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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame ==Origin== [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle...'
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==Origin==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''balke'', from [http://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]
==Definitions==
*1: a ridge of [[land]] left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness
*2: beam, rafter
*3: hindrance, check
*4a : the space behind the balkline on a billiard table
:b : any of the outside divisions made by the balklines
*5: [[failure]] of a player to complete a [[motion]]; especially : an illegal motion of the pitcher in baseball while in [[position]]
==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.
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''.
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:
*switches his pitching position from the windup to the set (or vice versa) without properly disengaging the rubber;
*while on the rubber, makes a motion associated with his pitch and does not complete the delivery;
*when pitching from the set position, fails to make a complete stop with his hands together before beginning to pitch;
*throws from the mound to a base without stepping toward (gaining distance in the direction of) that base;
*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);
*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;
*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
*unnecessarily delays the game
*pitches while facing away from the batter;
*after bringing his hands together on the rubber, separates them except in making a pitch or a throw;
*stands on or astride the rubber without the ball, or mimics a pitch without the ball; or
*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]
[[Category: General Reference]]
==Origin==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''balke'', from [http://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]
==Definitions==
*1: a ridge of [[land]] left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness
*2: beam, rafter
*3: hindrance, check
*4a : the space behind the balkline on a billiard table
:b : any of the outside divisions made by the balklines
*5: [[failure]] of a player to complete a [[motion]]; especially : an illegal motion of the pitcher in baseball while in [[position]]
==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.
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''.
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:
*switches his pitching position from the windup to the set (or vice versa) without properly disengaging the rubber;
*while on the rubber, makes a motion associated with his pitch and does not complete the delivery;
*when pitching from the set position, fails to make a complete stop with his hands together before beginning to pitch;
*throws from the mound to a base without stepping toward (gaining distance in the direction of) that base;
*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);
*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;
*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
*unnecessarily delays the game
*pitches while facing away from the batter;
*after bringing his hands together on the rubber, separates them except in making a pitch or a throw;
*stands on or astride the rubber without the ball, or mimics a pitch without the ball; or
*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]
[[Category: General Reference]]