Quote:
Originally posted by Bfair
Quote:
Originally posted by Jim Porter
Even though the failure to complete the throw was the balk, the pitcher still retained possession and did not complete the throw. That means that the attempt to throw to second was a second delivery, the ball should have been ruled dead at that time, and the balk penalty enforced.
Interesting situation.
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I must respectfully disagree, Jim. With R1 en route to 2nd base (play still occurring) the ball should not be killed for the exact reason shown in the situation. The defense errored beyond the balk (favoring the offended offense). Offense may achieve more than the award of the balk (at their own risk).[/B]
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It's an interesting question for discussion, but the history of baseball solves our problem.
We are accustomed to thinking of "continuing plays" as they relate to the defensive team losing the right to appeal baserunning errors. In that respect the balk to
first followed by a throw to
second is a continuing play.
But the balk interpretation deals with a "continuous" play. And that's not at all the same thing. Once the first movement toward the base is
not completed, any movement by the pitcher thereafter is the second movement. (Nobody can dispute that. grin) A
continuing event can have many movements; just look at Beethoven's
Fifth Symphony, for example.
But a continuous event ends the instant a second event occurs.
Kill the ball, enforce the balk. Jim Evans, Jim Porter, and Carl Childress all agree.