In baseball, what exactly is a balk, and what's wrong with it?

Hi rambler,

Even some major leaguers ask these questions.  If long-time veterans
of the game don't understand the balk, it's going to be difficult to
explain it.  But as best I can tell, a balk is typically a movement by
the pitcher that tends to deceive the runner into thinking that no
pickoff attempt is going to be made (or less often, deceives the
batter into thinking that no pitch is going to be made).  The tendency
to deceive is what's wrong with it.

For the official rules, some explanations, and further discussion, see:

"Official Rules: 8.00 The Pitcher"
MLB.com
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/pitcher_8.jsp

"Balks Rule"
eteamz
http://eteamz.active.com/baseball/rules/obr/library/rule.cfm/Balks/

"The Balk Reference"
eteamz
http://eteamz.active.com/baseball/rules/obr/library/rule.cfm/The%20Balk/

"Can't tell a balk, you say? You have lots of company," by Lynn
Henning (June 27, 2005)
The Detroit News
http://www.detnews.com/2005/tigers/0506/27/D04-229006.htm

"Hold it -- exactly what is a balk?," by Jeff Smith (July 6, 2003)
The Washington Times
http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20030706-123448-8862r.htm

- justaskscott


Search strategy --

Searched on Google for:

"what is a balk"
site:mlb.com balk

Very fast and very helpful answer.
(But, sheesh, a balk sure is a crazy rule!)