Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''balke'', from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] ''balca''; akin to Old High German ''balko'' beam, [[Latin]] ''fulcire'' to prop, [[Greek]] ''phalanx'' log, phalanx

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''balke'', from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English] ''balca''; akin to Old High German ''balko'' beam, [[Latin]] ''fulcire'' to prop, [[Greek]] ''phalanx'' log, phalanx

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century before 12th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century before 12th Century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: a ridge of [[land]] left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness

*1: a ridge of [[land]] left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness

*5: [[failure]] of a player to complete a [[motion]]; especially : an illegal motion of the pitcher in baseball while in [[position]]

*5: [[failure]] of a player to complete a [[motion]]; especially : an illegal motion of the pitcher in baseball while in [[position]]

==Description==

==Description==

In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball baseball], a pitcher can commit a number of illegal [[motions]] or [[actions]] that constitute a '''balk'''. Most of these violations involve a pitcher pretending to pitch when he has no [[intention]] of doing so. In games played under the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Baseball_Rules Official Baseball Rules], a balk results in a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_ball_(baseball)#Baseball dead ball] or delayed dead ball. In certain other circumstances, a balk may be wholly or partially disregarded. Under other rule sets, notably in the United States under the National Federation of High Schools (Fed or Federation) Baseball Rules, a balk results in an immediate dead ball. In the event a ''balk'' is enforced, the pitch is generally (but not always) nullified, each runner is awarded one base, and the batter (generally) remains at bat, and with the previous count. The balk rule in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball Major League Baseball] was introduced in 1898.

In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball baseball], a pitcher can commit a number of illegal [[motions]] or [[actions]] that constitute a '''balk'''. Most of these violations involve a pitcher pretending to pitch when he has no [[intention]] of doing so. In games played under the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Baseball_Rules Official Baseball Rules], a balk results in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_ball_(baseball)#Baseball dead ball] or delayed dead ball. In certain other circumstances, a balk may be wholly or partially disregarded. Under other rule sets, notably in the United States under the National Federation of High Schools (Fed or Federation) Baseball Rules, a balk results in an immediate dead ball. In the event a ''balk'' is enforced, the pitch is generally (but not always) nullified, each runner is awarded one base, and the batter (generally) remains at bat, and with the previous count. The balk rule in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball Major League Baseball] was introduced in 1898.

A pitcher is restricted to a certain set of motions and one of two basic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitching_position pitching positions] before and during a pitch; if these regulations are violated with one or more runners on base, an umpire may call a ''balk''.

A pitcher is restricted to a certain set of motions and one of two basic [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitching_position pitching positions] before and during a pitch; if these regulations are violated with one or more runners on base, an umpire may call a ''balk''.

With a runner on base and the pitcher on or astride (with one leg on each side of) the rubber, it is a balk when the pitcher:

With a runner on base and the pitcher on or astride (with one leg on each side of) the rubber, it is a balk when the pitcher:

*throws or feints a throw from the rubber to an unoccupied base, unless a play is imminent;

*throws or feints a throw from the rubber to an unoccupied base, unless a play is imminent;

*steps or feints from the rubber to first or third base without completing the throw (doing so to second base is legal);

*steps or feints from the rubber to first or third base without completing the throw (doing so to second base is legal);

*delivers a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quick_pitch quick return], a pitch thrown right after receiving the ball back, with intent to catch the batter off-guard;

*delivers a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quick_pitch quick return], a pitch thrown right after receiving the ball back, with intent to catch the batter off-guard;

*drops the ball while on the rubber, even if by accident, if the ball does not subsequently cross a foul line;

*drops the ball while on the rubber, even if by accident, if the ball does not subsequently cross a foul line;

*while intentionally walking a batter, releases a pitch while the catcher is out of his box with one or both feet

*while intentionally walking a batter, releases a pitch while the catcher is out of his box with one or both feet

*throws to first when the first baseman, because of his distance from the base, is unable to make a play on the runner there.

*throws to first when the first baseman, because of his distance from the base, is unable to make a play on the runner there.

The pitcher's acts of [[spitting]] on the ball, defacing or altering the ball, rubbing the ball on the clothing or body, or applying a foreign substance to the ball are not balks, however it will result in the pitcher's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ejection_(sports) ejection] from the game if caught.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balk]

The pitcher's acts of [[spitting]] on the ball, defacing or altering the ball, rubbing the ball on the clothing or body, or applying a foreign substance to the ball are not balks, however it will result in the pitcher's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ejection_(sports) ejection] from the game if caught.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balk]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]