When is a pitcher committing a balk? When is he not? Former MLB pitcher Ryan Dempster and former stolen base champ Harold Reynolds discuss in Studio 42.
@Marconfire - *it's Commonly used to shorten the expression "It is". That'll be $10 please. You'll notice I used "That'll" which is short for "That will". Another twn fucking dollars please.
That first example of the throw over to first where he just turns his foot away from the rubber was then argued later that he had to step behind the rubber. They don't even know what a balk is.
Stepping forward off the rubber is the pitch, you have to commit/throw or it's a "feint"/balk. Stepping back is legal, if you want to "ice" the batter and step back and throw off his groove, that's ok.
Lmao, I remember when I was young and in an allstar tournament, I was pitching and this ump called a balk on me probably 5 or 6 times in a game, so I finally asked him "what do you consider a balk" and I ended up more confused than before I asked. Literally couldnt even explain to me what he considered a balk
@@philipchampion Good Lord! I coached 13 to 15 year olds for several years and the best I could do was to teach them to step off the rubber before doing anything else but throw to the plate. I came to the conclusion that it was merely a subjective observation by the umpire because no two of them saw it the same way.
It’s easy guys. A balk is when you, when your foot steps back and, well actually it can step . . . okay so a balk is when the pitcher moves, but not, uh, so when he’s looking at, when he’s NOT supposed to step . . . a balk is when you’re about to not, uh, when the balk is in play. No wait, uh. Okay listen the balk is after the batter has, well okay so you know how prohibited movement is based on . . . no the pitcher looks away from the . . . Let me start over. After the balk you don’t want to, well okay let me explain the balk first actually, so the balk is when the, uh not after the pitch but before the . . . no wait it’s before a pitcher has to, okay so like think of a foul but then, so take the foul lines out of the foul, but um . . . Wait hold on, actually the balk has . . . no it hasn’t, nevermind. A balk is three fundamental parts: 1. The balk 2. The . . . balk? 3. No wait hang on, it’s more like . . . Okay so 3. 1. The step 3. 2. Hold on no no wait a balk is, uh . . .
@@KMcNally117 BALK RULES! IMPORTANT! 1. You can't just be up there and just doin' a balk like that. 1a. A balk is when you 1b. Okay well listen. A balk is when you balk the 1c. Let me start over 1c-a. The pitcher is not allowed to do a motion to the, uh, batter, that prohibits the batter from doing, you know, just trying to hit the ball. You can't do that. 1c-b. Once the pitcher is in the stretch, he can't be over here and say to the runner, like, "I'm gonna get ya! I'm gonna tag you out! You better watch your butt!" and then just be like he didn't even do that. 1c-b(1). Like, if you're about to pitch and then don't pitch, you have to still pitch. You cannot not pitch. Does that make any sense? 1c-b(2). You gotta be, throwing motion of the ball, and then, until you just throw it. 1c-b(2)-a. Okay, well, you can have the ball up here, like this, but then there's the balk you gotta think about. 1c-b(2)-b. Fairuza Balk hasn't been in any movies in forever. I hope she wasn't typecast as that racist lady in American History X. 1c-b(2)-b(i). Oh wait, she was in The Waterboy too! That would be even worse. 1c-b(2)-b(ii). "get in mah bellah" -- Adam Water, "The Waterboy." Haha, classic... 1c-b(3). Okay seriously though. A balk is when the pitcher makes a movement that, as determined by, when you do a move involving the baseball and field of 2. Do not do a balk please
Balk Rules 1) You can't just be up there and just doin' a balk like that. 1a. A balk is when you 1b. Okay well listen. A balk is when you balk the 1c. Let me start over 1c-a. The pitcher is not allowed to do a motion to the, uh, batter, that prohibits the batter from doing, you know, just trying to hit the ball. You can't do that. 1c-b. Once the pitcher is in the stretch, he can't be over here and say to the runner, like, "I'm gonna get ya! I'm gonna tag you out! You better watch your butt!" and then just be like he didn't even do that. 1c-b(1). Like, if you're about to pitch and then don't pitch, you have to still pitch. You cannot not pitch. Does that make any sense? 1c-b(2). You gotta be, throwing motion of the ball, and then, until you just throw it. 1c-b(2)-a. Okay, well, you can have the ball up here, like this, but then there's the balk you gotta think about. 1c-b(2)-b. Fairuza Balk hasn't been in any movies in forever. I hope she wasn't typecast as that racist lady in American History X. 1c-b(2)-b(i). Oh wait, she was in The Waterboy too! That would be even worse. 1c-b(2)-b(ii). "get in mah bellah" -- Adam Water, "The Waterboy." Haha, classic... 1c-b(3). Okay seriously though. A balk is when the pitcher makes a movement that, as determined by, when you do a move involving the baseball and field of 2) Do not do a balk please.
There aren't balk rules per se, just a list of legal actions and a list of illegal actions and prescribed penalties (almost all of them are listed under balk)
Neither do a whole lot of people. In fact, MLB finally gave up and made a fake throw to third a balk because too many people thought that it already was.
@@brendonbuffaloe8830 Isn't that move meant to try to get the runner on third to run and not becuase it stops the fake throw from being a balk? The pitcher has to step behind the rubber to do that. If a RHP did a sweep move fake to first, that would be a balk.
These guys really enjoy taking every opportunity to play catch in their cute, little baseball field, wearing their fancy-ass clothes and polished shoes.
foldupbed he’s also wrong. And they lied about what Shields did. Shields actually stepped towards 3rd first on the pickoff with his back leg. You can’t do that because you need to gain ground with your back foot. That’s in pro ball. In college pitchers get away with putting there back foot up slightly and putting it down before they throw to first. In college that’s legal in pro ball it isn’t. Shields did balk on this play the umpires got it wrong when they overturned this.
Matthew N It looks like a balk to me. Unfortunately, none of the replays clearly show the rubber, and the pitcher’s foot in relation to the rubber. Given that, I don’t see how you can overturn the original call. While the rules can be confusing, the reason for the rule is intent to deceive the runner. And that’s what this action looks like. To step off, you have to completely step back off the rubber. Again, the replay doesn’t clearly show the rubber and his foot’s position with regard to the rubber. So the original call on the field should stand.
His foot is on the back right rubber behind the plate. I'm not sure what the other guys is so adamant it's not because I can see it plain as day. Then again, I have excellent vision (it's actually the only thing I have that excellent, I'm damn near deaf and can't smell much)
It was very very clear, if the pitcher steps behind the mound he becomes an infielder therefore he is able to do whatever he wants. However, if he does not step behind that still makes him a pitcher which means that he must throw to first base or it will be a balk
Jimmy Tooley I support umpires 100% and did it myself at various levels for twenty years. However, I believe they got it right initially but then blew it when thy changed it. Yes he becomes an infielder when he steps off..but stepping off is a distinct move. It’s like when a pitcher steps off and turns to first..TWO distinct moves. This was one move, which constitutes a balk..never should have been changed.
I watched hundreds of MLB compilations of balks and the one thing I know for sure is that there's no defining characteristic of a balk. The umpires call it when they want TV time
Rule 6.02 (a) If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when: (1) The pitcher, while touching his plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery; (2) The pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails to complete the throw; (3) The pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base; (4) The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play; (5) The pitcher makes an illegal pitch; (6) The pitcher delivers the ball to the batter while he is not facing the batter; (7) The pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher's plate; (8) The pitcher unnecessarily delays the game; (9) The pitcher, without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher's plate or while off the plate he feints a pitch; (10) The pitcher, after coming to a legal pitching position, removes one hand from the ball other than in an actual pitch, or in throwing to a base; (11) The pitcher, while touching his plate, accidentally or intentionally has the ball slip or fall out of his hand or glove; (12) The pitcher, while giving an intentional base on balls, pitches when the catcher is not in the catcher's box; (13) The pitcher delivers the pitch from the Set Position without coming to a stop; The pitcher may not take a second step toward home plate with either foot or otherwise reset his pivot foot in his delivery of the pitch. If there is a runner, or runners, on base it is a balk under rule 6.02(a)(5); if the bases are unoccupied it is an illegal pitch under rule 6.02(b) hopefully, this will explain the rule to those who THINK they know better than the umpires!!
