Another balk thread?

[keydetpiper]

There are so many balk discussions on here it's crazy... demonstrates that the balk rule is not very well understood, or there's a lot of gray area and room for interpretation.

When pitching from the stretch, the pitcher must come to a stop before he delivers a pitch to home plate. Must he also stop if he's going to throw to first base for a pickoff attempt?

[TommyUmp]

Nah. He can pick to first at any point.

[mstaylor]

No, he doesn't have to stop to pick to any base.

[TXUmp77]

no, i have heard that yelled from the dugout though

[mstaylor]

Just remember anytime you have a coach yell balk from the dugout or coach's box, shut it down. I do not allow coaches to yell balk, that is a word reserved for umpires.

[TXUmp77]

good point

[JaxRolo]

Just remember anytime you have a coach yell balk from the dugout or coach's box, shut it down. I do not allow coaches to yell balk, that is a word reserved for umpires.

Not Only balk but also safe or out.

[Stretch]

Or an overzealous 3rd base coach with a cue shot on the 3rd base line saying fair ball.

Good thing it was a 1st to 3rd situation, so I was already in the vacinity to pass along a

brief please don't do that again. He realized his mistake and sheepishly apologized.

[LMSANS]

"Infield Fly!" is another I would add to the list of umpire-only phrases.