Proper Balk Mechanic

[flastyle727]

** I HAVE NOT SEARCHED OTHER THREADS FOR THIS ANSWER, I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE **

 

 Case Play -- CWS Final Game 1 -- F1 clearly balks, 1-2 seconds pass and UIC nails it, IMO the timing was excellent.

 

Problem Statement: How do you use the proper timing and mechainc in lower level ball.  --  That was the College World Series, the coaches actually coach and most know the rules and etiquette of baseball. In lower levels, especially High School Varsity games in my area we have an issue with Coaches and Balks. 

 

Example: F1 clearly balks, immediately OC yells from 3rd base "that's a balk, come on that's a balk" before the umpire can make the decision or call it.  Many umpires including myself on occassion will hesitate to make that call after the coach has yelled it first because it gives off the impression that the coached lead us into the call. It if was blatantly obvious I'd still make the call because the entire ball park knew it was a balk.

 

Question: How do others handle Coaches and Balk mechanics?

 

I have in the past, called the Balk, placed the runners and then approached the coach and given a warning for using the term "Balk". This tends to lend itself into more argument or discussion which I'd like to avoid.

 

I've also seen some "old timers" say pretty funny things like " Well doggone Coach, I'm glad you saw that balk and the rest of us missed it, I didn't know you were that good!!!"  

 

 

How do you guys handle this type of situation??

[BigUmp56]

In a FED game it's very simple. As soon as you see it, call it. "Time, that's a balk."

 

In an OBR game it's very simple, but with a different variation. "That's a balk - Time"

 

In a FED game a balk is an immediate dead ball, so don't wait. I'm not sure what it would benefit to wait a second or two in an OBR game. I suppose a case could be made that hesitating in OBR allows the pitcher the opportunity to deliver the ball, and for the batter to put in in play, but I've been taught to call it as soon as you see it.

 

Tim.

[blue23ll]

I personally call it the same no matter if the game is FED or not. To me, it's an almost instinctual call, the words, "that's a balk" come out of my mouth the instant I see a balk committed, and I point toward the pitcher. In OBR (non-FED) don't call time until the play is over, or the pitcher stops his motion to deliver the pitch. In FED, per rule, once you call a balk the ball is dead, no play can occur after the balk, so it's okay to say TIME.

[flastyle727]

In a FED game it's very simple. As soon as you see it, call it. "Time, that's a balk."

 

In an OBR game it's very simple, but with a different variation. "That's a balk - Time"

 

In a FED game a balk is an immediate dead ball, so don't wait. I'm not sure what it would benefit to wait a second or two in an OBR game. I suppose a case could be made that hesitating in OBR allows the pitcher the opportunity to deliver the ball, and for the batter to put in in play, but I've been taught to call it as soon as you see it.

 

Tim.

 

Thanks Tim, very clear on your mechainc and rule interp!

 

I agree with the above, except you didn't answer the coach question.

 

What I am asking is How do you handle the coaches when they blurt out balk before it registers your mind to balk it, some of these coaches yell balk when it isn't even. For example I'm not balking a kid in low level ball for a nitpick balk just because some HC thinks he knows every OBR/FED rule.

[umpire_scott]

I do it exactly as blue23ll says.  I would add that I don't even come out of my crouch in OBR.  It's just the verbal, because the play is not dead.

[blue23ll]

As far as dealing with the coach blurting out "That's a balk", I would tell him to knock it off.  On delaying for a OBR balk, no need to delay, I like to yell balk so loud that it startles the pitcher and hopefully he won't deliver the pitch and we can avoid that can of worms.

[flastyle727]

Maybe I should edit my OP.

 

I get the mechainc on Balks and the difference in rules variations. My #1 question should have been how have you handled that Coach who uses "Balk"?

[noumpere]

I just look at the coach and he usually apologizes.  If not, then I say something like, "Coach -- give us a chance."

[umpire_scott]

As for the coaches, if they are yelling it out then I would talk to them about it, if I thought it could possibly distract the pitcher.  If I don't think it will distract then I just ignore it.  I don't worry about whether I call it after they say it.  It's not a game to see who sees it the fastest.  The only call that matters is the umpires.  I used to worry about this and base coaches saying or signaling "safe" or "out", prior to me making my call.  Yes I hear the occasional "he influenced the call" or "who is the umpire".  I just ignore it.  If the other coach questions me I will explain to him that umpires are trained to wait until the play is completely over before making a call.  So we will usually call it after a coach does.  But I don't even pay attention to what the coach is saying, I'm processing the play.