Ah, so a "balk" can only be committed IF there is/are (a) baserunner(s). See other parts of rule 6.02 for what constitutes an illegal pitch when there are no baserunners.
Our rule was if a lefty throws over on you, break for 2nd no matter what. The idea was that if they can execute 2 throws on you, then you don't have any business stealing bases anyway.
Richard_Head Pros are good at bringing the knee in, but in high school or lower leagues just wait for the right foot to cross the plain of the left knee, because the pitcher must come home when that happens.. And that’s a split second before the foot starts to rotate..
Balks are different for righties and lefties. In Shields’ case(righty). He physically has to move his back foot behind the rubber before committing a pick off move. Which in the video he seems to do just barely
@@LplusRatioplusNobodyCares stepping off is different from pick off moves. Righty pitcher to first: once set, the pitcher can't make any deceiving motions, no flinching, nothing like that. He can either step off, deliver to the plate, or make a pick off attempt. The pick off attempt doesn't require a step off. Lefty pitcher to first: more or less the same as above, except if a lefty pitcher makes a pick off attempt without stepping forwards first base with their lead foot, it's a balk. The move in question here is a step-off requires the pitcher to put his foot behind the rubber, before moving from his set, which the pitcher is making his fake to first in one motion with his step-off. But this has always been a loose rule, if you watch pitchers, they almost always move out of their set simultaneously with their stepping off.
"Shit... Like, you know, uh, that thing....Shit! You're gonna be like, boom! Damn that smells. Because that's shit. And then, just like that, that's, uh, shit. Boom!
A pitcher can still commit a balk with no one on base, it is considered a ball. Not coming to a stop, a quick-pitch, or stopping and starting again after putting his foot on the Pitcher's plate are reasons for a balk with no runners on base.
See Rule 5.07(e). If the pitcher steps backward off the pitcher's plate, he becomes an infielder. He can fake a throw, even to 1st base, or do a hula dance if he wanted. :-) The balk rules are poorly written, and there are a lot of "traditional" (not technical) interpretations flying around.
Yes, that is true: Rule 5.07(a)1,6.02(a)7 and (a)9. A player may not simulate being a pitcher while not touching the pitcher's plate. But I repeat that the pitching and balk rules are disorganized and poorly written, and many people have only learned what their coaches or buddies told them 30 years ago. So there is a lot of confusion out there.
As an umpire this is one of the hardest calls to make. The better way to change the rule is was it an attempt to deceive the runner . If yes it’s a balk no matter the circumstances unless the foot comes back behind the rubber. Forget all the other quirks and whether they are slide stepping. Just simplify it
All pick off moves, are by definition, an attempt to deceive the runner. The balk rule is very poorly written. By letter of the rule, a RHP should be able to step directly to first and throw. However, in actual exercise, this would result in a balk. LHP have a gigantic advantage to RHP in pickoff moves to first because of this.
A Balk is simple. When a pitcher is on the mound (meaning foot on the rubber getting a sign or coming set) he has three moves. His first move being simply throwing a pitch. His second move is just simply stepping off (meaning he takes his drive foot and puts it behind the rubber). The third move is where the balk comes into play. A right handed pitcher has two ways of performing a pick off to first, number one is stepping off and then throwing over. When he steps off the pitcher is now no longer a pitcher he takes on the position of an infielder and can do whatever he wants. For example, a shortstop can do whatever he wants, kick the dirt, jump up and down, anything, but, if the pitcher is on the rubber he can only perform one of the three moves listed above, Or it will be considered a balk. The other pickoff move is a quick turn, this is the move that he performed in this play, the only reason it was a balk is because he turned twice and didn’t just throw to first when he turned from the set position.
I think it was a balk. That was a single motion of jump/twist to first. That was not a step off, then turn throw to first. The motion to throw was begun immediately. Perhaps the rule needs more clarification.
As long as I can remember, the balk has been the most controversial rule in baseball. I think MLB could do something to reform the rule. My idea: as soon as the pitcher is set on the rubber, wherever he throws the ball is considered a pitch (unless time out has been called). This will also speed up the pace of the game. Pitchers will no longer be playing catch with the 1st baseman, but will only throw to 1st if he thinks he has a shot at picking off the runner.
The argument here isn't about the ruling of what a balk is. The argument is over where James shields right foot planted prior to pivoting towards first. By not throwing the ball, Shields is required to clear the rubber with his back foot. The video is inconclusive of whether or not he did. If you really want to talk balks, look at Julio Urias.
He's not required to clear the rubber. He's required to take his plant foot off the rubber in backwards fashion, disengaging from the rubber, which he did. If he does not contact the rubber after disengaging, no balk rules apply; a balk is impossible.
It's clear and conclusive that he stepped behind the rubber, with his back foot first, before he threw. Just watch the video. And use your eyes this time.
ok, so. a balk is when the pitcher looks like he is throwing to a base, but then tricks everyone and throws to another base. It's basically snake eyes but with feet. However, they can do that when they step behind the white line (rubber). Ex: If I am facing home plate and my feet are set to throw it home, I cannot throw to first. everything else goes into detail on what constitutes as "well what is deceiving? What if that is how he throws?" That is up to the umpire to ultimately decide. But the line above is the basic rule. If you have any questions lmk.
PSA: You don't have to come set if you don't deliver a pitch. His lack of coming set is irrelevant to this discussion. The only thing that matters is whether he disengaged the rubber. MLB network did terrible job and frankly camera evidence is inconclusive. Ridiculous segment.
Mike Garner the problem isn’t that he didn’t come set. The problem is that he initiates his pick off in the same motion as coming set. As a pitcher if I’m in the middle of my motion (about to come set) and I don’t stop before stepping off then that’s a balk. TLDR: the main problem is that it’s all in one motion
@@__dane__ You must come set before delivering a pitch. There is no need to come set before picking to a base. As long as his pivot foot moves back of the rubber, this is not a balk. The fact that it was all in one motion does not make it a balk.
@@alanhess9306 balk rules for runners on base rule 6.02 (a)(7) The pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher’s plate.
@@louiscypher4186 Yes, I know the rule. That rule is intended to address a pitcher who is off the rubber and goes into the stretch or the windup in order to deceive the runner into thinking he is delivering a pitch. Ryan is correct in the video and Harold doesn't know what he is talking about. As long as the pitcher's foot lands behind the back of the rubber, even if it is off to the side, it is not a balk.
@@alanhess9306 his entire intent was to deceive the base runner into thinking it was a pitch, it's exactly why that rule exists it wasn't for any specific motion which is why it covers any motion. it was a balk.
I'm with Harold Reynolds on this one. He doesn't step off backwards, hence, balk. Plus, he starts the throwing motion BEFORE he's stepped off (or not off) anyway, so the first point is moot.
couldn't disagree with you more. His hands never separate until his right foot is clear of the rubber and behind it. Step back means back behind the rubber.
I'm with Harold too. Everyone agreed the move is designed to deceive runners. That effectively makes it a balk. If the intent is to deceive, it's a balk.
