MLB | The Worst Balk

[@chrissinatra1217]

Balks are almost as exciting as a home rum it seems by the way the umps and the commentary crew call it

[@cachito4092]

Because it’s a very rare thing to see in professional baseball

[@theshwinkie]

Love me some home rum

[@javierrodriguez3290]

No it's not a Balk is very rare a Home Run ins MLB isnt rare

[@concars1234]

it's every baseball nerd's favourite call

[@bryanm255]

Its probabaly because it is one of the only rules that announcers know how to interpret correctly.

[@Mprator]

Major League umpire Ron Luciano once said of it, "I never called a balk in my life. I didn't understand the rule."

[@jodyhart1205]

I loved Ron. His book was hilarious, "The Umpire Strikes Back."

[@liammcooper]

You can't look like you're going to pitch to fake out the base runner. So, you have to "disengage the rubber." Most of these are clear balks and the pitchers just don't know the rule. It's pretty obvious, if you go into your pitching motion, then abort mid-way to throw down a runner, it's a balk. Runners are allowed to get a lead, and so they start moving while the pitcher is in motion. If the pitcher starts their pitching motion and then hesitates/cancels to try and throw down a runner who's already going, then that's a balk.

[@georgewright3949]

Got a sign for everything but for this its just point and shout "thats a balk"

[@davej3781]

umpires have only 5 mechanics or signs: strike, safe, out, fair/foul, time; everything else is pointing with a verbal

[@gamaray6406]

@@davej3781 6 if you count the headset signifying replay

[@davej3781]

@@gamaray6406 that's not really a mechanic... but I forgot the Foul Tip mechanic which does make 6; one might also count the called strike 3 mechanic ("punchout") as a distinct mechanic.

[@Jivvi]

It's the same for interference. They just point and say "that's interference".

[@AndrewJW]

Protest.

[@theshwinkie]

According to Google, a balk is a roughly squared timber beam. I see none of those here 0/10

[@joshw604]

Don't believe everything you read on the internet

[@theshwinkie]

@@joshw604 Well, in that case, I'm having a great deal of difficulty believing you

[@RedCard94]

You've got the wrong balk

[@theshwinkie]

@@RedCard94 You're right. It must be the chicken kind

[@elijahshaw8209]

Damn this joke went over those two guys head.

[@petermoore7796]

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.

[@dodgerred6462]

Lol made my day ! Cheers !

[@gunkanjima3408]

A balk is pretty easily identifiable

[@RicardoKugo]

I appreciate the effort that went into that comment for a good laugh mate

[@wildcard8720]

bakugo it’s copy paste

[@threearmedonion]

Copy and paste much?

[@brianarbenz1329]

After 10 minutes of watching nothing but balks, I've forgotten what an actual pitch looks like.

[@everardogarcia6926]

Me too

[@jaystarr6571]

9:33 This is a pitch. Watch the catcher.

[@brianarbenz7206]

@@jaystarr6571 Well, I guess that is a pitch. But not your typical pitch.

[@alanhess9306]

@@jaystarr6571 It's a pitch that didn't cross the foul line which is a balk.

[@ryannichols3109]

Just watched 10 minutes of balks and still have no idea what a balk is.

[@EssexAggiegrad2011]

An illegal motion by the pitch used to deceive the base runner

[@goatcheese4me]

Specific examples, as I understand it (and some of these are part of the same rule) of balks. 1) if you start your forward motion towards the batter, then suddenly stop or try to pick off a runner (0:21). This is tricky because a simple pickoff move has to clearly show no signs of forward motion towards the plate. In 0:21 he barely started moving towards the plate before he stopped. 2) if you flinch while your foot is still on the rubber (7:39 - watch his head. He started his motion towards his set, then quickly stopped to check with the catcher again. At 8:28 focus on his right elbow. It flinches then stops) 3) if, in your pitching motion towards home plate, you take your foot off the rubber (even for a split second) then continue the pitch (1:36) 4) if you keep your foot on the rubber while trying to pickoff a runner (3:00) 5) if you botch your pitching movement during the set or windup (i.e. drop the ball even a little 3:23 , fall down, stumble, etc) 6) if you don't pause long enough between the set and the windup (ie, it looks like one continual motion). I don't think there were any examples of this type of balk in this video. 7) for right handed pitchers, if you don't move your right foot first off the rubber for a pickoff (3:42 - though this one could also be an example of #1 above). The opposite for lefties.

