What is a balk?
A balk is a baseball term used to describe a very specific error committed by the pitcher. The pitcher is able to throw to one of the defensive infielders in order to pick off a runner, so long as they are caught unawares or off base. To limit this power, however, pitchers are required to set their stance prior to throwing to home plate. Once set, they can no longer throw at the runner without taking their back foot off a strip of rubber on the pitchers mound. If any movement is made without delivering the ball to the plate, then a balk is called and the runners can automatically advance one base, even if the base is third to home. The term balk is also used in day to day language to describe a situation where someone declines to do something that they had seemingly agreed to do or that perhaps they were expected to do. An example might be “Will balked at eating Janets dismembered intestines.