@@jakestine4753 I think Harold is wrong. What is the difference between stepping in front of the rubber or to the side on a jab-step move? Both would be moves from the rubber because there was not a disengagement so the pitcher cannot fake to first.
That cleared things up about as well as trying to read a dictionary upside down and through a mirror... Now I'm just way more confused. Lmfao, I actually thought I had an idea of what a balk was before I watched this video, not anymore!
I think we can all agree that it's a matter of fact that his right foot was OFF the rubber at the time his left foot left the ground? that's what it looked like to me, and if you play it back in slow motion, you'll find his right foot just hitting the ground as the left foot raises. I think this is what you need to look at...cuz u can't really tell where his foot is in relation to the rubber with these camera angles. It is clear that he stepped off the rubber though, and i think it's important in relation to when his left foot left the ground.
You can clearly see at 0:09 he didn't balk, therefore it wasn't a balk. You see, if he had done a balk it would have been a balk, but since he didn't balk, it wasn't a balk. As a pitcher, it is 100% legal for you to not balk, however the second you balk, it's a balk.
I agree. Nobody making reference to the primary and secondary positions of the stretch. I, for one, did not see a definitive set, stop motion, into the secondary position. Looks like he just did one motion from primary, to secondary, to pickoff. The intention is to give the runners an advantage to see what the pitcher is going to do. (Continue pitching, or become an infielder.) Before the balk Rule was written, back in the day, pitchers were doing this kind of Mickey Mouse stuff all the time. I wish umpires were more strict in upholding this baseball rule, because there’s a lot of pitchers getting away with a lot of funny stuff. Believe there is a lot of confusion by the general public in how the balk Rule works. So, if it’s a difficult concept to communicate, and there’s a lot of confusion on the matter, and MLB is trying to speed up the game to make it more marketable, then maybe the Balk is not getting called as much as it should??
Ok, I stand corrected. The throw to 3rd was legal because the pitcher had disengaged therefore making him a fielder. The throw to 3rd was legal. But the pitcher still didnt "stop"before faking to 1st.
It is a balk. He can’t step off the rubber before he finished his motion to reach the set position. He is moving from picking up the signs to the set position but he never reaches the set position and then he steps off, that is balk. He should reached the set position wait a split second and the step off.
So a balk is when the pitcher fucks up by breaking his stride. You must throw where you are aiming to throw, unless your foot is behind the rubber, as that actively makes you an infielder and you can do and throw wherever you want
That1BaseballGuy Atleast all the really good ones are. Sometimes its really close and hard to tell, thats probably why alot of umps dont always call them
The Balk, explained: 1. You take… 2. The uh, ball 3. But! No buts! 4. And then… 5. But if… 6. Say my name! 7. If… 8. Only…? 9. Wait, what? 0. Come again? 1. Oh, I see 2. Never…well, perhaps 3. You can…uh, no you can’t 4. Unless 5. No, scratch that 6. Throw the…ball? 7. Your mitt…is it…could it… 8. If you balk your legs 9. It’s hard to cook orangutan! 0. And other poems 1. by Maya Angelou 2. Goodnight, John Boy!
The “Quick move” is when the pitcher lifts the heel of their right foot to quickly pivot and throw. One must throw to first base when doing this or else it’s a balk. Only if they step off completely behind the rubber can they choose not to throw. However for a quick move to second base it is not required that you throw it as long as you disengage from the rubber.
I'm a pretty low level umpire, but I still am an ump so I thought I might offer my insight. The rulebook wording is such that, from set position (hands together- dempster shows this early on) the pitcher may throw to a base, pitch, or step backwards off the plate with the back foot- so the step has to be a. backwards and b. result in no contact with the mound. When in contact with the mound, you have to step directly towards a base before making the throw. If he was still on the mound, this would have been a balk; you cannot "feint a throw" to first and not actually throw it- again, provided you're touching the plate. tl;dr: If you're touching the mound, you gotta go to the base you fake the throw to. If from set position, you disengage by stepping backwards and off, you can do what you want (within reason). You don't have to clear the mound (be fully behind it, you can be to the side and next to, but not touching it), but it's a good idea because it makes it obvious to the umpire. tl;dr again: It was legal from what I can tell
To clarify: The initial move done by Dempster commits him to first: he's still contacting the rubber. The move done by Shields, however, does not, as he's not contacting the rubber having stepped off legally, and is now a fielder in the eyes of the rulebook.
So when touching the pitcher rubber, you can't fake a throw to a first base? And when touching the rubber, you also can't throw to a base without stepping in that direction. So you can't do a "no look pass" like all the really talented players do in other sports to look cool? Oh well you explained it way better than these talking idiot heads did even if they had a 24 hour cable network...
The explanation can be summarized like this: If the pitcher steps off, behind the rubber, he can do fake throws or anything else he wants. If he doesn’t do that, the maneuver Shields attempted is a balk. Reynolds and Dempster could not agree on whether Shields stepped off behind the rubber, and there was no decisive video evidence to show what he did do.
LOL. Clear as mud. In one sentence (for people who don't know baseball) *a BALK is when the pitcher FAKES a PITCH to the batter and then throws to a base to attempt a pickoff* . That's ALL it is. A pitcher cannot break from their windup and then throw to a base. Once they begin their windup, they have to deliver the ball to home plate.
Insert clip from the Adam Sandler classic BILLY MADISON: “...everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to that. I award you no points (balk) and may God have mercy on your soul.”
In typical Harold fashion he thinks he knows what he is talking about (he rarely does in my opinion) and is arguing with a pitcher over a move by a pitcher, guy needs to learn to shut his mouth and listen more often
Dempster and Reynolds looking at the Shields video and seeing different things then demonstrating on the studio mound with unintentionally different foot movements on every example they execute. Couldn't be any more confusing.
Real answer: not committing a throw to the direction you step after coming set. If you step toward home, you throw home; if you step toward first, you have to throw first. Studder stepping or making a deceptive movement is a balk. Stepping (back) off the rubber is not a balk, but you will piss off the ump if you do it enough.
So Ryan ultimately admitted that, if he stepped back, it was only slightly, not enough to clear the rubber. Harold, the non-pitcher, was right. It should have been a balk.
Yeah. I think this video should be called “Don’t worry if you don’t know what a balk is. MLB umps and professional sportscasters don’t quite know either.”
Balk Rules 1. You can't just be up there and just doin' a balk like that. 1a. A balk is when you 1b. Okay well listen. A balk is when you balk the 1c. Let me start over 1c-a. The pitcher is not allowed to do a motion to the, uh, batter, that prohibits the batter from doing, you know, just trying to hit the ball. You can't do that. 1c-b. Once the pitcher is in the stretch, he can't be over here and say to the runner, like, "I'm gonna get ya! I'm gonna tag you out! You better watch your butt!" and then just be like he didn't even do that. 1c-b(1). Like, if you're about to pitch and then don't pitch, you have to still pitch. You cannot not pitch. Does that make any sense? 1c-b(2). You gotta be, throwing motion of the ball, and then, until you just throw it. 1c-b(2)-a. Okay, well, you can have the ball up here, like this, but then there's the balk you gotta think about. 1c-b(2)-b. Fairuza Balk hasn't been in any movies in forever. I hope she wasn't typecast as that racist lady in American History X. 1c-b(2)-b(i). Oh wait, she was in The Waterboy too! That would be even worse. 1c-b(2)-b(ii). "get in mah bellah" -- Adam Water, "The Waterboy." Haha, classic... 1c-b(3). Okay seriously though. A balk is when the pitcher makes a movement that, as determined by, when you do a move involving the baseball and field of 2. Do not do a balk please.
