Balking is an illegal move in baseball that can be called by an umpire against a pitcher. It is a penalty that can result in a runner advancing one base and can be a costly mistake for a pitcher in a close game. Knowing the rules of a balk can help you avoid any costly mistakes and keep your team in the game.
What is a Balk?
A balk is an illegal move by a pitcher that is detected by the umpire. It is called when a pitcher makes an illegal motion to deceive the batter or to prevent the runner from stealing a base. The penalty for a balk is that the runner can advance one base.
Types of Balks
There are several types of balks that can be called in a game of baseball. These include:
-Pitching with a runner on base: This occurs when a pitcher starts his delivery to home plate with a runner on base. This can be called if the pitcher does not come to a complete stop before delivering the pitch.
-Pitching without a runner on base: This occurs when a pitcher starts his delivery to home plate without a runner on base. This can be called if the pitcher does not come to a complete stop before delivering the pitch.
-Throwing to a base: This occurs when a pitcher throws to a base without first coming to a complete stop. This can be called if the pitcher does not come to a complete stop before throwing to a base.
-Faking a throw to a base: This occurs when a pitcher fakes a throw to a base without first coming to a complete stop. This can be called if the pitcher does not come to a complete stop before faking a throw to a base.
-Making an illegal pickoff move: This occurs when a pitcher makes an illegal pickoff move, such as throwing to an unoccupied base or throwing to the same base twice in one pitch.
-Making an illegal quick pitch: This occurs when a pitcher makes a quick pitch, which is a pitch delivered before the batter is ready.
-Making an illegal sidearm pitch: This occurs when a pitcher makes an illegal sidearm pitch, which is a pitch delivered with the arm below the shoulder level.
-Making an illegal jump pitch: This occurs when a pitcher makes an illegal jump pitch, which is a pitch delivered with the arm above the shoulder level.
When is a Balk Called?
A balk can be called at any time during the game. It is usually called when a pitcher does something illegal or deceptive to deceive the batter or to prevent the runner from stealing a base.
The umpire will call a balk if he feels that the pitcher has made an illegal move or if he feels that the pitcher has made an illegal move to deceive the batter or to prevent the runner from stealing a base.
What Are the Consequences of a Balk?
The penalty for a balk is that the runner can advance one base. This means that if there is a runner on first base, he can advance to second base. If there is a runner on second base, he can advance to third base. If there is a runner on third base, he can score a run for his team.
Conclusion
Balking is an illegal move in baseball that can be called by an umpire against a pitcher. Knowing the rules of a balk can help you avoid any costly mistakes and keep your team in the game. There are several types of balks that can be called in a game of baseball, and the penalty for a balk is that the runner can advance one base. By understanding the rules of a balk, you can help your team stay in the game and avoid any costly mistakes.