BALK Challenge: How Well Do You Know the Rule?

Several BALKS shown and you decide what makes it a balk. Several samples explained at the end of the video. See if you know WHY it's a balk.
Baseball pitchers and balks are one of the oddest rules in sports.
Links to OBR (MLB), Little League and NFHS rules:
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[@jerrensummers8575]

I love these videos where I can test my knowledge, and then receive the answers at the end of video. I also like it when you explain WHY a rule was broken. Thanks for the videos!!

[@KeenanRamsey]

Starting this year the hybrid is legal in High School. Only the pivot foot matters for determining if the pitcher is pitching from the wind up or the set position. If the pivot foot is in contact with and parallel to the rubber he is in the set position. If the pivot foot is in contact with, but not parallel to the rubber he is in the wind up. The position of the non pivot foot no longer matters.

[@RealRedPolitics]

Technically there is no Hybrid stance. There is only the set position or windup position. Hybrid would be combing both into one stance, but that isn't possible per the new rule. There is only windup and set pitching positions.

[@michaelhughes9032]

There is no hybrid in High School anymore. They took it out, so now if your pivot foot is not perpendicular to the plate you are considered to be in the windup.

[@davej3781]

2:28 - oh, come on, even an umpire with his shirt not tucked in and another in street clothes ought to know you can't feint to 1B

[@pauledge1621]

Here is the classic training video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qne8oIanoqqcsKc

[@travisryan1709]

This video makes me realize I don’t know what a legal pitch is. Makes me wonder who came up with all these rules. I’m guessing it was a guy with a son who was terrible at base running.😊

[@awedee.0]

5:20 he couldnt wait to call that one🤣

[@davej3781]

1:50 - two balks in one; start-stop balk while coming set (twice even), and then no-set balk

[@maxbosoxfan171]

GREAT VIDEO !! thanks for doing it

[@bradschneider82]

I find this funny. I was pitching the other week against some former pro players and I committed like 3 balks but none of the umpires noticed it. I made sure to fix those mistakes in today's blowout loss

[@avsfan331940]

7:05 - What's wrong with this one? Gorilla arm? He's not set when he turns his shoulders.

[@davej3781]

gorilla arm

[@erikpaullive]

8:55 Hyrbid is legal under the new NFHS 2023 rules. Parallel to the rubber, and it is stretch, not parallel to the rubber, and it is windup.

[@MJHBaseball]

The new rules make it simpler, but under 2023 rules, this pitcher is in the stretch, yet he pitches like he's in the wind-up which is a balk. You can't start in the stretch, and then take your first step back. Anyone else want to correct me, please do.

[@davej3781]

@@MJHBaseball you have it correct good sir

[@erikpaullive]

​@@MJHBaseball I wasn't saying that it wasn't a balk. What I'm commenting on is your statement that hybrid is illegal. Fortunately it is easier to enforce. This rule essentially eliminated the hybrid, cause nobody is going to do it, but it is not illegal.

[@davej3781]

@@erikpaullive the hybrid, meaning standing in one position but pitching using the motion for the other position, is just is illegal now as ever. what changed is how the foot positions determine the pitching stance, that that what was an illegal hybrid is now a legal windup.

[@keithyoungs9435]

Can you pick off to first when getting your sign in the stretch as a lefty

[@craigdupree1687]

Yes. The rules say up until the moment that you start your pitching moment, you may step and throw a base.

[@micahsilverman5284]

At 3:27, the pitcher appears to complain that the batter wasn't ready which is why he stopped. If that's the case (and it is) then this was obviously a quick pitch, which would make it still a balk

[@davej3781]

3:38 - this one depends on whether you take the pitcher's move as stepping off or a jump turn... didn't look like stepping off, so it's a jump turn which means he can't feint to 1B - BALK!

[@MH-Tesla]

But in stepping off, he has to step off and then throw, not in one continuous motion. I mean, it is often very quick, but doing a jump turn where the pivot foot happens to land behind the rubber... That's not disengaging, correct? Throw out of play, still one base, or, don't complete the throw, balk.