Ok ez explain : so if your back foot is off the rubber you can run into the outfield if you want. So as long as your foot isnt on the rubber you can fake throw anywhere you can do anything. The ball is in play and runners can run. A balk is if you mive your body while your foot is on the rubber
There is no rule that says you can't move while your foot is on the rubber. I mean....a pitch could not be thrown if that were a rule. You kind of have to move your body to pitch the ball. Unfortunately, there is no one rule that covers everything that is a balk. It is a complicated rule, and even veterans of the game are confused by it at times. It is better to just state the purpose of the rule, and then most things that are balks become common sense. The purpose of the rule is to prevent the pitcher from unfairly deceiving base runners by making any part of any move that is normally associated with his delivery of the ball, and then not delivering the ball.
This sucks because they never had a clear camera look at his STEP-BACK FOOT. I think it was a BALK because he never threw to first base. It looked like he stepped to the side of the rubber so he was OBLIGATED TO THROW to the base he first move toward which was first base. MLB will have to make this side step move on the rubber an automatic balk or else every pitcher will doing it.
Balks are intended to make it fairer for the base runner. Nobody can out-run from full on-base to on-base a thrown ball so the balk makes it so that the pitcher can NOT keep the runner on base with a bunch of fake throws. Runners need their lead off distance to make the steal possible. Fake throws would make the game 6 hours long very tedious to watch by the fans.
Like hardens step back. These guys have perfected these moves to the point where they probably do balk/travel a couple times out of 1000 but you aren’t going to call them on it.
The thing that troubles me is that the pitcher did not come to a complete set. His arm is still moving around but not stoppage of the motion. Normally, there would be a deliberate pause between setting and throwing (home or to the bases). Not in this case though. I've seen countless times when that extra motion is called a balk.
Jay Ayers don't have to come set unless it's a pitch to the plate, any pick off, or step off (backwards not to side) does not require pitcher to be set
I have seen left handed pitchers never move their foot away from the rubber when throwing to first base. I thought a balk was when the pitcher fails to hesitate before making the pitch to the batter.
Pitcher on the replay never came set. If you don’t come set when you are on the rubber and throw or fake a throw, it is a balk. No question about it. Harold Reynolds was right.
I don't understand why some perfectly looking plays get called a balk but Nestor Cortes dancing on the mound isn't. I really don't understand. And MLB wonders why no one watches anymore.
It is basically a fake, flop, or delay-of-game by the pitcher. People mock the balk call, but if balking was allowed, you would see that the game started to look way different for the worse.
5 mins later, I'm even more confused about what constitutes a balk than before. Thanks.
Me to thought a balk was the pitcher lets a runner advance a base. Im confused.
superque4 feel bad for you.
星が欲しい。。。 that's known as an Intentional balk. It is very uncommom
I better not watch then😂😂
Same
It's a very simple concept, so simple a pre-schooler could understand it. You see, a balk is when the pitcher
its not cool to take a break before finishing you sentence man. we still waitting
@@transeeyou885 its ok what he was trying to explain is how
@Marconfire - *it's
Commonly used to shorten the expression "It is". That'll be $10 please. You'll notice I used "That'll" which is short for "That will". Another twn fucking dollars please.
Fender Jaguar ten* do I get $10?
So its been almost a year
This is the worst explanation of anything that I've ever heard in my entire life.
all 3 literally disagree on what a balk is
That first example of the throw over to first where he just turns his foot away from the rubber was then argued later that he had to step behind the rubber. They don't even know what a balk is.
Stepping forward off the rubber is the pitch, you have to commit/throw or it's a "feint"/balk.
Stepping back is legal, if you want to "ice" the batter and step back and throw off his groove, that's ok.
Just see old guys trying to relive their younger years with that setup their using in that studio.
@@howdareyou41They aren't umpires.
A balk is something no umpire can describe but he knows it when he sees it.
Lmao, I remember when I was young and in an allstar tournament, I was pitching and this ump called a balk on me probably 5 or 6 times in a game, so I finally asked him "what do you consider a balk" and I ended up more confused than before I asked. Literally couldnt even explain to me what he considered a balk
No, it's the opposite. It's something they can describe but they don't know it when they see it !
@@philipchampion Would you mind sharing the link where a professional umpire describes the balk?
@@johannesswillery7855 I would, but I buried them all.
@@philipchampion Good Lord! I coached 13 to 15 year olds for several years and the best I could do was to teach them to step off the rubber before doing anything else but throw to the plate. I came to the conclusion that it was merely a subjective observation by the umpire because no two of them saw it the same way.
It’s easy guys. A balk is when you, when your foot steps back and, well actually it can step . . . okay so a balk is when the pitcher moves, but not, uh, so when he’s looking at, when he’s NOT supposed to step . . . a balk is when you’re about to not, uh, when the balk is in play.
No wait, uh. Okay listen the balk is after the batter has, well okay so you know how prohibited movement is based on . . . no the pitcher looks away from the . . .
Let me start over. After the balk you don’t want to, well okay let me explain the balk first actually, so the balk is when the, uh not after the pitch but before the . . . no wait it’s before a pitcher has to, okay so like think of a foul but then, so take the foul lines out of the foul, but um . . .
Wait hold on, actually the balk has . . . no it hasn’t, nevermind. A balk is three fundamental parts:
1. The balk
2. The . . . balk?
3. No wait hang on, it’s more like . . . Okay so
3. 1. The step
3. 2. Hold on no no wait a balk is, uh . . .
Classic Jon Bois
Spot on.
@@KMcNally117 BALK RULES! IMPORTANT!
1. You can't just be up there and just doin' a balk like that.
1a. A balk is when you
1b. Okay well listen. A balk is when you balk the
1c. Let me start over
1c-a. The pitcher is not allowed to do a motion to the, uh, batter, that prohibits the batter from doing, you know, just trying to hit the ball. You can't do that.
1c-b. Once the pitcher is in the stretch, he can't be over here and say to the runner, like, "I'm gonna get ya! I'm gonna tag you out! You better watch your butt!" and then just be like he didn't even do that.
1c-b(1). Like, if you're about to pitch and then don't pitch, you have to still pitch. You cannot not pitch. Does that make any sense?
1c-b(2). You gotta be, throwing motion of the ball, and then, until you just throw it.
1c-b(2)-a. Okay, well, you can have the ball up here, like this, but then there's the balk you gotta think about.
1c-b(2)-b. Fairuza Balk hasn't been in any movies in forever. I hope she wasn't typecast as that racist lady in American History X.
1c-b(2)-b(i). Oh wait, she was in The Waterboy too! That would be even worse.
1c-b(2)-b(ii). "get in mah bellah" -- Adam Water, "The Waterboy." Haha, classic...
1c-b(3). Okay seriously though. A balk is when the pitcher makes a movement that, as determined by, when you do a move involving the baseball and field of
2. Do not do a balk please
Balk Rules
1) You can't just be up there and just doin' a balk like that.
1a. A balk is when you
1b. Okay well listen. A balk is when you balk the
1c. Let me start over
1c-a. The pitcher is not allowed to do a motion to the, uh, batter, that prohibits the batter from doing, you know, just trying to hit the ball. You can't do that.
1c-b. Once the pitcher is in the stretch, he can't be over here and say to the runner, like, "I'm gonna get ya! I'm gonna tag you out! You better watch your butt!" and then just be like he didn't even do that.
1c-b(1). Like, if you're about to pitch and then don't pitch, you have to still pitch. You cannot not pitch. Does that make any sense?
1c-b(2). You gotta be, throwing motion of the ball, and then, until you just throw it.
1c-b(2)-a. Okay, well, you can have the ball up here, like this, but then there's the balk you gotta think about.
