpire seldom encounters a more troublesome topic.

With actions focusing on the pitcher, a clever hurler could hold a team, especially base runners, at his mercy. For this reason, our baseball ancestors limited the pitcher’s movements where trickery or deception was apparent. And, they instructed the umpire to judge the “intent” of the pitcher’s actions when he or she was in doubt. When the pitcher balked the ball became dead immediately. This move was designed to “protect” the batting team from the pitcher’s trickery. Frequently, however, and in spite of deception, the pitcher’s delivery to the batter was knocked out of the ballpark for a homerun. It was then the umpire’s unpleasant task to invoke the penalty for the balk. The umpire advanced all base runners one base, but the batter’s home run was nullified and he was sent back to the plate with the same ball / strike count. This may give readers a clue as to one reason for the umpire’s traditional unpopularity.

The Baseball Rules Committee corrected this shortcoming in the balk rule in December 1954. The new rule provided that when the pitcher delivered the ball after balking play would continue as if there had been no balk. The balk was ignored if the batter-runner reached first base on a hit, and error, a fourth ball, being hit by a pitch or whatever and further provided that all base runners advanced at least one base. If all runners, including the batter-runner, did not advance at least one base, then the balk was invoked, advancing all base runners but returning the batter to the plate with the same ball / strike count.

Although the balk rule is complex, it has these principles: (1) A balk can only occur when one or more runners are on base; (2) An illegal pitch becomes a balk with a runner(s) on base. (3) All base runners are advanced one base on the balk; and (4) the batter does not benefit in any way from the balk penalty.

The third principle seems to create most of the confusion. If the pitcher pitches after balking, the ball remains alive and a number of situations may develop involving the batter. If he hits the ball safely or a fielder commits an error on the play and all base runners advance there does not appear to be much of a problem. The balk is ignored. It is when the batter is entitled to first base because of a fourth ball or the batter being hit by a pitched ball that creates problems for some umpires. Before invoking the balk penalty, to preclude penalizing the batting team, the umpire must determine: (1) were all runners forced to advance (and did so) because the batter became a runner? If so, the play stands and the balk is ignored. (2) However, if the answer is no for any runner, the balk rule is invoked, all runners are advanced one base and the batter returns to the plate with the same ball / strike count.

The National League does however have a special ruling when a base runner is attempting to steal third base on a pitch that results in a fourth ball. The play stands if the runner is safe and the batter goes to first base on the fourth ball.

A cardinal point for the umpire to remember is that he or she let’s the play stand or invokes the balk penalty. He or she can not administer portions of both rules. If the umpire invokes the balk penalty, the batter never benefits.

CNEBAphil & Lauriej - In the batting out of turn rule, the improper batter commits an overt act, but it is the proper batter who is penalized by being called out. Likewise, there are two situations where the catcher commits an overt act with the balk charged to the pitcher:

-- Under Rule 7.07 the pitcher is charged with a balk when the catcher or any fielder interferes with the batter on an attempted squeeze play or steal of home. The result is a double penalty (the only one I am aware of). The batter goes to first base on the interference and the runner scores from third base on the balk.

-- Under Rule 8.05L intentional walk as you have indicated.

Then there is the official scorers game summary 10.02 (c) The following records for each pitcher: (15) Number of balks.

Only the pitcher can be charged with a balk. Rule 2: A balk is an illegal act by the pitcher.

Regarding throwing to a base from the wind up, this is directly from the MLB rules:

Rule 8.01(a) Comment: In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his “free” foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber.

From the Windup Position, the pitcher may:

(1) deliver the ball to the batter, or

(2) step and throw to a base in an attempt to pick-off a runner, or

(3) disengage the rubber (if he does he must drop his hand to his sides).

In disengaging the rubber the pitcher must step off with his pivot foot and not his free foot first. He may not go into a set or stretch position—if he does it is a balk.

(this is my comment - therefore a RHP standing on the rubber who steps off with his right (pivot) foot is deemed to have disengaged the rubber and becomes a fielder and throw or fake a throw to any base)

Regarding anon13491's question, the answer is 'yes' the pitcher can throw to second even though it is unoccupied because he is "making a play" against a runner attempting to take that base. See rule 8.05d below:

8.05 If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when --

(d) The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play; (and note comment on rule 8.05 b)

Rule 8.05 Comment: Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner. If there is doubt in the umpire’s mind, the “intent” of the pitcher should govern. However, certain specifics should be borne in mind:

(a) Straddling the pitcher’s rubber without the ball is to be interpreted as intent to deceive and ruled a balk.

(b) With a runner on first base the pitcher may make a complete turn, without hesitating toward first, and throw to second. This is not to be interpreted as throwing to an unoccupied base.

Posted by: anon13491 Situation is a runner on first and the pitcher is already set and notices runner taking off while he is starting to kick up. If the pitcher hasn't started home can he pivot and go to second? I know he can do this with a runner at second already, but can he while the runner from first is going to second? I too would like to know the answer to this question.

can a pitcher throw the ball to an unoccupied base?

Pitcher is left handed. Runners on first and third. Pitcher steps off rubber and fakes a throw to first, spins and throws to third, all of this after stepping back off of the pitching rubber. Is this a balk?

Situation is a runner on first and the pitcher is already set and notices runner taking off while he is starting to kick up. If the pitcher hasn't started home can he pivot and go to second? I know he can do this with a runner at second already, but can he while the runner from first is going to second?

if the third baseman is standing with one foot outside the baseline holding the runner on is this considered a balk? i was told that if the 1st baseman blocked the bag while holding a runner on it would be called a balk also is this true??

ya, if you set your hands above your chin it actually is a balk. My friend had his pitcher get called for a balk like 5 times during a game because it is such an uncommonly know or called balk, but it was part of his pitching routine.

