Balk Warning

[LMSANS]

I know how most of you feel about this but I don't make the rules.

Local LL-Jr want the first balk by a pitcher to be a warning, with no penalty.

R2, 1 out, F1 pitching from the windup. R2 takes off immediately, F1 stops mid pitch and doesn't throw. I called the balk. And since it was a warning, I returned R2 to 2B.

Yes he had the base stolen, but the local rule says no penalty. Same scenario on the next pitch without the balk.

Any thoughts about the call?

[mstaylor]

You are right but it's a BS rule. There are too many different types of balks so there is no purpose. You have a no pitch balk that you balked and warned. So the next pitch he jump steps to first with no throw, BALK. The first balk has nothing to do with the second balk so what did he learn? I know you have nothing to do with it but it is still stupid. Remember local rules are made by fools.

[widac]

What if F1 uses his free balk and gets an out? Does the out stand?

[Umpire in Chief]

You are right but it's a BS rule. There are too many different types of balks so there is no purpose. You have a no pitch balk that you balked and warned. So the next pitch he jump steps to first with no throw, BALK. The first balk has nothing to do with the second balk so what did he learn? I know you have nothing to do with it but it is still stupid. Remember local rules are made by fools.

100% agree

What if F1 uses his free balk and gets an out? Does the out stand?

Usually at these levels even though they are playing under OBR when you yell, "That's a balk!" all playing action stops, which is a good thing. IMO your goal in this situation is to cause the players to stop playing w/o calling time, Be forceful in yelling balk things will end on their own.

That said if you call balk and it would be for their warning and he gets the out you'd have to negate the out.

[LMSANS]

What if F1 uses his free balk and gets an out? Does the out stand?

Same as in my situation - a do over. So, no. Although for this particular game I would have given serious thought to it.

The kid that was stealing was ahead 13-6 at the time (on the way to 26-6), but with the pitcher in a full windup, how do you not go? I told the OC I was sending him back and he displayed some disappointment, but didn't care because of his lead. If it were a close game, there may have been a discussion.

[LMSANS]

You are right but it's a BS rule. There are too many different types of balks so there is no purpose. You have a no pitch balk that you balked and warned. So the next pitch he jump steps to first with no throw, BALK. The first balk has nothing to do with the second balk so what did he learn? I know you have nothing to do with it but it is still stupid. Remember local rules are made by fools.

This is actually an improvement. In previous years, no balks were penalized until the playoffs. Then it was the first half of the season. Now they've gone to this one warning per pitcher for the first half. Maybe next year we will eliminate this local rule.:angel4:

[Stan W.]

My association has a local PONY league who has a local rule for balk warnings for the first 2 weeks of the season as well....No balks, just warnings....any outs gained by the balk are negated...

[jjb]

I'm really averse to issuing "Warning Coupons" to coach's, as they generally find a way to abuse the priveledge. At our lower levels (9-10), we'll talk to the pitchers on the ticky-tack balks (shoulders, etc), but enforce the more serious balks (fake to first/home, etc.) It works for us.

[mstaylor]

I was working a JrLL game a few years back and they traditionally warn all year on the first balk. Nobody said anything before the game so when the pitcher commited an elephant balk I advanced the runner. The manager came out and ask what happened to the warning. I told him I don't warn, he OK and went to the dugout.

[someoneinca]

This is actually an improvement. In previous years, no balks were penalized until the playoffs. Then it was the first half of the season. Now they've gone to this one warning per pitcher for the first half. Maybe next year we will eliminate this local rule.

My league does the same. We warn through the first half of the season. Nobody bothers to teach the pitchers the balk rules until they get to juniors and usually I end up teaching it to the pitchers and coaches during the games.

This year though the other UIC did a balk clinic for all of the juniors managers/coaches before the season.

[mstaylor]

I have a standing offer to all the local JrLLs and Pony leagues that I will come to a practice and look at their pitchers and correct any balk motions before the season starts. Almost none take me up on it so I don't feel bad about balking them from the beginning.

[Dragon29]

MS - I've made that same offer to the LLJr teams; was taken up on it once - last season. A few weeks afterward, I heard that manager, during a game, telling his pitchers they had to step off the pitcher's plate in order to throw to 1B or it was a balk. . . ?

Last season; 1st game of LLJr for a nearby league (in our District) I don't normally call. Before the game, one of the managers comes up to me and said, "Our Chief Umpire says we're not calling balks until later in the season." I reply, "It's later in the season than you think." Called two that game.

Earlier this season - just two weeks ago - after calling a balk (shoulder turn to 1B after coming set) F3 looks at me as the runner is going to 2B and says, "Doesn't he <meaning F1> get a warning?" I said, "That is his warning."

Call 'em if you see 'em - it's the only way to stop 'em.

[blue32]

I just think warnings are ridiculous. The only way the pitchers, and their coaches, are going to learn, is to penalize them. I have never gotten in too much trouble for calling a balk, but boy, have I for not calling one.

[Forest Ump]

I remember doing a Pony Traveling Team game last year. I called a balk and advanced the runner. A moment later I hear from the stands “Hey, how about a warning". So I said "Don't do that again". That got a pretty good laugh.

I also do a rec league (pony OBR) that wants one warning per pitcher for the first few weeks. I explain to them that we will not advance the runner but we will let any successful play by the offence stand. If a runner is stealing and a balk is called, I let the play stand unless he is out.