1c-b(2)-b. Fairuza Balk hasn't been in any movies in forever. I hope she wasn't typecast as that racist lady in American History X.
1c-b(2)-b(i). Oh wait, she was in The Waterboy too! That would be even worse.
1c-b(2)-b(ii). "get in mah bellah" -- Adam Water, "The Waterboy." Haha, classic...
1c-b(3). Okay seriously though. A balk is when the pitcher makes a movement that, as determined by, when you do a move involving the baseball and field of
2) Do not do a balk please.
There aren't balk rules per se, just a list of legal actions and a list of illegal actions and prescribed penalties (almost all of them are listed under balk)
I'm aware. It's a joke.
Oh. Sorry. I'm blind. Yes that's funny.
This is freaking awesome
Like everything else good on the internet, this was created by Jon Bois.
Simply put, a balk is when you balk.
I like the hocks to
Hawks
Yeah it’s so simple. That’s why absolutely nobody can ever agree on it
Finally! Someone who gets it!
Well yes, but actually yes
Awesome explanation. I'm now more confused which is amazing because I wasn't even confused before this I just had no idea what a balk was.
Neither do a whole lot of people. In fact, MLB finally gave up and made a fake throw to third a balk because too many people thought that it already was.
@@roberthudson1959 If he turns and throws it to first after that, do you know if it’s still a balk? Same for lefties with 1st-3rd
@@roberthudson1959 I know it's been two years, but fake throw after stepping forward or backward off the rubber and in what order with the feet?
@@brendonbuffaloe8830 Isn't that move meant to try to get the runner on third to run and not becuase it stops the fake throw from being a balk? The pitcher has to step behind the rubber to do that. If a RHP did a sweep move fake to first, that would be a balk.
These guys really enjoy taking every opportunity to play catch in their cute, little baseball field, wearing their fancy-ass clothes and polished shoes.
I would do too
Wouldn't you?
do you suppose it would be less pathetic if they had uniforms
Just like you enjoy taking every opportunity to write a stupid comment through your phone, computer, etc with pj's at home
This video is interesting, but the title is misleading. This video is detailed information about a balk, but it doesn't give basic, foundational info!
foldupbed Tue that
That's because no one really knows what a balk is lol
foldupbed he’s also wrong. And they lied about what Shields did. Shields actually stepped towards 3rd first on the pickoff with his back leg. You can’t do that because you need to gain ground with your back foot. That’s in pro ball. In college pitchers get away with putting there back foot up slightly and putting it down before they throw to first. In college that’s legal in pro ball it isn’t. Shields did balk on this play the umpires got it wrong when they overturned this.
Matthew N It looks like a balk to me. Unfortunately, none of the replays clearly show the rubber, and the pitcher’s foot in relation to the rubber. Given that, I don’t see how you can overturn the original call.
While the rules can be confusing, the reason for the rule is intent to deceive the runner. And that’s what this action looks like. To step off, you have to completely step back off the rubber. Again, the replay doesn’t clearly show the rubber and his foot’s position with regard to the rubber. So the original call on the field should stand.
John Cronin I completely agree
Say “clear the rubber” one more time
Without a clear view of the rubber, this discussion is worthless. Sorry guys. Looks like you enjoyed this.
His foot is on the back right rubber behind the plate. I'm not sure what the other guys is so adamant it's not because I can see it plain as day. Then again, I have excellent vision (it's actually the only thing I have that excellent, I'm damn near deaf and can't smell much)
@@JSchaffer214 Thanks for the rebound. You're right! The view provided at 4:29 shows that back step clearly behind the rubber. What a boss move!
Well done, gentlemen, thanks to your inarticulate jabbering I have learned nothing at all from this segment.
That's because the network fired all the good analysts last year. Thank you, ESPN
That's because you're stupid. I mean, if you don't get it, why would post?
Why advertise your stupidity?
It was very very clear, if the pitcher steps behind the mound he becomes an infielder therefore he is able to do whatever he wants. However, if he does not step behind that still makes him a pitcher which means that he must throw to first base or it will be a balk
Jimmy Tooley I support umpires 100% and did it myself at various levels for twenty years. However, I believe they got it right initially but then blew it when thy changed it. Yes he becomes an infielder when he steps off..but stepping off is a distinct move. It’s like when a pitcher steps off and turns to first..TWO distinct moves. This was one move, which constitutes a balk..never should have been changed.
@@jimmytooley1076 I feel your reply makes the video more clear.
i thought i was dumb that I couldn't understand what is a balk, until i saw the comments and realized they actually have poor explanation
In short, a balk is whatever the umpires say it is, which varies from day to day and how much they like/dislike the pitcher.
No way. A balk is an intentional or unintentional move that can serve as a desception to the runner.
@@scottj18 That's the rule, but enforcement is more like how DroverChicago described it.
Wow if allen iverson was a pitcher, steve javie would call balk before he hits the mound
Haaaahahahaha!! I'll keep with this one.
I watched hundreds of MLB compilations of balks and the one thing I know for sure is that there's no defining characteristic of a balk. The umpires call it when they want TV time
😂
The NBA version of the balk where nobody understands it is the lane violation during FTs.
It's not that there is no defining characteristic, it's that there are too many.
It’s such a simple rule to understand but they suck at explaining stuff
Rule 6.02 (a) If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when:
(1) The pitcher, while touching his plate, makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch and fails to make such delivery;
(2) The pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first or third base and fails to complete the throw;
(3) The pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base;
(4) The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play;
(5) The pitcher makes an illegal pitch;
(6) The pitcher delivers the ball to the batter while he is not facing the batter;
(7) The pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher's plate;
(8) The pitcher unnecessarily delays the game;
(9) The pitcher, without having the ball, stands on or astride the pitcher's plate or while off the plate he feints a pitch;
(10) The pitcher, after coming to a legal pitching position, removes one hand from the ball other than in an actual pitch, or in throwing to a base;
(11) The pitcher, while touching his plate, accidentally or intentionally has the ball slip or fall out of his hand or glove;
(12) The pitcher, while giving an intentional base on balls, pitches when the catcher is not in the catcher's box;
(13) The pitcher delivers the pitch from the Set Position without coming to a stop;
The pitcher may not take a second step toward home plate with either foot or otherwise reset his pivot foot in his delivery of the pitch. If there is a runner, or runners, on base it is a balk under rule 6.02(a)(5); if the bases are unoccupied it is an illegal pitch under rule 6.02(b)
hopefully, this will explain the rule to those who THINK they know better than the umpires!!
Can't (9) be simplified quite a bit? Feints a pitch while being either on or off of the plate?
@@hainsay that is how it is written in the official rule book.
(6)
THERE WILL BE NO TOMFOOLERY IN THIS BASES-BALL OF OURS. NO FOPDOODLES WILL RUN AROUND PITCHING BACKWARDS, YOU HEAR?
@@tylerolson3261 do you have an English translation for that?
Ah, so a "balk" can only be committed IF there is/are (a) baserunner(s). See other parts of rule 6.02 for what constitutes an illegal pitch when there are no baserunners.
That would be a dope kickball field
Need overhead perspective. No camera angles show foot position.
When I was in high school, I could never steal 2nd from a left handed pitcher. Nothing to do with the video. Just telling my little story.
Our rule was if a lefty throws over on you, break for 2nd no matter what. The idea was that if they can execute 2 throws on you, then you don't have any business stealing bases anyway.
Richard_Head
Pros are good at bringing the knee in, but in high school or lower leagues just wait for the right foot to cross the plain of the left knee, because the pitcher must come home when that happens.. And that’s a split second before the foot starts to rotate..
Y'all are missing a "t" in the title.
