[Knockwurst]

Cracker -- I am familiar with what a balk is. I am not aware that a balk can be called for the catcher stepping out from the area behind the batter before the pitch has left the pitcher's hand (ie. a pitch out or intentional walk).

Pitching around a batter has more risk than throwing slow pitches way outside the strike zone as in an intentional walk. For example, a pitch in the dirt can cause a wild pitch or passed ball or the pitcher could mistakenly throw it so the hitter could get a hit. That's what I meant by more risk.

The statement about having an effect on pitch outs referred to having a rule, for example, requiring the pitcher to throw the pitch between the two batters' boxes. Then it would be more difficult to have a pitchout if there was such a rule.

I wasn't necessarily wedded to this idea, I just wanted to hear what other thought.