[Rich]

Originally posted by PeteBooth
Originally posted by TriggerMN

Anybody see this? Oh boy, I hope that 3rd base umpire knows he's 150% right on that one.

ASU and CSF are tied 2-2, no outs, bottom 9. CSF has 1st and 3rd, and the ASU pitcher is intentionally walking the batter. On the 4th pitch, the 3rd base umpire calls a balk, scoring the winning run. It sure looked like he stopped to me.

Whether he stopped or didn't is irrelevant. It was an IW. No deception no nothing. R1 was going to get second base anyway because of the IW.

It's not like we had R1 only and R1 was a Rickey Henderson type runner and F1 was trying to gain an unfair advantage by not adhereing to the rule. There was R1/R3 and an intentional base on balls. Runners going no-where.

Was it the correct call?

Technically speaking - yes but in the spirit of the game IMO a horrible call. Why didn't the other umpires call it?
Why! because they wanted the players to decide.

It's like an NBA / Hockey game where the officials in that particular sport allow the players to decide. Unless it's a BLATANT foul, they allow more contact towards the end of the game.

Papa C speaks of something similar in his book 51 ways to ruin a baseball game. The aforementioned could be number 52.

There's a reason the rule-makers put in the wording for a "decernable stop" and it had nothing to do with F1 giving a base on balls.

I would bet a "dollar to a donut" no PRO umpire worth his weight in gold would call a Balk on Roger Clemens in game 7 of the world series for not coming to a stop when intentionally walking a batter.

In Summary IMO a Horrible call and my gut tells me that perhaps the NCAA will adopt the FED ruling on Intentional walks in the future. Simply call TIME and send B1 to first.

They changed the obstruction rule when the Texas first base-men constantly blocked the base before actual possession of the ball. The following year the rule change.

Now we have a balk called on an intentional base on balls. Perhaps the rule will change to the FED ruling as early as next season.

IMO it had nothing to do with Gonads, but some umpire with a huge ego wanting to make the BIG call.

Pete Booth

Like Bob said, you have no clue how NCAA umpires are scrutinized. Just this season, Yeast on a bulletin made it quite clear this was to be called. At all times.