[@ericcoon2787]

They’re a mysterious entity that passes through ballparks at inopportune moments in time. Sometimes the ump sees them, sometimes the opposing dugout. It’s customary for runners to progress so as not to displease the entity.

[@rocknroll909]

@@ericcoon2787 extremely underrated comment. I'm rewatching this after reading that and can't stop laughing

[@johnnyromero6179]

Same lol

[@natesturm448]

Pitcher - .0000001 seconds into a balk Batter - *hands, mouth, and body into full motion*

[@mikeywestside8509]

A balk can only be called when there are runners on base which is the reason why the penalty is against the pitcher in deceiving a runner and not the batter.

[@tntcrewEJ]

0:26 I love how he just shrugs off the tag like “get off me bro that’s a balk”

[@uslsuspect]

Every single pitcher that gets called for a balk looks like LeBron when he’s called for a foul.

[@EssexAggiegrad2011]

Not enough flopping

[@jimmer828]

Pitcher*

[@uslsuspect]

@@jimmer828 Thanks. Speech-to-text error.

[@2AForever-wi8yj]

1:07 The same motion every fricking lefty uses to go to first and gets away with

[@ordunai]

I'm not 100% sure but it looks like the pitcher didn't step towards third base for the throw directly which is grounds for a balk

[@lucassingh4469]

He made a motion going towards home plate, and had no look to go to third

[@JosephJamesScott]

I think the reason they're calling that a balk is because he's leaning towards home and his foot seems to be headed that way, but it is strange that home plate called it and not the 3rd base ump as he'd have the best view of if the pitcher was stepping toward 3rd or not. Having said that, any umpire on the field can call a balk and if home plate felt the step was more to him than 3rd base than it's the correct call.

[@slaymyface1357]

Its the 45 degree angle. Shields broke that 45 degrees by alot.

[@lucassingh4469]

@Connor Spears your that stupid, allowed*

[@61Slughi]

7:50 "IT'S A BALK! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!!!!" Um, not when you don't show it happening.

[@YouTubeFan559]

Lmaooo

[@MannuhFestIt]

It’s the clip before this. OP may have put these clips backwards by accident.

[@Hiei2k7]

You can't just be up there and doin' a balk like that!

[@mellowfellow9]

I love how a balk is like seeing a Unicorn taking a poo... everyone gets yelly and pointy

[@aaronmorris1513]

DASSA BAWK!

[@jrob4795]

Lmao -a New Yorker

[@ohtristan_]

7:52 was a very obvious balk

[@stonebowser3836]

NoHaxJustTrash_ I know right

[@nohaerrr]

Bob Hamm r/wooooosh

[@ayoreyesu]

@Bob Hamm I've always thinked the balk rule is unfair, reading you I understand a little better the spirit of the rule. Still, they should make some adjustments, I think most calls are unfair, I mean, how can a team get a run that sometimes even wins the game just cause the pitcher slipped a little bit? Maybe they should change the punishment to something lighter, like adding 1 or 2 balls on the count or something like that IMO

[@Cohdiboi]

Funny how many of the home announcers were acting confused or trying to say these weren’t balks.

[@jmulchino]

Cody Yeah, I thought the same thing! All announcers could use a refresher course. And me too. There are some subtleties of what is and isn’t a balk that I am constantly confused by.

[@schweppley1614]

Because the Balk is a confusing rule, and umpires can call anything remotely close to it as a balk

[@slaymyface1357]

Rae's wasnt a balk. It was a bad call

[@johnbleyer8490]

@@slaymyface1357 Why, because the announcer said so? It may be hard to see, but a pitcher can't hop into a delivery. It is an illegal pitch, and with runners on base it is a balk. Continuing with his delivery doesn't eliminate the balk.