[@davej3781]

@@MH-Tesla yes, there's no real mistaking this move for a step-off, but some may not understand the difference either in the movement nor in the rules. I've seen some pitchers very quickly step off and then do something that's nearly identical to a jump-turn so you have to be watching closely. You're right, it doesn't matter where his pivot lands on the jump turn, the action is still considered to have been made as a pitcher so he can't feint to 1B and a throw out of play is 1 base.

[@67L48]

That last clip shows the difficulty of coaching in this transitionary period for the kids. You still want to allow your kids to develop, but you also have to put them in positions to be successful. At some point, you have to be competitive, even in rec leagues. You can't put little Johnny on the mound simply because it is his turn or because his dad was a pitcher in high school. But, it's a tough age. Half the parents want kids to start gravitating to one or two positions -- put your best players in their best positions and have a rotation of 3-6 pitchers. Half the parents still want to do the T-ball thing where everyone plays every position equally over the course of the season.

[@gavinvelicevic1907]

If you are the umpire in these balls with the Black Smitty MLB replica and glasses, put your throat guard under the pre-existing guard that is already apart of the mask.

[@MJHBaseball]

Correct! Ump-Attire.com has a very good video showing how to attached the throat guard correctly.

[@awedee.0]

3:10 cant be a balk the catcher is standing and the batter isnt in the box??? oooohh i gotta wait for it lol

[@lanem4304]

IMO, the one shown @ 3:15 would NOT be a balk; the pitcher can stop his delivery if he believes the batter is not ready (batter is stepping out of the box, looks like he is in pain etc), catcher is not ready (catcher takes his mask off, glove off etc.) and the pitcher is stopping NOT to try and deceive the runner, but rather to make a safe play. IMO here, umpire should call TIME and figure out why the pitcher stops. When the pitchers telling the umpire the batter wasn't ready, combined with the umpire seeing it, that would be a clear indication the pitcher stopped to be safe, not to deceive the runner. Here the batter by holding his hand back asking for time, not being ready for the pitch etc is instigating the pitcher stopping his delivery. Now, could the pitcher continue his pitch? Yes, but then he might get dinged for a quick pitch too. Intent of the pitcher is important here. Rule 6.02(a) 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.

[@MH-Tesla]

I would agree with you 100%. With one exception here. The pitcher starts to come set long before the batter even gets in the box. It's incumbent upon the defense to wait for the batter to be ready before beginning the pitching sequence. This one has me 50/50. Maybe I call this a balk maybe I don't. Probably what has occurred earlier in the game with this pitcher may have an impact on whether I call it a balk or whether I call it a no pitch. Also, as an umpire you have the ability to call time when the pitcher comes set when the batter clearly is not ready yet. This prevents a balk or a quick, but again, the defense should regulate their timing better than this in my opinion.

[@awedee.0]

6:54 baseball rebellion boys killed us in a tournament doing this every inning

[@andrewseymour5712]

I don't see where the balk is on this one? you can fake to 2nd all day. if he made a move towards home before spinning i can see it being one.

[@awedee.0]

@@andrewseymour5712 yea youre right but his motion wasnt going to 2nd. he eventually got his shoulders turned to 2nd. look at his body where does it drift to? not 2nd base. more like the SS imo.

[@andrewseymour5712]

@@awedee.0 and you can do that. when picking off to 2nd and 3rd, you don't have to just throw to the base. you can throw it to where your position player is. so to me, this one is not a balk.

[@awedee.0]

@@andrewseymour5712 ok sure thing. what did the umpire say🤷🏽‍♂

[@awedee.0]

@@andrewseymour5712 6.02 Pitcher Illegal Action (a) Balks 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; Rule 6.02 (a)(1) Comment: If a left-handed or right-handed pitcher swings his free foot past the back edge of the pitcher’s rubber, he is required to pitch to the batter except to throw to second base on a pick-off play. (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;_* Rule 6.02(a)(3) Comment: *_Requires the pitcher, while touching his plate,_* to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off of his free foot without actually stepping or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk. A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base and is required to throw (except to second base) because he steps. It is a balk if, with runners on first and third, the pitcher steps toward third and does not throw, merely to bluff the runner back to third; then seeing the runner on first start for second, turn and step toward and throw to first base. *_It is legal for a pitcher to feint a throw to second 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; Rule 6.02 (a)(4) Comment: When determining whether the pitcher throws or feints a throw to an unoccupied base for the purpose of making a play, the umpire should consider whether a runner on the previous base demonstrates or otherwise creates an impression of his intent to advance to such unoccupied base.