Once the windup starts the pitcher has to throw home.

from the windup can a pitcher without stepping off the rubber make a motion to home and then throw when he is in the middle of the windup to third base to pick off a runner?

I am an assistant coach for a freshman baseball team, this was done against us on April 4, 08 at a baseball game. When I approached the umpire he stated that he did not he did not bend his knee going to third. I explained to ump that when he is in the windup he must go home once he starts the windup.

Thanks,

jmendoza559

If a left handed pitcher wants to pick off a runner on first, does he have to step directly to 1st? I've seen cases where the pitcher, while going from stretch, will not step toward 1st but move his foot over just enough while stepping toward home, so he actually isn't throwing home then throw to first and pick off runners.

I hope this makes sense.

Can a pitcher come set, lift his front leg, lower it and then wheel to second base as long as he does not move toward home plate?

Anon9583 -- appeal of runner missing 1st base: the difference is stepping off the rubber (vs. throwing to 1st from the "set" position). Also, it is an appeal, not a pick-off. I think a balk should be called if the pitcher threw to 1st on an appeal play from the "set" position.

I checked with a veteran umpire and the pitcher does NOT have to step back off the rubber in order to attempt a pick-off of a runner on 1st from the "set" position. The pitcher may not do a jump-throw, although if you watch the majors sometimes the right-handed pitchers' pick-off move to 1st looks almost like a jump-twist-throw all in one motion. Theoretically, the right-handed pitcher must pivot on the right foot and step to 1st on the left foot and throw. The pitcher can fake a pick-off to 2nd or 3rd from that "set" position but not to 1st. The pitcher can fake a pick-off to 1st if he/she first steps back off the rubber with the pivot foot.

batter hits ball and stops at 2b...missing 1b. pitcher toes rubber, steps off and throws to 1b to appeal runner missing 1b...balk or not? (based on the premise of throwing to an unoccupied base vs. appealing runner missing a base)

The rules specify that the pitcher cannot jump and throw from the "set" position; the pitcher must first step toward the base and then throw. The pitcher may step back off the rubber with the pivot foot and make snap throws.

If a pitcher throws to the 1st baseman from the "set" position and the 1st baseman is not covering 1st base that is a balk because the pitcher may only throw home or to a base with a runner or to a base a runner is attempting to take from the "set" position.

I'm pretty sure I read that the "set" position requires the hands and ball to come together below the chin.

This has me nuts (and I'm a long-retired high school and college ump): in reviewing the rulebook today I found that the pitcher may from either the "windup" or "set" position:

1 - deliver a pitch to the batter;

2 - throw to a base to attempt a pick-off by stepping toward that base and then throwing;

3 - step back off the rubber and throw anywhere or fake a throw.

I thought a right-handed pitcher had to step off to attempt a pick-off at first base. I thought maybe it had to do with not moving the pivot foot except to go home or step back off the rubber, but then the pitcher is allowed to turn and step to second base to accept a pick-off. The pitcher can fake a throw to 2nd or 3rd but not 1st, so maybe there is a specific rule regarding a pick-off at 1st but I cannot find it.

If runners are on the corners. The 1st baseman is not holding the runner on first, the 1st baseman is playing off the bag in his regular position. Can the pitcher throw the ball to the 1st baseman, who has not moved and who still is not covering the base or is this a balk?

a coach once told me that if u come set with the glove above your chin that it is a balk. is this true?

few answers to previous posts:

The catcher can also balk. If the catcher leaves his box before the pitcher starts his motion home, it is a balk.

Run scoring from 3rd on balk depends on who balked. If pitcher balks, earned run.

The pitcher can step towards first base as long as his foot is not on the rubber and in a set position.

If you're a righty you can just step towards 3rd base from the stretch position, the opposite of a lefty just stepping towards 1st base.

If they chew tobacco and choose not to swallow, they have to spit eventually. If chewing gum it's probably just to mimic chew tobacco or simply out of habit. Spitting with cameras monitoring you is more of an accident and cameramen try to avoid showing it.

when you pick up your leg and go to third you can only go to a 45 degree angle. and yes you can jump to make a throw to third but u have to jump with both feet at the same time.

Why do baseball players spit all the time? I know they used to chew tobacco, but now they are chewing gum. Why do they still spit, especially when they should know the camera is on them?

yes if there is a runner on 3rd you can pick up your front foot, and pick off the third, you may also pick up your foot, fake to third and throw to first..i also don't think you can jump off the rubber, i think thats also a balk.

My Father says that when you are in the stretch postion on the rubber and you close your hands and feet together and lift you leg up you have to go to the plate. But if there is a person on third can't you pick up your foot with your other foot on the rubber and throw it to third?

Is it possible for a right handed pitcher to step directly towards first in a pick off attempt without balking? Does a right handed pitcher have to step off the back of the rubber in order to throw to first on a pick off attempt? Can a pitcher jump off the rubber and throw?

That is my understanding also. Thanks for your input.

Baseballal56

Yes, as long as the pitcher does not lean towards home plate or make any motion towards home, he may step with his non-pivot foot towards second and make the throw there

can any player besides the pitcher get called for a balk?

if a runner scores from third on a balk is it an earned run or unearned run?

Can't a pitcher from the stretch, with a runner on 2nd base, pick up his front leg, pause and then step directly toward 2nd and either throw or fake the throw? My understanding is if the pitcher does not cross his feet or start his momentum toward home, this is not a balk.