[@redneckgamer1888]

I figured the Reds balk from a couple days ago would be on here

[@wh4193]

There was another reds balk yesterday 😂😂 (April 30, 2021)

[@jaystarr6571]

9:33 Watch the catcher try to catch this "pitch". LOL

[@VincentK.McMahon]

Like most people, I understand the concept of what the balk rule is, but if you asked me to explain what moves by the pitcher constitute a balk call I couldn’t do it 😂

[@willoughbykrenzteinburg]

It is one of the most complicated rules in baseball. The concept of it is very simple, but spotting it is hard. The bottom line is that if the pitcher makes any move that mimics the beginning of his delivery to the plate to make a pitch - - - - and does not make a pitch, it's a balk.

[@jakeheerwagen8007]

I’ve only balked once throughout my time of pitching and that was because my leg twitches at the worst possible moment

[@dominicmartino6437]

9:15 Look at this you can see what a balk is

[@chaosawaits]

How is that a balk? He removed his back foot before throwing

[@dominicmartino6437]

chaosawaits There is a glitch

[@alanhess9306]

@@chaosawaits He stepped directly toward the plate then threw to first. That is a very blatant balk.

[@chaosawaits]

@@alanhess9306 his left foot never moved. He stumbled when moving his right foot off the plate.

[@alanhess9306]

@@chaosawaits His left foot did move slightly but it doesn't matter. He did not legally disengage the rubber. If he is going to pick to first, he must step to first. He didn't. That is a balk.

[@GeoFitz4]

Love how this is called "The Worst Balk" and includes "Incredibly Obvious Balk(s) That You Could Never Argue Isn't A Balk."

[@Cardcollector-pz8hg]

I think he used worst the other way. Meaning worst as in most significant balk, not worst balk calls

[@fomori2]

@@Cardcollector-pz8hg Its youTube, misleading clickbait titles are the rule, not the exception.

[@kg4wwn]

I agree with@@Cardcollector-pz8hg. I was expecting a singular balk that was somehow so extraordinarily obvious that they somehow had 10 minutes of contact out of it, but I absolutely agree that nothing in this title implied that these balks would be anything but egregiously obvious.

[@MrRyan-wu4jx]

@@fomori2 misleading for idiots maybe, I fully expected pitchers obviously balling from the title.

[@SomeGuyWhoPlaysGames333]

I think it’s pretty obvious from the title that he means the significance of these balks. It doesn’t say the worst balk calls.

[@patrickmcgraw3435]

3:14...this one made me laugh out loud. How the hell do you get to be a major league pitcher and think that that is legal? That was absolutely hilarious.

[@osuspebrg]

The announcer says “I think it was the fact that his foot when toward home plate.” No, sir, it was the fact that a ‘reverse (outside) pickoff move’ is not a thing.

[@wind568]

@@osuspebrg Im so glad someone else noticed this... been seeing this clip everywhere and no one picks up on that

[@alanhess9306]

@@osuspebrg the pitcher can turn in either direction to throw to second base as long as he does not hesitate toward third or first base.

[@BuckFieri]

Does anybody really know the full balk rule or do we just know them when we see them

[@jimmyfaseler5968]

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.

[@BuckFieri]

@@jimmyfaseler5968 if you don't balk I won't either and there should be no problems

[@AndrewJW]

@@jimmyfaseler5968 this is one of my favorite things ever. Do not do a ball, please LMAO

[@vstrmrk]

@@jimmyfaseler5968 worth the read

[@ACappellaVGM]

@@jimmyfaseler5968 Incredible. I laughed so hard

[@poindexterflex3528]

Alternate title: The Worst San Francisco Giants Balks

[@CorekBleedingHollow]

6:15 is that Jim Harbaugh?

[@ballin-4687]

8:48 “Once he made that MuLoOVe” 🤔

[@eauhomme]

7:03 and 9:34 A pitched ball that never crosses the foul line is a balk. A balk is still a live ball, so the runner can advance past the one base. If the ball had crossed the foul line, it would have been called a ball and be treated like any other wild pitch.

[@jimmyfaseler5968]

Here is the balk rules taken from the handbook 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.

[@trevorpiazzon9249]

Wow

[@michaelcoughlin3013]

Winning a game with a walk off balk, an unusual way to win. I heard legendary sports broadcaster Vin Scully.