[@Keifsanderson]

At 4:23, the pitch was made. Doesn't that negate the balk in LL? Thereby making the hit and force-out stand?

[@micahsilverman5284]

No a balk is only negated of the batter and all runners advance at least 1 base. In this case, the runner was thrown out at 2nd, so the ball stands and the play is undone.

[@lanky2592]

7:04 7:21 Don't get why these one was called a balk. When in the stretch and haven't came in a set position thought pitchers were allowed to move their upper-body?

[@evankirk5937]

I don't know why 7:04, but 7:21 is a balk because he didn't come set in a continuous motion.

[@evankirk5937]

7:04 2013 NFHS Case book, pg. 52, 6.1.3 situation P: As he looks to the catcher for a signal... b) the pitching arm rocks slightly from side to side. RULING: b), any movement of the arm is considered the start of the pitching motion and a pitch must be delivered to the plate so this motion results in a balk.

[@MH-Tesla]

@@evankirk5937 correct, but 7:04 isn't a balk in OBR. Just high school (NFHS).

[@evankirk5937]

@@MH-Tesla That's right!

[@jean-paulrichard5133]

10:18. That mound is so small, it looks like shadow😂

[@MH-Tesla]

4:25. So we know it wasn't under NFHS rules now.

[@ryanstarks916]

The one kid with the arm sleeve on his pitching arm past his elbow? Not legal?

[@MH-Tesla]

Time stamp? Not sure which you're talking about

[@davej3781]

first clip - well at least they got the blatant knock-you-on-your-butt no-set balk the second time. that does happen to all of us from time to time, you miss the first one and realize it too late, but you're all set to call it the second time

[@MJHBaseball]

That's me as BU. I didn't miss it. I actually reminded the pitcher to come set. This is Little League intermediate with players that don't play travel ball. Every game their coaches wanted us to give warnings for balks, which I wouldn't do, but I did often remind them on a no-stop balk the first pitch with the first runner on base. If I did that at a travel tournament I'd have heard it from 30 people. At this game, crickets... By the end of the season this wasn't an issue anymore.

[@davej3781]

@@MJHBaseball yes, asking the pitcher to give you a better set before balking him is a good practice at all levels of ball; indeed, my partner did exactly that in the first inning of a HS Varsity game yesterday, and the pitcher complied with a good set from then on. and, I certainly agree that early in the season for players who've just made the step up to 'real' baseball, letting even the most egregious of first balks go with a reminder to correct it is probably best. so, good job.

[@auzmo]

6:09? Im not an umpire but almost all of these I know why it is a balk, but not sure on this one.

[@sherman4114]

When picking off while touching the rubber, the pitcher must step and gain distance toward the bag that he is trying to pick off at prior to throwing

[@auzmo]

@@sherman4114 gotcha didnt think of that part, though I did see that on the one to second that didnt gain ground to second.

[@bobdallepazze3380]

6:14 violation is for not stepping towards base on pickoff attempt right?

[@MJHBaseball]

That is correct. He must step towards the base, then throw.

[@andymills8701]

Even though he hasn't come set?

[@awedee.0]

yo mjh do upload full games of your team???

[@MJHBaseball]

I do not make those public. Sorry. Even if I wanted to, I'd have to edit audio as it's not legal to audio record a conversation that you are not apart of (some States you can't without both parties knowing.) And the camera picks up conversations people never intended to be public and had reasonable expectation they were not being recorded.

[@awedee.0]

@@MJHBaseball is the land private? im not sure which camera you use but most cameras have a mute audio feature...

[@MJHBaseball]

Recording audio of people's conversations falls under "expectation of privacy" and not under specific locations. Even in your own home, you can not record a private conversation between two guests when you leave the room without informing them. Legally any way. Video and photography is a whole different standard, so if you are in public or visible from a public location, then I can film you all I want and it's legal. If you look through the channel you will see I have uploaded full highlighted games and recently mic'd up games. The mic'd up games are legal because the one with the microphone is always apart of the conversation, so in a "one party consent" State, the recording is legal. When we play out of our state, I have to check the laws as some are "two party consent" states. I can't record mic'd players in those states without informing the other team and umpire ahead of time, so it's just not a viable option.