[blue23ll]

Heck, I do everything loud on the field. I remember one time in a little guy game  I was awarding bases, I pointed to the runner at third and I yelled, "You, go home", and he ran home.

[BigUmp56]

After they've yelled "balk", I tell the coach or manager that they've just called their last balk for the game. If they try me and do it again, I send them home to do yard work for the day.............

 

Scott,

 

This is one you should really consider nipping in the bud. I agree about letting them try and call "out" or "safe". But the calls of foul, time, and balk belong to the umpiring crew alone.

 

Tim.

[flastyle727]

As for the coaches, if they are yelling it out then I would talk to them about it, if I thought it could possibly distract the pitcher.  If I don't think it will distract then I just ignore it.  I don't worry about whether I call it after they say it.  It's not a game to see who sees it the fastest.  The only call that matters is the umpires.  I used to worry about this and base coaches saying or signaling "safe" or "out", prior to me making my call.  Yes I hear the occasional "he influenced the call" or "who is the umpire".  I just ignore it.  If the other coach questions me I will explain to him that umpires are trained to wait until the play is completely over before making a call.  So we will usually call it after a coach does.  But I don't even pay attention to what the coach is saying, I'm processing the play.

 

This may be the first post I've 100% agree with you Scott! Awesome thank you for the perspective!

[MidAmUmp]

This might come off as arrogant (and I don't mean it that way at all), but you have to be able to recognize the balk as quickly as the coaches do. I remember when I was starting out I would get pissed when a coach would call a balk before I did.  Then I started realizing it was just taking longer to register with me, so I started really focusing on it.

 

So my advice would be: With runners on and the pitcher in contact, think to yourself about the pitcher balking.  I would even go so far as to think in my head - balk for me - then when the kid would actually balk, I was all over it before the coach could get it out of his mouth.

 

As far as dealing with coaches who want to umpire, go ahead and call the balk then give them a stern look and say something like, "Let me umpire the game."

 

Most will get the hint.  If they don't, tell them it's their warning and they'll be ejected if they do it again and then be prepared to follow through if they continue.

[flastyle727]

This might come off as arrogant (and I don't mean it that way at all), but you have to be able to recognize the balk as quickly as the coaches do. I remember when I was starting out I would get pissed when a coach would call a balk before I did.  Then I started realizing it was just taking longer to register with me, so I started really focusing on it.

 

So my advice would be: With runners on and the pitcher in contact, think to yourself about the pitcher balking.  I would even go so far as to think in my head - balk for me - then when the kid would actually balk, I was all over it before the coach could get it out of his mouth.

 

As far as dealing with coaches who want to umpire, go ahead and call the balk then give them a stern look and say something like, "Let me umpire the game."

 

Most will get the hint.  If they don't, tell them it's their warning and they'll be ejected if they do it again and then be prepared to follow through if they continue.

 

I love that idea. Thanks for the tip.

[umpire_scott]

After they've yelled "balk", I tell the coach or manager that they've just called their last balk for the game. If they try me and do it again, I send them home to do yard work for the day.............

 

Scott,

 

This is one you should really consider nipping in the bud. I agree about letting them try and call "out" or "safe". But the calls of foul, time, and balk belong to the umpiring crew alone.

 

Tim.

 

I think we may also be talking about two different types of scenarios.  If the coach is "yelling" balk at a similar volume as I would then I would put a halt to it.  What I hear more often is coaches blurting out "he balked", or even just saying "that's a balk", but at a level that a player should not mistake it for an umpires call.  I just have always considered whether it was possible that a player could think it was an umpire making the call.  That's the reasoning I would give the coach for me telling him to stop.  So if i don't think it meets that criteria then I've always ignored it.

 

But I see no problem telling them to stop it immediately as well.

[maineump]

I was watching a game that an umpire called INT on the coach that yelled balk. He was yipping the entire game and his yelling "that's a balk" caused the pitcher to stop his motion (I didn't see tha balk from the stands).

[mstaylor]

If a coach yells balk, and it is, then I call it then then on him tell him he is not to ever yell balk. That is a word for umpires, not coaches. He dies it again, dump him.

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[RC@54OUTS]

I have in the past at lower level games told the coaches at the plate meeting very casually to not help with balk calls. I'll tell them that if they beat me to the call they don't get it. No different when the base coach motions to you, God and everyone else that the pitcher is blowing through the stop. They don't get that either. Unless the balk is so blatant. It kills me when a young inexperienced pitcher is on the mound and the apposing coach wants a balk. I want strikes. I'm not going to mess with that kids mind and get him focused on balks.