[@bradenreed1171]

The Phillies are in most of the clips😂

[@chrzoc]

“What do you say when a large chicken runs across the infield...”

[@XXelpollodiabloXX]

2:30 Somebody please get MLB to require announcers to understand the rules before they are allowed in the booth. Also 4:10 Once you begin your delivery you must finish. In the windup you are allowed one step back and one step forward with the non-pivot foot. Once he steps back with his non-pivot foot he is committed to deliver. There is no, "Oooh, I don't know." Kids at the 12U level know this.

[@geoffreyhooker9005]

starting with foul tip

[@XXelpollodiabloXX]

@@geoffreyhooker9005 That one is the worst. Drives me nuts

[@qwuzzy]

That Ryu balk call is insane

[@nealmiller5480]

Those umps are annoying for the ones that obviously tripped and they got so hyped up 🤯🤬

[@renardmigrant]

1:50 not too sure that's a balk. What rule does this actually violate?

[@blakethornsbrough1528]

Foot has to maintain contact. You cannot lift your back foot and replace it on the rubber during a pitch.

[@renardmigrant]

I'll look that up as I'm not sure it's actually in the rulebook.

[@shaun374]

Martin Gardner It is but it’s never enforced. Technically, you can not pick your foot up off the rubber. But nearly every pitcher does it. So they massage the rule into “you can pick your foot up but it must be a part of your delivery.”

[@johnbleyer8490]

@@renardmigrant It is actually one of the first balk rules added to the rules of baseball. Back in the early days of the game, some pitchers would take a running start into a pitch to get an advantage on velocity and the length of the throw. Sort of like they do in cricket. The rule of maintaining contact with the rubber while delivering the pitch was installed. Not only is it a balk when there are runners on base, but it is an illegal pitch and should be called a ball when there are no runners on base.

[@math3matics]

2:09 How would this not be a balk (although it's an interesting scenario with a runner on third, but he began his pitching motion so he can't step off and throw home as a non-pitch throw). If he came off the rubber, he would then have to get set (which includes a period of time where the only thing you can move is your head), and begin his delivery again, and thus it would be a balk.

[@a5440]

I love the delay sometimes the umps have before making the call. Did I just see a balk?!....why Yes I did..."BALK!"

[@kylegrunert22]

That submarine pick off 😂

[@alarson1799]

Funny thing is Fernandez balked in two different ways. First, he started he moved his free foot before stepping off the rubber, then he kept his hands together, but the rules state that if he steps off the rubber he must immediately drop his hands to his sides. He might possibly have gotten away with the first one if he hadn't done the second.

[@Awesomenes37]

Umpires look so freaking cool when they call a balk not gonna lie

[@andrewcontois4132]

You have the best vids ever!!!😁😁😁

[@61Slughi]

5:37 Blonde in the stands walking out at the biggest moment of the game and then turns around "what happened?"

[@scottvasquez1401]

Best part of the video, seeing Fernando Rodney slip.

[@brendan909]

A lot of these look like slips. 6:30, pitcher falls over. Is it that pitchers would do this on purpose if a balk wasn't called on slips?

[@johnbleyer8490]

That's exactly why Brendan. What if the runner takes off on delivery. The pitcher stumbles, regains his balance, and throws the runner out. A pitcher could do this anytime a good base stealer gets on base. By faking a stumble and then recovering, he could get the runner every time.

[@kaboom-zf2bl]

Balk once the pitcher has begun his wind up to deliver to the plate his foot is NOT allowed to leave the rubber until the ball has left his hand .. the pitch at 2:12 IS a balk

[@donleykong7872]

great vid!

[@renardmigrant]

"That's a live ball" No. It counts as dropping the ball during your pitching motion if it doesn't cross the foul line. If it does, it's a ball and a live ball. If not during the pitching motion then it's a live ball and no balk.

[@sherman4114]

Balk is a delayed dead, play can proceed and the balk is ignored if all runners reach the next base safely

[@renardmigrant]

Yep.

[@eagleeye0078]

Only applies on a batted ball since in order for a balk to be ignored the batter has to reach at least first base as well.

[@renardmigrant]

@@eagleeye0078 no, if it were a wild pitch and a runner were able to advance two bases, that's allowed. Ken Saxer is right.