[@awedee.0]

@@MJHBaseball a silent video of baseball wouldnt be bad. dont use the mics.

[@bobkmac]

7:30 i did horrible... thanks for asking.

[@auzmo]

Not a real time. 6:12?

[@bobdallepazze3380]

3:58 is that a start & stop violation?

[@MJHBaseball]

No. This pitcher is in the Set position, but he is pitching like he's in the windup with runners on base. He can't step back towards first base with his front foot. (Unless he is throwing to that base.)

[@donaldnoah9591]

Is this true? Seen it recently in a 12u game, but the umpires allowed it since he is pitching from the wind-up but in the stretch. We thought it should be a balk and scoured all rules and only thing we could find is that a pitcher can pitch from the wind-up with runners on but he can only deliver the pitch home, it has to be a continual motion and he can not throw to a base. We let it go because as soon as he started his step back, we knew he could only go home with it and stole bases like crazy giving the runner the advantage and not disadvantage.@@MJHBaseball

[@davej3781]

1:08 - really? the tournament rule is that you send runner(s) back on a balk warning? that's MIGHTY generous, penalizing the offense for a defensive infraction. I understand not awarding a base for a balk warning, but sending a runner back who had the base stolen is ridiculous

[@MJHBaseball]

The tournament rule did not distinguish on if the runner was stealing (which they ALL did on the first pitch every time.) I think of the 11 games I umpired this tournament, just one runner was caught stealing 2nd. So, the count went back to 0-0 and they just did the same thing anyway. I was surprised at how few balks occurred for 10U. Coaches did a pretty good job teaching pitchers for their first year having to hold runners.

[@erikpaullive]

@@MJHBaseball I'm not a fan of leadoffs at 10u. I'd actively avoid a tourney that allowed this. Poor kids are just trying to throw strikes, let alone worrying about the runner leading off.

[@billyray994]

We had our travel ball association umpire meeting just last night. Regarding balks: we do not warn, however we do encourage “age appropriate” balks. We use NFHS as our base rule set so we have longer to call them and when one does occur, that affects the game, we can make it right.

[@erikpaullive]

3:22 is most certainly not a balk in NFHS. look up 6-2 article 4-D-1. The batter raised his hand. You can argue that he was quick pitching.

[@erikpaullive]

@@alexlapointe6515 not true. Read the NFHS rulebook. It very explicitly outlines this specific situation.

[@davej3781]

not a balk in any ruleset - they all have a rule that says if the pitcher stops his motion because the batter raised his hand or stepped out of the box, it's nothing, just dead ball, reset, start again you can't call a quick pitch here, because he didn't pitch

[@MJHBaseball]

The reason I showed the extended cut on this video was to show that the pitcher was coming set prior to the batter getting ready in the box. The pitcher should wait for the batter to be "reasonably set" before coming set. The batter certainly may not cause the pitcher to balk, which is what the pitcher was arguing, but I agree with the umpire here that this situation, the pitcher either gets a balk for starting/stopping, or, if he continued his pitch, a balk for a quick pitch. That being said, you're points are well taken and we'll see who else takes your view of things. This is an interesting clip for sure.

[@MH-Tesla]

I don't know. The pitcher could clearly see the batter wasn't ready. He was looking right at him. Then HE chose to start the pitch and stop. I don't see the batter doing anything intentionally for sure (not that we judge intent here) but while I get the argument to call no pitch and start over, I see a good argument for the balk call here. Imo

[@davej3781]

@@MJHBaseball this is a safety rule - if the batter indicates he is not ready by putting up his hand or stepping out, we WANT the pitcher to stop. this provision should be generously interpreted (i.e. we should be avoiding calling a balk whenever possible). this is also why when an umpire sees that a pitcher is going to pitch when the batter is not ready, he should call time and try to stop the pitcher, NOT allow him to pitch and then call him for a quick pitch.