An
illegal act made by the pitcher to deceive the runners on base. When a
balk is called, the
ball is dead, and all
runners get to
advance one base. Ways in which a balk can occur:
- The pitcher steps off the rubber without breaking his hands
- The pitcher throws from the set position without coming to a complete stop before throwing
- The pitcher throws to a base before stepping in the direction of that base first
- The pitcher throws a pitch while the catcher is not in the catcher's box.
- The pitcher fakes a throw to first base while standing on the rubber.
- The pitcher goes into his natural pitching motion and fails to throw the ball to the plate
- The pitcher pitches the ball before the batter is reasonably settled in the batter's box
- The pitcher goes into a pitching motion while not on the rubber
- The pitcher drops the ball while on the rubber
- The pitcher steps on the rubber without the ball
- Any unnecessary delay of the game