Improving Balk Calls

[834k3r]

I’ve locked my eyes on the pitcher’s knees, before, but this past weekend missed a slight shoulder twitch the PU caught (and rightfully called the balk).

I guess my question is simply:  when you’re a BU in B or C, where do you watch?

Secondarily, any tips on how to improve my balk calling?

Thanks in advance for your experience, expertise, and time.

[maven]

What level was that? If we call every little flinch below 16U, we're going to have horrible, long games. If the "twitch" was a big shoulder turn to 1B, then yeah, both should see that.

IMO, tight balk calls are the result of amateur umpires mistakenly thinking that they have to call balks just exactly like the pros do.

At higher levels of amateur ball, pitchers CAN get an advantage from substantial flinches. But chances are, if only 1 umpire sees it, then it's probably not big enough to get.

I don't know what levels you work or your experience level, so I'll make my recommendation generic: anyone who's unsure about balk calls should consult widely among senior umpires to see whether they would call it. 

To answer your question: to see the whole picture, zoom out a little. If you're focused tightly on F1's knees, you're going to miss everything else. 

[834k3r]

36 minutes ago, maven said:

What level was that? If we call every little flinch below 16U, we're going to have horrible, long games. If the "twitch" was a big shoulder turn to 1B, then yeah, both should see that.

IMO, tight balk calls are the result of amateur umpires mistakenly thinking that they have to call balks just exactly like the pros do.

At higher levels of amateur ball, pitchers CAN get an advantage from substantial flinches. But chances are, if only 1 umpire sees it, then it's probably not big enough to get.

I don't know what levels you work or your experience level, so I'll make my recommendation generic: anyone who's unsure about balk calls should consult widely among senior umpires to see whether they would call it. 

To answer your question: to see the whole picture, zoom out a little. If you're focused tightly on F1's knees, you're going to miss everything else. 

I appreciate that answer. Of course the coach of every team that’s batting think all balks should be called, but calling twitches on kids would end up being a balk-fest. A Balk-A-Palooza, if you will.

Your last paragraph is the key for me. I think I’ve been so laser focused on see if the drive leg comes off the rubber I lose the bigger picture.

[Richvee]

I r worked with partners who will pregame balk calls with me. Many will say as BU focus on the lower body(feet legs) and PU will concentrate on the arms and shoulders. That doesn’t mean either of you can’t grab a balk no matter what type, just focus more on “ your half”.

Personally I like this in two man. It’s tough to get non stops on a righty from B, and it’s tough forPU to see feet stepping off the back or not when picks to 1b go out of play. By focusing on your half, it helps get these things right. 

[The Man in Blue]

Not sure if you are just asking about improving your observation skills or also improving your knowledge ... but I will add this: spend some time in the rule books for the code(s) you call.  Get to know what the rules say (not what other umpires say and definitely not what coaches say).  If you see something funky in a game and you aren't sure, look it up in the rulebook when you get home.  It's OK to miss something, just learn from it.

If you are calling youth games, learn to make your calls level-appropriate.  If you aren't going to call something, still take the time to educate the player and the coach.  With younger kids, I will typically wait till between innings and go over to the player and the coach and provide information.  The kids are learning, so I am never afraid to say, "Hey coach, I'm not going to call this, but so your player can learn from this (insert illegal actions and corrective suggestions here) ... He will get called on it as he moves up into higher/older levels."  

[834k3r]

5 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

Not sure if you are just asking about improving your observation skills or also improving your knowledge ... but I will add this: spend some time in the rule books for the code(s) you call.  Get to know what the rules say (not what other umpires say and definitely not what coaches say).  If you see something funky in a game and you aren't sure, look it up in the rulebook when you get home.  It's OK to miss something, just learn from it.

If you are calling youth games, learn to make your calls level-appropriate.  If you aren't going to call something, still take the time to educate the player and the coach.  With younger kids, I will typically wait till between innings and go over to the player and the coach and provide information.  The kids are learning, so I am never afraid to say, "Hey coach, I'm not going to call this, but so your player can learn from this (insert illegal actions and corrective suggestions here) ... He will get called on it as he moves up into higher/older levels."  

You mean the kids aren’t going straight to the Bigs? <shocked face .gif>

Seriously though, I’m always trying to get better and it made me feel I was doing something wrong or I missed something when I didn’t call a balk and the PU did.

I guess I just need to get my confidence up. I know the balk rule; I just need to be confident in that knowledge.

[The Man in Blue]

Confidence is definitely part of it.  I used to do a lot of softball (fastpitch), and it drives me up a wall that MANY umpires will not call illegal pitches because they lack the confidence to make the call.  They don't spend enough time in the rulebook to learn it.  (Or are baseball umpires moonlighting.)

I would agree that, if you aren't confident it was a balk, it is best not to call it.  However, gain that confidence.

As for "I didn't call a balk and the PU did" ... that is typically the way it should be.  It isn't a committee meeting and you don't need a majority vote.  😁  You can't both call the same thing every time.  You are both getting different looks and probably looking for different things.

... and no, the kids aren't going straight to the Bigs.  But you are going to end up screwing that 9-year-old out of the full D1 scholarship that is waiting for him after that game.  😉 

[noumpere]

7 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Confidence is definitely part of it.  I used to do a lot of softball (fastpitch), and it drives me up a wall that MANY umpires will not call illegal pitches because they lack the confidence to make the call. 

 

Maybe they were just waiting for the kid to reach the next level where it would be called?

[dumbdumb]

8 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Confidence is definitely part of it.  I used to do a lot of softball (fastpitch), and it drives me up a wall that MANY umpires will not call illegal pitches because they lack the confidence to make the call.  They don't spend enough time in the rulebook to learn it.  (Or are baseball umpires moonlighting.)

I would agree that, if you aren't confident it was a balk, it is best not to call it.  However, gain that confidence.

As for "I didn't call a balk and the PU did" ... that is typically the way it should be.  It isn't a committee meeting and you don't need a majority vote.  😁  You can't both call the same thing every time.  You are both getting different looks and probably looking for different things.

... and no, the kids aren't going straight to the Bigs.  But you are going to end up screwing that 9-year-old out of the full D1 scholarship that is waiting for him after that game.  😉 

or the price put on that college education by the player/parents/agent to be met as a high school draftee. many take the college offer, but not all take that college offer, and use it towards that signing bonus/negotiation needed to sign right out of HS. 1.8 mil is mentioned in this article but i imagine 2 mil and above also happens. after taxes put it all in a S&P 500 mutual fund as buffett would say and let it ride, or put it in BH B shares and let it ride. play in the minors for 10 years and see what happens. if released after 10 years pump gas in New Jersey for 10 years and see where the bonus sits at that time. it should have doubled twice at a 7.2% return and you are only 38.

back to balks. i think you can find several videos from TASO or other organizations on you tube that give some demos on balks, etc.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/to-sign-or-not-to-sign-how-high-school-draft-prospects-weigh-value-of-college-experience/

[BigBlue4u]

Here's a final thought:  Don't make calling balks your best call.  (See Bob Davidson)

[GiantEngineer]

At the younger ages the big ones are:

-never coming set

-start then stop

-shoulder turn to look at 1st

-fake to 1st on pickoff

Beyond that it can get excessive depending on the age