Rules for a Balk in Baseball

Major League fans may go to hundreds of baseball games in a lifetime without seeing a "balk" called, or might see one in back-to-back games. The balk rule defines the legal method a pitcher may use to throw the ball to home plate or to any other base on the playing field when there is at least one runner on base. Violating the balk rule results in any runner on base being permitted to advance one base.

  1. Contact With the Rubber

    • Baseball rule 8.05 regarding the balk indicates that for a balk to occur, the pitcher must have at least one foot touching the pitcher's rubber, sometimes referred to as the pitcher's plate. If a pitcher is not touching the pitcher's rubber, he may throw to any base at any time, using any motion that he wishes. The rule also states that a pitcher is not permitted to touch the rubber with either foot if he does not have the ball. This is considered to be a balk, as it is an attempt to deceive the runner as to where the ball is located.

    Faking a Throw to a Base

    • A pitcher is allowed to make contact with the rubber and fake a throw to second or third base if a runner is located on that base. He cannot fake a throw to a base unoccupied by a runner. The rule also states that a pitcher may never fake a throw to first base if he starts the motion to throw while one or both feet are touching the rubber.

    Motion of the Pitcher's Feet

    • If a pitcher attempts to make a throw to either first, second or third base, he must step toward that base with his lead foot when throwing, or remove both feet from contact with the rubber. As an example, if he is in a "set position" with no windup and his front foot is not touching the rubber but his rear foot is, he can step back from the rubber with his rear foot and throw to any base he wishes without stepping toward that base. This is because he is no longer considered to be in contact with the rubber according to rule 8.05.

    Coming to a Full and Complete Stop

    • When a runner is on a base, the pitcher must come to a full and complete stop before throwing a pitch. This means his hands must rest in front of him at some point during his pitching motion before throwing the ball to home plate. The exception to this rule is if the bases are loaded, in which a runner is on each base, he may pitch from a full windup motion. A full windup motion does not require the pitcher to come to a full stop before throwing the ball to home plate.

    Quick Pitch

    • The pitcher may not make what is referred to as a quick pitch to home plate. This is when the pitcher pitches the ball toward home plate without facing the batter. This is because the batter must be given notice that a pitch may be about to occur, which is done by the pitcher facing the batter.

    Dropping of the Baseball

    • A pitcher may not drop the baseball while either of his feet are in contact with the pitcher's rubber. It does not matter if this is intentional or unintentional, as either action results in a balk being called on the pitcher.