A Well Built Taco I just noticed that
Nice catch
90% of the people who post TH-cam videos are HOOORRRRRIIIBBBLLLLLEEEEEE with their titles; it's like second graders posting!!
Portends the explanatory quality of the video itself.
@@pkmr5284 Calm yourself
"I never called a balk because I didn't understand the rule". Ron Luciano.
Am I the only one still confused?????
Not at all
Its simple guys...a balk is when a pitcher
Balks are different for righties and lefties. In Shields’ case(righty). He physically has to move his back foot behind the rubber before committing a pick off move. Which in the video he seems to do just barely
@@LplusRatioplusNobodyCares stepping off is different from pick off moves.
Righty pitcher to first: once set, the pitcher can't make any deceiving motions, no flinching, nothing like that. He can either step off, deliver to the plate, or make a pick off attempt. The pick off attempt doesn't require a step off.
Lefty pitcher to first: more or less the same as above, except if a lefty pitcher makes a pick off attempt without stepping forwards first base with their lead foot, it's a balk.
The move in question here is a step-off requires the pitcher to put his foot behind the rubber, before moving from his set, which the pitcher is making his fake to first in one motion with his step-off. But this has always been a loose rule, if you watch pitchers, they almost always move out of their set simultaneously with their stepping off.
Nope I'm still confused as hell on it
These guys can't explain shit!
And feces is a LOT easier to explain than a balk.
"Shit... Like, you know, uh, that thing....Shit! You're gonna be like, boom! Damn that smells. Because that's shit. And then, just like that, that's, uh, shit. Boom!
ur just slow
it makes so much sence now, wish I knew this like 8-9 years ago. How are people still confused this was a great explanation
One of my pet peeves is when a pitcher stops during his windup and people yell "balk!"....and there is nobody on base.
Ted Hoeborn Boston fans tend to do that when they visit Baltimore. I think that deserves a bitch slap from the Oriole Bird...
id be more worried about 70 loses by the all-star break...
A pitcher can still commit a balk with no one on base, it is considered a ball. Not coming to a stop, a quick-pitch, or stopping and starting again after putting his foot on the Pitcher's plate are reasons for a balk with no runners on base.
Why would a pitcher do that if no one were on base?
Ted Hoeborn loss of concentration.
4 mins in and you still haven't answered your own question.
What a waste of my time.
See Rule 5.07(e). If the pitcher steps backward off the pitcher's plate, he becomes an infielder. He can fake a throw, even to 1st base, or do a hula dance if he wanted. :-) The balk rules are poorly written, and there are a lot of "traditional" (not technical) interpretations flying around.
Basically, yes.
Yes, that is true: Rule 5.07(a)1,6.02(a)7 and (a)9. A player may not simulate being a pitcher while not touching the pitcher's plate. But I repeat that the pitching and balk rules are disorganized and poorly written, and many people have only learned what their coaches or buddies told them 30 years ago. So there is a lot of confusion out there.
As an umpire this is one of the hardest calls to make. The better way to change the rule is was it an attempt to deceive the runner . If yes it’s a balk no matter the circumstances unless the foot comes back behind the rubber. Forget all the other quirks and whether they are slide stepping. Just simplify it
All pick off moves, are by definition, an attempt to deceive the runner. The balk rule is very poorly written.
By letter of the rule, a RHP should be able to step directly to first and throw. However, in actual exercise, this would result in a balk. LHP have a gigantic advantage to RHP in pickoff moves to first because of this.
What about becoming set before the move i mean it shields never set. dont you need to set before you step off at all
A Balk is simple. When a pitcher is on the mound (meaning foot on the rubber getting a sign or coming set) he has three moves. His first move being simply throwing a pitch. His second move is just simply stepping off (meaning he takes his drive foot and puts it behind the rubber). The third move is where the balk comes into play. A right handed pitcher has two ways of performing a pick off to first, number one is stepping off and then throwing over. When he steps off the pitcher is now no longer a pitcher he takes on the position of an infielder and can do whatever he wants. For example, a shortstop can do whatever he wants, kick the dirt, jump up and down, anything, but, if the pitcher is on the rubber he can only perform one of the three moves listed above, Or it will be considered a balk. The other pickoff move is a quick turn, this is the move that he performed in this play, the only reason it was a balk is because he turned twice and didn’t just throw to first when he turned from the set position.
Everyone knows what a balk is but no one knows what a balk is
I think it was a balk. That was a single motion of jump/twist to first. That was not a step off, then turn throw to first. The motion to throw was begun immediately. Perhaps the rule needs more clarification.
I love watching these “balk” videos. They make me feel less stupid about my (lack of) baseball knowledge. I know a balk when I see one….sometimes
As long as I can remember, the balk has been the most controversial rule in baseball. I think MLB could do something to reform the rule. My idea: as soon as the pitcher is set on the rubber, wherever he throws the ball is considered a pitch (unless time out has been called). This will also speed up the pace of the game. Pitchers will no longer be playing catch with the 1st baseman, but will only throw to 1st if he thinks he has a shot at picking off the runner.
Wouldn't this give base runners a huge advantage during a 3 ball count? The pitcher would not be able to pick off without walking the batter.
The argument here isn't about the ruling of what a balk is. The argument is over where James shields right foot planted prior to pivoting towards first. By not throwing the ball, Shields is required to clear the rubber with his back foot. The video is inconclusive of whether or not he did. If you really want to talk balks, look at Julio Urias.
He's not required to clear the rubber. He's required to take his plant foot off the rubber in backwards fashion, disengaging from the rubber, which he did. If he does not contact the rubber after disengaging, no balk rules apply; a balk is impossible.
Michael Heathman Isn’t the reason that they’re trying to pull more tricks is because they’re trying to compete/win?
It's clear and conclusive that he stepped behind the rubber, with his back foot first, before he threw. Just watch the video. And use your eyes this time.
It's a slick move, he does it perfectly! Genius! I still think it was a balk.
ok, so. a balk is when the pitcher looks like he is throwing to a base, but then tricks everyone and throws to another base. It's basically snake eyes but with feet. However, they can do that when they step behind the white line (rubber).
Ex: If I am facing home plate and my feet are set to throw it home, I cannot throw to first.
everything else goes into detail on what constitutes as "well what is deceiving? What if that is how he throws?" That is up to the umpire to ultimately decide. But the line above is the basic rule. If you have any questions lmk.
PSA: You don't have to come set if you don't deliver a pitch. His lack of coming set is irrelevant to this discussion. The only thing that matters is whether he disengaged the rubber. MLB network did terrible job and frankly camera evidence is inconclusive. Ridiculous segment.
Mike Garner the problem isn’t that he didn’t come set. The problem is that he initiates his pick off in the same motion as coming set. As a pitcher if I’m in the middle of my motion (about to come set) and I don’t stop before stepping off then that’s a balk.
TLDR: the main problem is that it’s all in one motion
@@__dane__ You must come set before delivering a pitch. There is no need to come set before picking to a base. As long as his pivot foot moves back of the rubber, this is not a balk. The fact that it was all in one motion does not make it a balk.
@@alanhess9306 balk rules for runners on base rule 6.02 (a)(7) The pitcher makes any motion naturally associated with
his pitch while he is not touching the pitcher’s plate.
@@louiscypher4186 Yes, I know the rule. That rule is intended to address a pitcher who is off the rubber and goes into the stretch or the windup in order to deceive the runner into thinking he is delivering a pitch. Ryan is correct in the video and Harold doesn't know what he is talking about. As long as the pitcher's foot lands behind the back of the rubber, even if it is off to the side, it is not a balk.