[@eagleeye0078]

@@renardmigrant Right you are. Found the relevant rule: 6.02(a) APPROVED RULING: In cases where a pitcher balks and throws wild, either to a base or to home plate, a runner or runners may advance beyond the base to which he is entitled at his own risk. APPROVED RULING: A runner who misses the first base to which he is advancing and who is called out on appeal shall be considered as having advanced one base for the purpose of this rule.

[@mrmacross]

Nothing beats a balk-off winner.

[@bartonez123]

7:39 Alburquerque exists = balk

[@ipfreely7918]

1:25 clean play!!! No balk.

[@Trudeausucks2024]

That's close. However the angle of his lead leg breaks the plane. The leg needs to be pretty much 90 degrees. Can't be leading toward the plate at all.

[@johnbleyer8490]

No, that is a balk. Once the pitcher's lead foot goes beyond the back plane of the rubber then he must deliver the pitch. You can see that Eaton started to advance when Shields' foot went behind the rubber. That is generally the first base umpire's call, but the third base umpire can also see it.

[@michaeljohn1033]

MLB umpires overall suck, but their balk calls are always on point

[@LazyLary]

Says a guy who never umpired a game in his life.

[@reidstanley7095]

Except they don't suck

[@bryanm255]

Become an umpire and over take all the suck then?

[@Ok-rd1zd]

People don’t understand how hard it’s to ump.

[@quantumjoss]

So balks are all about deceiving the runners, like at 1:08 where the pitcher pretends he's about to throw a pitch, and then tries to pick off the runner at third. The runner doesn't have time to run back to third because he thinks the pitchers is about to pitch. But most of these clips of the pitchers just stumbling, or slightly moving their left foot too soon, that's all basically bullshit, right? That's not really what baseball is all about. A team shouldn't be given an advantage like that just because of a small barely noticeable movement made by the pitcher. That doesn't make any sense.

[@sirbearingtonthethird]

thats what im saying i think the balk rule needs to be read to the umps before every game just incase of what you are saying.

[@geoffreyhooker9005]

and I suppose you think anybody should be able to advance a fumble on 4th and 2 with :59 left in a football game

[@butterw55]

Well, that was balkward.

[@coopaloopmex]

@5:20 the umpire is so jacked up to be able to point and advance the runners, but unlucky for him, they already stole both bases, hahahahaha!

[@steveswangler6373]

@Meester_James not sure what you're watching, the runners were in the process of stealing they didn't have them stolen yet, but nonetheless, that does not erase the balk.

[@coopaloopmex]

@@steveswangler6373 I never said it erased the balk, but because they both had them easily in the process of being stolen, the runners were already headed there. Not debating, just funny that he pointed to a base where the runner was just about there anyway.

[@killbot_factory]

4:19 look at that pitching line for the season, RIP Jose a talent gone too soon.

[@Dirt-McGirt]

Pitcher trips, twitches, scratches his nuts apparently makes everyone sound like a bunch of chickens. Balk balk balk balk balk!

[@gavinwinkler1147]

The balk rule should be a thing, bc it makes sure pitchers can't be scumbags to baserunners, but some things should be changed. 1. If the pitcher falls or trips, it should not be a balk. Who the hell they gonna throw out while they're falling on the ground towards the hitter? 2. A balk should not bring a runner home, it should only ensure the runner isn't picked off by it (if a pitcher balks and the runner would be thrown out BY THE BALK, the runner is safe) 3. The tiniest movement in the front foot of the pitcher should not be a balk. They are not fooling anyone into thinking they're throwing if their foot barely twitches, I mean come on.

[@BootsORiley]

I agree with all of this

[@_TonyZ]

This is a really ridiculous compilation of balks. Worst I've seen on YT yet. Terrible.

[@mobius1965]

5:40 One of the worse ways to lose a game.

[@tannerarmstrong1496]

I think considering the new pitch clock rules, pitchers should be allowed to balk if they want. They should still be required to get the actual pitch out to the batter by the end of the pitch clock, even if they attempt to pick off the batter.

[@jackattack9744]

Love your videos

[@ayejaytea]

5:42 the legendary balk-off

[@KororaPenguin]

I don't envy that pitcher.

