How you Watch for the BALK

[therefump]

I'm curious as to how fellow umpires watch for balks when pitcher is in the stretch position. Do you use a checkdown list? What do you watch for? What do you concentrate your watching to?

I've heard the base umpire watches feet and the plate umpire watches above the waist? Do you follow this guideline?

I'm primarily interested in those who do High School games and above.....

[LMSANS]

I use a check down list as the pitcher progresses. I mentally make note of each step he is in and what he can or can't do. Pre-game is "see a balk, call a balk". Some guys I work with, do limit themselves to certain balks when in different positions. Then there are the guys that wouldn't call a balk if it stepped on them. I was working a freshmen game the other day. I'm on the dish. I thought F1 didn't stop, but wasn't sure and since my partner didn't call anything, I let it go. Next pitch, no stop, I call it. 3 pitches later, no stop, I call again. We get out of the inning, my partner comes over to me and I ask if he saw the balk. "Oh yeah, he's been doing that all game."

When I'm behind the plate, I don't watch as closely as I do on the bases. I think the BU has the advantage for almost all balks.

[blindumpire99]

A good, solid, trained knowledge of the rules for balking a pitcher is a no brainer. That's the way you "see a balk, call a balk".

In my pregames, I've always used a K.I.S.S. principle with my partner. And, ironically, I use the same axiom with him about balking a pitcher if he's on the bases and I make sure they know that I will do the same if I'm on the basepaths.

"If you see balk, you call it, don't wait for me".This mechanic of you watch this and I'll watch that simply doesn't work for me. I've tried a couple of times over the years and it just doesn't fly.

[mstaylor]

I agree that watching part of the pitcher is a bad move. I will say the PU has a better view of certain things and the same is true of the BU.

I have a mental checklist that second nature. You watch the pitcher take the rubber, take his signs, come set and pitch or throw/feint to a base. As he progresses you know he is past this part of the rule and you carry that along until he has done it legally or illegally. Once he goes over the line, call the balk.

[Dragon29]

The only balk I think PU can sometimes see better than BU is the shoulder-turn to 1B; in 2-man, when BU is in B or C, sometimes it's just not as apparent. It's not that I can't see or call it as BU from there, I just think PU has a better angle with which to see that particular one.

But - see a balk, call a balk - period. Separating F1's body into pieces for purposes of what to watch? No way.

[Umpire in Chief]

I just watch the pitcher as a whole. If I see it I'll call it. But if you start looking too intently you'll start picking boogers or missing other happenings on the field.

[BT_Blue]

as BU i will more often than not watch above the waist as my central focus. Mainly the glove, shoulders and any possible lean the pitcher may do.

on the plate its the whole body. When the pitcher makes a move to first I will usually concentrate on the feet since my BU doesnt have the time to do that.

[kwiggie]

A couple of you mention a mental "check-down" list. What does it consist of how does it flow?

[mstaylor]

You watch him take the rubber, take his signs. Then watch his looks at the runnners and his set. Then watch for any disengagement or his delivery. As he passes each area that could create a balk, it's one less thing to watch for. It isn't as complicated as it sounds. It isn't a set list that I check things off, it's more of a list that I think about and if he does anything wrong on the list he gets balked. This is a way to avoid the "It looks weird" balk" that you can't explain.

[ShinySideUp]

A couple of you mention a mental "check-down" list. What does it consist of how does it flow?

I'm trying to teach my sons (both umpire with me) what I describe as "The Dance."

It starts when the ball goes back to F1.

F1 receives the ball, and does his "get ready to pitch" routine. As PU, I'm watching F1, but also being aware of where BU is, where the runners are and what they're doing, and what the on-deck batter is doing.

Batter gets into the box, F2 goes into his crouch, and F1 steps on the rubber. In a good game, with good flow, these three things happen at almost the same time. If not, as PU, I'm watching them all but more aware of the "missing element." IOW, if B1 is taking too long to get into the box, I start a mental timer, and at some point encourage him to get into the box. If B1 is ready, but F1 is stalling, same thing. I have never noticed a catcher stalling.

As F2 gets into position, I set my feet. Personally, I don't adjust my position based on catcher setup, unless he's so far inside I have to move up/back to see the plate.

As soon as F1 is on the rubber, though, I have at least one eye on him at all times. Balked a guy this year who snap-threw to F3 while batter was getting set. Problem was, F1 was still in his "set" position, and didn't move either foot when he threw.

So ... F1 in set, F2 in crouch, B1 in the box. I maintain my awareness of where F2 and B1 are, but now I'm focused on F1. I also slow my breathing slightly.

He goes into the stretch and I drop into the slot - my checklist is:

where is the ball (glove or hand)?

feet in position?

full stop? (HS only: glove below the chin?)

shoulders stopped?

knees stable?

elbows stopped? (partner balked one for "chicken winging" while adjusting the ball on Monday... I missed it because it was the away elbow)

As F1 moves to throw or pitch ...

Pickoff,

Did the pivot foot move first? If yes, was it a legal disengagement, jump step, or jab step?

Did the free foot make distance and direction toward the base?

Did the foot land before the throw?

If the free foot moved first, was it a move to the plate?

Assuming no balk, I stand up and if the F2 moves, I move out and wait for him to get back into position before I set my feet. I've noticed that the best varsity catchers don't even move on the pickoff, so I stay where I'm at. F1, F2, and B1 all reset, and we're back to the set position.

On the pitch, when F1 starts his delivery I take a breath, lock my elbows into my sides, and "lock in" my head position. Follow the pitch in, swing or not, strike or ball, caught or not.

F2 throws the ball back, and start again at the top.

Of course, most of it's not that methodical ... but it's helping my 14 YO catcher learn the difference between being PU and F2.

[jim knight]

For me... I try to be aware of everything the pitcher does / but I do focus on the common areas of "no stop", "step", "bent Knee" and whatever else might happen depending on the pitchers delivery style... like the others "see it call it"