@@alanhess9306 his entire intent was to deceive the base runner into thinking it was a pitch, it's exactly why that rule exists it wasn't for any specific motion which is why it covers any motion. it was a balk.
Guys it’s simple. A balk is when the umpire puts his hands up and gives a free base to each baserunner.
I'm with Harold Reynolds on this one. He doesn't step off backwards, hence, balk. Plus, he starts the throwing motion BEFORE he's stepped off (or not off) anyway, so the first point is moot.
couldn't disagree with you more. His hands never separate until his right foot is clear of the rubber and behind it. Step back means back behind the rubber.
I'm with Harold too. Everyone agreed the move is designed to deceive runners. That effectively makes it a balk. If the intent is to deceive, it's a balk.
@@jakestine4753 I think Harold is wrong. What is the difference between stepping in front of the rubber or to the side on a jab-step move? Both would be moves from the rubber because there was not a disengagement so the pitcher cannot fake to first.
That cleared things up about as well as trying to read a dictionary upside down and through a mirror... Now I'm just way more confused. Lmfao, I actually thought I had an idea of what a balk was before I watched this video, not anymore!
I think I have more questions than answers after watching this.
I think we can all agree that it's a matter of fact that his right foot was OFF the rubber at the time his left foot left the ground? that's what it looked like to me, and if you play it back in slow motion, you'll find his right foot just hitting the ground as the left foot raises. I think this is what you need to look at...cuz u can't really tell where his foot is in relation to the rubber with these camera angles. It is clear that he stepped off the rubber though, and i think it's important in relation to when his left foot left the ground.
Coming here right after the astros/dodgers game on 6/24/2023
LOL
He stepped slightly behind & to the side of the mound..very impressive..👍⚾️
I'm now more confused about the balk rule, than before I watched this video.
the ump has a pair of dice, and everytime he rolls snake eyes, he calls a balk.
Now I'm more confused
I've seen balks called on a slight twitch of the knee that you don't even notice in real time
You can clearly see at 0:09 he didn't balk, therefore it wasn't a balk. You see, if he had done a balk it would have been a balk, but since he didn't balk, it wasn't a balk. As a pitcher, it is 100% legal for you to not balk, however the second you balk, it's a balk.
That made my head hurt
It was a balk once you pick a base to throw somebody out you have ti stick to it
Dude what are you balking about you literally balk out of your ass. Ya balkhead.
Ah so you were the guy sitting behind me at the game last night
If Tim McCarver explained a balk, we would all be here a week later. So give these guys credit. Lol.
“We’ve got three or four views for you”
Proceeds to only show two views.
🤣👍
Not a balk. Don't know what dude was seeing. He clearly steps behind the rubber. Off to the side a little but still behind it.
I guess you're the only other person here with eyes.
u can see that in this video with 3 pixels?
So what we got was Ryan Dempster balking at doing his Harry Caray impression.
How about it being a balk for not coming set? Why is no one mentioning that
I agree. Nobody making reference to the primary and secondary positions of the stretch.
I, for one, did not see a definitive set, stop motion, into the secondary position.
Looks like he just did one motion from primary, to secondary, to pickoff.
The intention is to give the runners an advantage to see what the pitcher is going to do. (Continue pitching, or become an infielder.)
Before the balk Rule was written, back in the day, pitchers were doing this kind of Mickey Mouse stuff all the time.
I wish umpires were more strict in upholding this baseball rule, because there’s a lot of pitchers getting away with a lot of funny stuff.
Believe there is a lot of confusion by the general public in how the balk Rule works. So, if it’s a difficult concept to communicate, and there’s a lot of confusion on the matter, and MLB is trying to speed up the game to make it more marketable, then maybe the Balk is not getting called as much as it should??
I was just about to say that. He never was set.
if you're gonna step off the rubber, you don't need to come set. you just have to make sure disengaging with the rubber is your first movement
U only have to come "set" if you're delivering to home plate
He didn't deliver to home plate. Hard to call a "fast pitch" penalty when there was no pitch
Ok, I stand corrected. The throw to 3rd was legal because the pitcher had disengaged therefore making him a fielder. The throw to 3rd was legal. But the pitcher still didnt "stop"before faking to 1st.
A pitcher must pause before delivering a pitch. There is no requirement to pause when picking to a base.
He’s behind the rubber in that last shot. He definitely steps back
It is a balk. He can’t step off the rubber before he finished his motion to reach the set position. He is moving from picking up the signs to the set position but he never reaches the set position and then he steps off, that is balk. He should reached the set position wait a split second and the step off.
The reason it should be a Balk is because the 1/3 pick off was outlawed.
Shane Denney only 3/1 is outlawed not 1/3
@@adrianortega4303 Neither is "outlawed" if you disengage the rubber by stepping back.
So a balk is when the pitcher fucks up by breaking his stride. You must throw where you are aiming to throw, unless your foot is behind the rubber, as that actively makes you an infielder and you can do and throw wherever you want
Lefty pickoff moves are balks have the time
That1BaseballGuy Atleast all the really good ones are. Sometimes its really close and hard to tell, thats probably why alot of umps dont always call them
A lefty's move to first is a little harder for the umpire to pick up because he has to make sure the pitchers right heel doesn't pass his left leg.
That's why letfies have a B move then an A move then the ball move.
I'm left handed and my pick is my leg goes straight up then steps towards the dugout and i throw
MetalCrow448 with the 45° rule you are actually allowed to take a step in between the direction of first and home (as a lefty).
The Balk, explained:
1. You take…
2. The uh, ball
3. But! No buts!
4. And then…
5. But if…
6. Say my name!
7. If…
8. Only…?
9. Wait, what?
0. Come again?
1. Oh, I see
2. Never…well, perhaps
3. You can…uh, no you can’t
4. Unless
5. No, scratch that
6. Throw the…ball?
7. Your mitt…is it…could it…
8. If you balk your legs
9. It’s hard to cook orangutan!
0. And other poems
1. by Maya Angelou
2. Goodnight, John Boy!
The “Quick move” is when the pitcher lifts the heel of their right foot to quickly pivot and throw. One must throw to first base when doing this or else it’s a balk. Only if they step off completely behind the rubber can they choose not to throw. However for a quick move to second base it is not required that you throw it as long as you disengage from the rubber.
You do not have to step behind the rubber to fake a throw to second base. You can fake to second from the rubber.
Ok what about the fact he never truly came set. He did step off the rubber, but he never got set so it's still a balk
Josh Wrzesinski : You only have to come set when you’re throwing a pitch to the batter. You don’t have to come set when picking someone off.
I'm a pretty low level umpire, but I still am an ump so I thought I might offer my insight. The rulebook wording is such that, from set position (hands together- dempster shows this early on) the pitcher may throw to a base, pitch, or step backwards off the plate with the back foot- so the step has to be a. backwards and b. result in no contact with the mound. When in contact with the mound, you have to step directly towards a base before making the throw. If he was still on the mound, this would have been a balk; you cannot "feint a throw" to first and not actually throw it- again, provided you're touching the plate.
tl;dr: If you're touching the mound, you gotta go to the base you fake the throw to. If from set position, you disengage by stepping backwards and off, you can do what you want (within reason). You don't have to clear the mound (be fully behind it, you can be to the side and next to, but not touching it), but it's a good idea because it makes it obvious to the umpire.
tl;dr again: It was legal from what I can tell
To clarify: The initial move done by Dempster commits him to first: he's still contacting the rubber. The move done by Shields, however, does not, as he's not contacting the rubber having stepped off legally, and is now a fielder in the eyes of the rulebook.
So when touching the pitcher rubber, you can't fake a throw to a first base? And when touching the rubber, you also can't throw to a base without stepping in that direction. So you can't do a "no look pass" like all the really talented players do in other sports to look cool?