[@Sirmellowman]

its the most unintentional mess up you can make in baseball and the umps get the most angry for it compared to any other call.

[@alanhess9306]

The umps don't get angry, they are just selling the call.

[@steveswangler6373]

@wickedtoast "most unintentional mess up" so you think there are times player intentionally mess up?

[@Sirmellowman]

@@steveswangler6373 theres this crazy thing called walking a batter. if they want to give a guy a base they do that. not sure if you knew about it.

[@alfredobandera1762]

6:15 Wasn't Bumgarner called balk??

[@jackohayre]

You should do a “ worst decisions “

[@mongo314]

The balk is the most hilarious and awesome rule in baseball.

[@travisrowe7697]

6:24 I guess we should say the 2014 World Series is tainted right? Bumgarner clearly rubbing his arm, then the baseball for a better grip! Seriously tho, the mlb completely crapped the bed changing/deciding to enforce rules 1/3 of the way thru the season. What a joke.

[@geoffreyhooker9005]

Shildt didn't like it when they threw his pitcher's hat out of the game

[@examiningdata7952]

4:42 🤣🤣

[@JamesJohnson-l6y]

Those MLB balks are very sneaky. The real reason of a victory & defeat.

[@droptop2083]

The stupid rule of balks along with lack of Celebration because of the quote "Unwritten rule" and Home Umpires is single handedly the big 3 reasons why will continue lose interest each years

[@chscelebrity8325]

3:28 is the only guy that actually knew he balked

[@hostrauer]

5:38 Walk-off balk! Free wins!

[@Nomad_Drifter]

Can someone explain why 2:17 is balk? I'm a pretty experienced umpire and I'm struggling to figure out why it's a balk.

[@johnbleyer8490]

Christian, this should be an easy call. The pitcher started his motion then took his foot off the rubber and stepped behind it when the runner broke from third.

[@johnbleyer8490]

@@IvrajR Actually Justin, it was more blatant than that. The pitcher started his motion, then stepped off the back of the rubber when the runner broke. That's normally an easy call to make. And the balk rules aren't vague, they're really pretty specific. It's just that the violations are sometimes so slight that they're hard to see right away. As for using a windup with a runner at third, that's up to each pitcher. It used to be really common for right handers, particularly starters. Most were more comfortable out of the windup. He can also see the runner clearly, and if the runner tries to steal home it's pretty simple to just pitch wide of the plate and have a good shot at getting the out. Now, more and more pitchers have gone to pitching from the stretch exclusively, so you see less of this. You're right that using a windup allows more things to go wrong, but a pitcher can balk out of stretch as well, and I would rather have my pitcher use what is comfortable because it's a tense situation.

[@Nomad_Drifter]

I don't see his foot coming off the rubber. It looks like his contact foot is exactly where they were when he started. I'm confused because I've read and seen other umpires agree that pitchers can speed up their delivery, but just can't alter it. That's why I'm confused about this. To me it looks like he does his whole motion, just speeds it up when he thinks the runner is going for home. If his normal motion doesn't look like that, then I get it but otherwise I'm not seeing it.

[@johnbleyer8490]

@@Nomad_Drifter Yeah I know it's hard to see from that angle, but the little shuffle kind of gives it away. He brings his foot in toward his body and then backward. It's too bad that the clip didn't continue and show a better angle.

[@marcel1891]

The first few were kinda nitpicky but pretty much everyone after the Fernando Rodney were pretty egregious

[@guysfieri8900]

Wherever Timmy is I hope he’s doing okay

[@davidwest4687]

As a outsider looking in some of them balks looked like they were deliberately throwing the game. That's just my observation.

[@DeviltoGeorgia34]

7:05 I didn't know I pitched in the big leagues.

[@TomKaren94]

1:23 - That IS a balk.

[@bh2558]

I can't reason but most of these pitches are weird and I guess pitching weird makes a balk. Tbh I don't wanna read head rushing mlb handbook.

[@wurm90125]

This is one of those rules in the game that either needs refinement or the umpires need to be smarter about. A guy losing his footing and tripping on the mound is not a balk. The rulebook definition is a motion that is intended to deceive a baserunner. Pitchers messing up their footwork really doesn't meet that definition.

