Post by umpyours on Mar 3, 2006 13:43:45 GMT -5
SEE A BALK - CALL A BALK!
Coaches and pitchers are always trying to come up with new ways to commit a balk and not get called. The simple fact is that they are counting on umpires to be less than enthusiastic or worse, ignorant of the rules. The fact is that some umpires never or seldom ever call a balk. They feel that it must be "blatant" to be called. What is blatant and whose definition do we use? Or maybe they fall for the ruse that these are just kids and they don't know enough to try and deceive the runner. This may be the case in league play with must play rules etc.., but not in travel-ball. Many organizations are now teaching the kids even at 10 and 12 year olds to "beat the balk".
I say let's keep the game pure and help teach the kids the right way. By calling the balk when you see it. No warnings. Warnings tend to cause problems. Once a warning is issued, the other team may protest. Just call it! especially in a close game. Then you are also faced with the other team getting their warning. But in one balk the pitchers fails to stop when coming set, and the other the pitcher steps off the rubber with his free foot first. Are there degrees of a balk? No! A balk is a balk. If you see it call it! The players will learn really quick.
I had a game two years ago where the pitcher after coming set would flinch. I called a balk. The coach came out to argue with me and said his player has Turrets Syndrome. I told him that he should not be pitching then, because if he does it again it is a balk again. Guess what? His Turrets was miraculously healed. he pitched five more innings and did not do it again. The coach told me afterward that when he tells umpires his player has Turrets, the umpires will relent and not call a balk on him for the rest of the game.
Some examples of commonly overlooked balks....
Pitcher from set position dips front shoulder then throws to base
Pitcher from set position lifts free foot and lowers before stepping to base
Pitcher from set position does not step directly toward base before throwing ball.
Pitcher from set position lifts free leg and steps straight down and then attempts to go to first.
Pitcher in windup steps forward or to the side with free foot. (not backward)
Pitcher while on the rubber disengages forward with his free foot.
Again with no runners on base, it is not a balk.
It is amazing how good pitchers while in the windup suddenly develop poor mechanics from the stretch position. Or with a runner on first they seem to forget everything but once the runner is on second or third they are flawless again.
Coaches are boasting on their ability to try and beat the umpires. A game within a game. My partner and I actually had a game last year where the coach was not happy with a balk call we made. He told us after the game he intentionally had his pitchers work on some of their "balk plays" to see if we would catch it. We called 11 balks that game and the coach felt that we missed two.
Let's disappoint those coaches and organizations that are trying to beat the "dumb umpire".
See a balk call a balk.
Coaches and pitchers are always trying to come up with new ways to commit a balk and not get called. The simple fact is that they are counting on umpires to be less than enthusiastic or worse, ignorant of the rules. The fact is that some umpires never or seldom ever call a balk. They feel that it must be "blatant" to be called. What is blatant and whose definition do we use? Or maybe they fall for the ruse that these are just kids and they don't know enough to try and deceive the runner. This may be the case in league play with must play rules etc.., but not in travel-ball. Many organizations are now teaching the kids even at 10 and 12 year olds to "beat the balk".
I say let's keep the game pure and help teach the kids the right way. By calling the balk when you see it. No warnings. Warnings tend to cause problems. Once a warning is issued, the other team may protest. Just call it! especially in a close game. Then you are also faced with the other team getting their warning. But in one balk the pitchers fails to stop when coming set, and the other the pitcher steps off the rubber with his free foot first. Are there degrees of a balk? No! A balk is a balk. If you see it call it! The players will learn really quick.
I had a game two years ago where the pitcher after coming set would flinch. I called a balk. The coach came out to argue with me and said his player has Turrets Syndrome. I told him that he should not be pitching then, because if he does it again it is a balk again. Guess what? His Turrets was miraculously healed. he pitched five more innings and did not do it again. The coach told me afterward that when he tells umpires his player has Turrets, the umpires will relent and not call a balk on him for the rest of the game.
Some examples of commonly overlooked balks....
Pitcher from set position dips front shoulder then throws to base
Pitcher from set position lifts free foot and lowers before stepping to base
Pitcher from set position does not step directly toward base before throwing ball.
Pitcher from set position lifts free leg and steps straight down and then attempts to go to first.
Pitcher in windup steps forward or to the side with free foot. (not backward)
Pitcher while on the rubber disengages forward with his free foot.
Again with no runners on base, it is not a balk.
It is amazing how good pitchers while in the windup suddenly develop poor mechanics from the stretch position. Or with a runner on first they seem to forget everything but once the runner is on second or third they are flawless again.
Coaches are boasting on their ability to try and beat the umpires. A game within a game. My partner and I actually had a game last year where the coach was not happy with a balk call we made. He told us after the game he intentionally had his pitchers work on some of their "balk plays" to see if we would catch it. We called 11 balks that game and the coach felt that we missed two.
Let's disappoint those coaches and organizations that are trying to beat the "dumb umpire".
See a balk call a balk.