Very, very few people know the balk rules at all, and that is including the seasoned baseball fans. I would bet if you 100 baseball fans to list the ways you can balk, less than 5 would be right.

The #1 that people forget about (including umps) is the comming set rule. You must come completely set for 1 full second which is something you see a lot and you hardly ever see it called. Roy Oswalt does it constantly and I've only seen it called on him once.

The #1 that people forget about (including umps) is the comming set rule. You must come completely set for 1 full second which is something you see a lot and you hardly ever see it called. Roy Oswalt does it constantly and I've only seen it called on him once.

Which helps with his motion considering he's so quick to the plate and then he can just drop that slow curve ball on you.

 

I spotted it. Unfortunately from 29 rows up the stands I don't hold much power.

You could have pretended that the ump was a wall.

You could have pretended that the ump was a wall.

Or in the case of that night...a sink...

The #1 that people forget about (including umps) is the comming set rule. You must come completely set for 1 full second which is something you see a lot and you hardly ever see it called. Roy Oswalt does it constantly and I've only seen it called on him once.

 

yeah, that rule they have completely quit calling. I know they enforced it for a while about 10 years ago, but they were calling so many balks, they pretty much just quietly quit doing it.

The #1 that people forget about (including umps) is the comming set rule. You must come completely set for 1 full second which is something you see a lot and you hardly ever see it called. Roy Oswalt does it constantly and I've only seen it called on him once.

 

Yeah, that one is never called, and it happens all the time.

 

It's easy to tell people don't know the balk rules -- just listen to the crowd anytime the pitcher makes a move to second. They think it's a balk.

Yeah, that one is never called, and it happens all the time.

 

It's easy to tell people don't know the balk rules -- just listen to the crowd anytime the pitcher makes a move to second. They think it's a balk.

 

or the fake to first, fake to third move that everyone starts screaming about...

Yeah, that one is never called, and it happens all the time.

 

It's easy to tell people don't know the balk rules -- just listen to the crowd anytime the pitcher makes a move to second. They think it's a balk.

There's 3 things that crowds as a whole do that piss me off the most. 1.) The Wave 2.) Leaping in excitement for high popouts that barely make it out of the infield 3.) Hootin' and hollerin' over a pitcher stepping off the damn mound/fake 3rd throw to 1st. So annoying.

There's 3 things that crowds as a whole do that piss me off the most. 1.) The Wave 2.) Leaping in excitement for high popouts that barely make it out of the infield 3.) Hootin' and hollerin' over a pitcher stepping off the damn mound/fake 3rd throw to 1st. So annoying.

I really hate the booing of intentional walks too.

I really hate the booing of intentional walks too.

"You're walking Jim Thome to get to Ross Gload? You jerks!!!!!"

I really hate the booing of intentional walks too.

Or the gasps and shouts eminating from the stands on a pitch that's 3 feet outside but they feel caught the corner.

I really hate the booing of intentional walks too.

 

 

 

Massive peeve of mine also.

Massive peeve of mine also.

 

Not to mention MVP chants

or the fake to first, fake to third move that everyone starts screaming about...

The definition of a balk makes this a balkable move. Umpires just don't call it.

The definition of a balk makes this a balkable move. Umpires just don't call it.

 

I think they meant fake to third, throw to first. If I am not mistaken (I have not looked up the balk rule) if you step toward first initially, then you must throw there. So you would be right with your statement. However, you can fake to third and then spin toward first but make no throw. I do not believe that is a balk.

I'm just trying to figure out how basically no one at the park seemed to catch it. Fathom and I mentioned it right away in the game thread but I thought my eyes might have been deceiving me considering nobody on the Sox argued at all.

 

I've been a die hard baseball fan in terms of watching the games since the 1993 team, I consider myself as knowledgable as most fans out there....and to be honest I have no damn clue what the balk rules even are, unless of course it's a play like with Buehrle when nobody is holding on the runner at 1st.

Not to mention MVP chants

 

 

 

Oh I don't mind stuff that makes you guys look like fools..

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official...s/pitcher_8.jsp

I have a serious question though. Now I don't boo the fake the 3rd, throw to 1st move since I know it's technically not a balk, however I thought part of the balk rule involves the term "deceiving the runner" (which is why somebody has to be holding on the runner at 1st for you to throw over there). So in that case, why isn't the fake to 3rd, throw to 1st move a balk?

My favorite annoyance at games is the constant cheering of routine fly balls as if they are all on the way out of the park. Maybe I need to be tolerant of the casual fan, but pay attention to the trajectory of the ball gosh dangit!

My favorite annoyance at games is the constant cheering of routine fly balls as if they are all on the way out of the park. Maybe I need to be tolerant of the casual fan, but pay attention to the trajectory of the ball gosh dangit!

 

The thing I hate the most are the people (usually drunk) that never sit down, constantly talk loud, or walk up and down the aisle thirty times a game.

I am just annoyed by stupid fans in general. There should be some baseball IQ test given before your allowed in the park (unless of course your a young kid still learning the game).

The thing I hate the most are the people (usually drunk) that never sit down, constantly talk loud, or walk up and down the aisle thirty times a game.

 

I do not mind the talking. I mean there are only so many things I can complain about before I become an intolerant curmudgeon. However, I do agree that the unnecessary standing (frequently occurs on those routine fly balls, too) and the constant trips to and from the seats are pretty annoying as well. At the end of the day, however, they are all helping to pay the salaries so I just try to block it out.

I do not mind the talking. I mean there are only so many things I can complain about before I become an intolerant curmudgeon. However, I do agree that the unnecessary standing (frequently occurs on those routine fly balls, too) and the constant trips to and from the seats are pretty annoying as well. At the end of the day, however, they are all helping to pay the salaries so I just try to block it out.

 

The standing and talking kind of go hand in hand. I don't mean standing for a play on the field. I'm talking about standing up in the middle of the aisle just to talk to someone or any stupid reason. Some people stand at their seats throughout most of the game.

i agree that I think the fake 3rd to FAKE first should be a balk. just on that fact that a pitcher cannot fake a pick off throw to first in the first place. but not fake third to first.

 

but the reason it isn't is because the rules say that the pitcher does not need to throw to 2nd or 3rd when he steps directly to the bag. but he has to to first. but since usually a pitcher doing the 3rd to first move step offs the rubber during the fake to 3rd portion, the pitcher is no longer in contact with the rubber, thus technically, an infielder. but a quick move where the pitcher does not step off the rubber when faking to 3rd, is a balk.

 

I found it interesting that this play was detailed in the rules.

it's after mistakes like that where I think back to the playoffs where we got the call every time