[@alanhess9306]

Once a pitcher starts his motion toward the plate, he must deliver a pitch. Tripping, which causes the pitcher not to deliver a pitch, is a balk.

[@johnbleyer8490]

Actually it does. I agree that the vast majority are unintentional. But, what if the runner takes off on delivery. The pitcher stumbles, regains his balance, and throws the runner out. Should that be allowed? That's why it is a balk.

[@wurm90125]

@@johnbleyer8490 any time a runner advances or tries to steal, he does so at his own risk. If the pitcher is able to recover and make a play on him after falling down or stumbling, that’s baseball and it’s poor judgement on the runner’s part for trying to make it. The runner shouldn’t get a free base just because a pitcher slipped during his delivery.

[@johnbleyer8490]

@@wurm90125 Hey I understand why you feel that way, but this is not a case of poor judgement. My scenario has the runner taking off as the pitcher starts his delivery, and before the pitcher slips. If the pitcher recovers then the runner is hung out to dry. That is why the rule is there. Otherwise anytime a good base stealer starts to take off, the pitcher can fake a slip and then recover and catch the runner every time.

[@MG-rg3jo]

1:00 "See that?". No I didn't

[@VAPhillyFan54]

5:20 runners already knew lol

[@cwaltz2072]

What is the balk rule broken at 5:20

[@alanhess9306]

He started his motion to pitch and stepped off the rubber. Clearly a balk.

[@kellyguzzo4965]

What's your guys's favorite team Phillies

[@henryh3134]

Padres

[@jimmygardner2238]

Cardinals

[@mase7874]

Phillies

[@jackmulock8795]

Jays

[@EarDeff]

. Mariners

[@johndaley9594]

even the great K Scully is clueless

[@TheBONGbongBONGbong]

As a lifelong pitcher... Balks are a purely human call. I never worried about it one bit, even though they suck ass. Never argued it once. Just took it and kept composure. I felt this video, deeeeeeeeply.

[@nickyeayea7257]

Riiiight

[@TheBONGbongBONGbong]

@@nickyeayea7257 I didn't say I was never pissed off about it. Haha

[@TheBONGbongBONGbong]

@@nickyeayea7257 What do you argue? "I did NOT twitch slightly out of sync from my normal rhythm, you bastard!"

[@edwardmyers1746]

I've seen a good bit of people picked off like this too. So I'm genuinely confused between the line which must be fine of a legal pickoff and a balk

[@erichargrove2287]

You cannot make any motion towards the plate. Lefties doing a pick off move to first for example. They can lift their leg straight up and then move it towards first base to make the pick off. Now, if the lifted foot moves forward, or backwards, then tries to make the pick off move, it's a ball. Pitchers can't change their stance when in the stretch either, to make it easier to see the runners. Every stretch has to be the same. If they come to a set and then jerk their body, it's a balk. There are many more instances and yes it can get confusing.

[@Ok-rd1zd]

@@erichargrove2287 it also keeps pitchers from being jerks to runners. Trying to fake them.

[@alanhess9306]

@@erichargrove2287 There is no rule that prevents a pitcher from changing his stance. Every stretch doe not have to be the same.

[@thecardkids837]

Nice vid

[@Fibonaccisghost]

Video could also be called "Pitchers Throwing A Fit"

[@skippydippy7584]

As a baseball player this hurt to watch

[@skoomaaddict6513]

7:31 BAR OF SOAP OMG

[@AndrewLin27]

3:00 how are you in the majors and do that

[@SLC-Smudge42]

Anyone else think a Triple A clip was included when they mentioned Al Albuquerque ???

[@jackcoogan310]

The balk has to be the least consistently called infraction in all of sports

[@scottholder4776]

For people that don't know what to look for or understand the rule, sure

[@ozzymorrison8628]

Do The Balk of life

[@KidFresh71]

Waiting for the legendary, infamous Santiago Casilla "balk-off" SF Giants loss; and you didn't disappoint.

[@ejrad7392]

Scary thumbnail

[@sintheticsounds1686]

baLK! thats a BALK!! THATS A BALK!!!