Never got a chance to clarify BALK by dangling leg

[Umpire942]

Ruleset preferable FED, but if any differ please let me know

 

Usually once a year or 2, I hear a coach, bark at me , when a pitcher, out of no where, starts to dangle his leg out, out of the ordinary.  "Hey I have runners on base blue!"

So, even though PU can call this, this for sure is the BU primary job as we know.  So of course we need to know if 

Did he STOP or NOT

Is that all?  I mean yes Nester Cortez mixes it up, and other MLB pitcher do their funky junk, and its legal as they dont stop.  Why do they do this, well it messes with the batter, and it does indeed, deceive runners (legally or not)

I have not called it, and i have called it.  When did i call it? When it came out of nowhere, and it didnt look fluid and came to some kind of pause.   When did i not call it?  I wasnt paying attention and dont know if he stopped or not.

 

Yes you can respond with the rule.  Thats fine, I want that.  Especially if one differs from LL, FED, NCAA, OBA

 

But also would like somebody's 2 cents on the matter on proper response to coaches.  No matter what its a judgement call.  If I believe he stopped, its a BALK, if i dont, or didnt see it, its NOT.  Thats my 50 cents  😃

[umpstu]

I have been to pro school and numerous top notch clinics and have yet to have an instructor talk about splitting up balk responses.  These are MLB WS and CWS umpires.

If you see a balk, call a balk.

As far as the response, tell the coach you're watching it.  Your second to last sentence is also a very good response.

Sometimes when you see something happen that's out of the ordinary you might say, "Did he just? What was that?"  Kind of stuns you at times.

[noumpere]

NCAA has (or used to have) guidance on the primary responsibilities for balks among umpires.  Any umpire can get anything, however

To the coach "I see it.  He's close but I judged it as legal."  Say it loud enough that the pitcher, D-coach can hear, and it will have the effect of  an unofficial warning.

[Umpire942]

14 hours ago, umpstu said:

I have been to pro school and numerous top notch clinics and have yet to have an instructor talk about splitting up balk responses.  These are MLB WS and CWS umpires.

If you see a balk, call a balk.

As far as the response, tell the coach you're watching it.  Your second to last sentence is also a very good response.

Sometimes when you see something happen that's out of the ordinary you might say, "Did he just? What was that?"  Kind of stuns you at times.

Thats interesting, because they always want to know what they did, the pitcher, and the coach.  I usually tell them start and stop, or not stop, moved, flinched, stepped off wrong foot etc.  I know your getting MLB umpire and such.  But this is not that level here.  

[umpstu]

3 hours ago, Umpire942 said:

Thats interesting, because they always want to know what they did, the pitcher, and the coach.  I usually tell them start and stop, or not stop, moved, flinched, stepped off wrong foot etc.  I know your getting MLB umpire and such.  But this is not that level here.  

Not big leaguing anybody, just telling people I've never been instructed it's the BU responsibility etc.  I will tell people exactly what I had if I call a balk.  I'm saying that when I have something that completely catches me off guard then I usually say to myself, "Did that just happen?" See a balk call a balk.

[Rich Ives]

On 12/5/2022 at 3:30 PM, Umpire942 said:

 

I mean yes Nester Cortez mixes it up, and other MLB pitcher do their funky junk, and its legal as they don't stop.  Why do they do this, well it messes with the batter, and it does indeed, deceive runners (legally or not)

 

You can't balk wit no  runners.  Deceit is legal - it just has to be done within the rules.

[Aging_Arbiter]

On 12/5/2022 at 6:49 PM, umpstu said:

If you see a balk, call a balk.

I'll just piggy back on what @umpstu said by adding..........if you call it, be prepared to explain it.