What's a Bock in Baseball?

Definition. A balk occurs when a pitcher makes an illegal motion on the mound that the umpire deems to be deceitful to the runner(s). ... Any umpire, if he notices an illegal movement by the pitcher, can call a balk.

How many ways can you balk in baseball?

There are 13 ways to balk in baseball, and most of them are relatively simple and don't require much thought as a pitcher once you learn them.

How can you tell a pitcher balk?

If a pitcher turns or spins off of his free foot without actually stepping or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk. A pitcher is to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base and is required to throw (except to second base) because he steps.