Oh well you explained it way better than these talking idiot heads did even if they had a 24 hour cable network...
He did not come to a clear and discernable stop. It's a balk
@@scottj18 that is only on a delivered pitch. Pickoffs or stepping off don't require a pause.
The explanation can be summarized like this: If the pitcher steps off, behind the rubber, he can do fake throws or anything else he wants. If he doesn’t do that, the maneuver Shields attempted is a balk. Reynolds and Dempster could not agree on whether Shields stepped off behind the rubber, and there was no decisive video evidence to show what he did do.
who's here cuz of the dodgers mariners walk off balk?
Zach Galifanakis 😂
balk off
Need an overhead angle for conclusive determination! It looks likr he stepped the the side
Thanks Ryan Dumpster for having a record blown saves in 2012 for my fantasy team
What's stupid is that the MLB has money for overhead cameras but there isn't an overhead camera for that situation.
LOL. Clear as mud. In one sentence (for people who don't know baseball) *a BALK is when the pitcher FAKES a PITCH to the batter and then throws to a base to attempt a pickoff* . That's ALL it is. A pitcher cannot break from their windup and then throw to a base. Once they begin their windup, they have to deliver the ball to home plate.
Harold calm down ...it’s not genius ..and the 3rd baseman was clueless
Insert clip from the Adam Sandler classic BILLY MADISON: “...everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to that. I award you no points (balk) and may God have mercy on your soul.”
thats to the back. no question.
yep
In little league..a balk is when ur coach calls out to the umpire that the other teams pitcher balked.
I'm with Harold on this one.
GwresYnKernow he’s wrong, dempster is correct.
In typical Harold fashion he thinks he knows what he is talking about (he rarely does in my opinion) and is arguing with a pitcher over a move by a pitcher, guy needs to learn to shut his mouth and listen more often
You're with Harold, the non pitcher, and disagree with Dempster, a pitcher. What?
Dempster is right from what I can tell. I'm not 100% that Shields doesn't contact the rubber. Blurry camera is blurry.
Gwres is correct. Stepping off has to be the first move. It can't be combined with a pickoff move.
Dempster and Reynolds looking at the Shields video and seeing different things then demonstrating on the studio mound with unintentionally different foot movements on every example they execute. Couldn't be any more confusing.
Real answer: not committing a throw to the direction you step after coming set. If you step toward home, you throw home; if you step toward first, you have to throw first. Studder stepping or making a deceptive movement is a balk. Stepping (back) off the rubber is not a balk, but you will piss off the ump if you do it enough.
So, even former MLB players don't know what a balk is. Eventually, there will be a super controversial ending because of this.
I can tell you when it isn't a balk; anytime any fan in the crowd yells "Balk!"
So Ryan ultimately admitted that, if he stepped back, it was only slightly, not enough to clear the rubber. Harold, the non-pitcher, was right. It should have been a balk.
Yeah. I think this video should be called “Don’t worry if you don’t know what a balk is. MLB umps and professional sportscasters don’t quite know either.”
I take pride in that I’ve never balked in my life.
how could you possibly know that...given these "explanations"?
I thought I knew what a balk is, but now I'm confused even more
Balk Rules
1. You can't just be up there and just doin' a balk like that.
1a. A balk is when you
1b. Okay well listen. A balk is when you balk the
1c. Let me start over
1c-a. The pitcher is not allowed to do a motion to the, uh, batter, that prohibits the batter from doing, you know, just trying to hit the ball. You can't do that.
1c-b. Once the pitcher is in the stretch, he can't be over here and say to the runner, like, "I'm gonna get ya! I'm gonna tag you out! You better watch your butt!" and then just be like he didn't even do that.
1c-b(1). Like, if you're about to pitch and then don't pitch, you have to still pitch. You cannot not pitch. Does that make any sense?
1c-b(2). You gotta be, throwing motion of the ball, and then, until you just throw it.
1c-b(2)-a. Okay, well, you can have the ball up here, like this, but then there's the balk you gotta think about.
1c-b(2)-b. Fairuza Balk hasn't been in any movies in forever. I hope she wasn't typecast as that racist lady in American History X.
1c-b(2)-b(i). Oh wait, she was in The Waterboy too! That would be even worse.
1c-b(2)-b(ii). "get in mah bellah" -- Adam Water, "The Waterboy." Haha, classic...
1c-b(3). Okay seriously though. A balk is when the pitcher makes a movement that, as determined by, when you do a move involving the baseball and field of
2. Do not do a balk please.
Ok ez explain : so if your back foot is off the rubber you can run into the outfield if you want. So as long as your foot isnt on the rubber you can fake throw anywhere you can do anything. The ball is in play and runners can run. A balk is if you mive your body while your foot is on the rubber
There is no rule that says you can't move while your foot is on the rubber. I mean....a pitch could not be thrown if that were a rule. You kind of have to move your body to pitch the ball. Unfortunately, there is no one rule that covers everything that is a balk. It is a complicated rule, and even veterans of the game are confused by it at times. It is better to just state the purpose of the rule, and then most things that are balks become common sense. The purpose of the rule is to prevent the pitcher from unfairly deceiving base runners by making any part of any move that is normally associated with his delivery of the ball, and then not delivering the ball.
If you lean towards the plate or stop your movement. It's a balk
This sucks because they never had a clear camera look at his STEP-BACK FOOT. I think it was a BALK because he never threw to first base. It looked like he stepped to the side of the rubber so he was OBLIGATED TO THROW to the base he first move toward which was first base. MLB will have to make this side step move on the rubber an automatic balk or else every pitcher will doing it.
Balks are intended to make it fairer for the base runner. Nobody can out-run from full on-base to on-base a thrown ball so the balk makes it so that the pitcher can NOT keep the runner on base with a bunch of fake throws. Runners need their lead off distance to make the steal possible. Fake throws would make the game 6 hours long very tedious to watch by the fans.
Like hardens step back. These guys have perfected these moves to the point where they probably do balk/travel a couple times out of 1000 but you aren’t going to call them on it.
The thing that troubles me is that the pitcher did not come to a complete set. His arm is still moving around but not stoppage of the motion.
Normally, there would be a deliberate pause between setting and throwing (home or to the bases). Not in this case though.
I've seen countless times when that extra motion is called a balk.
Jay Ayers don't have to come set unless it's a pitch to the plate, any pick off, or step off (backwards not to side) does not require pitcher to be set
Harold’s correct. Shields didn’t come close to clearing the rubber. It’s a balk.
He also never paused at set with the glove in hand. His body and glove was still moving. I don't see any argument here. It is clearly a balk.
A pitcher must pause before delivering a pitch. There is no requirement to pause when picking to a base.
I have seen left handed pitchers never move their foot away from the rubber when throwing to first base. I thought a balk was when the pitcher fails to hesitate before making the pitch to the batter.
Pitcher on the replay never came set. If you don’t come set when you are on the rubber and throw or fake a throw, it is a balk. No question about it. Harold Reynolds was right.
I somehow left this video more confused than when I came to the video...
I don't understand why some perfectly looking plays get called a balk but Nestor Cortes dancing on the mound isn't. I really don't understand. And MLB wonders why no one watches anymore.
If Joe West doesn’t like you breathing is considered a balk.
You can't really explain what it is, but you know it when you see it. Balk! Balk!
It is basically a fake, flop, or delay-of-game by the pitcher. People mock the balk call, but if balking was allowed, you would see that the game started to look way different for the worse.
Simple. It’s a balk. Pitcher cannot fake to first unless he completely clears the rubber entirely.
Defining a balk is similar to defining irony, you can only do it by example.