Controversial Baseball Balk Rule Called Out
Baseball’s controversial balk rule, which created havoc for pitchers during the 1988 season and led to a 160% increase in balks, is being scrapped for the 1989 season.
The Major League Baseball Players Assn., which accepted the rule last spring on a one-year trial basis, has decided to block it for this season.
The Official Playing Rules Committee on Thursday decided to go back to the old rule, which said pitchers must come to a “complete stop” instead of a “complete and discernible stop.”
A record 924 balks were called in 1988. The previous record was 356 in 1987.
Ed Vargo, supervisor of umpires for the National League, said today that the rule change didn’t necessarily mean there would be a change in enforcement.
“What does discernible mean?” Vargo said. “You still have to come to a complete stop. It’s up to each umpire’s judgment.”
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