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Originally Posted by Sal Giaco
Anybody see the balk Wendlestedt called in the first inning? I guess Leyland wasn't allowed to talk to him about it because just as he started out on Hunter, he pointed toward his knee & then waved his mask in a motion like "don't come out here". Leyland stopped in his tracks, turned around and walked back in the dugout. Respect or Red A$$?  |
Assuming the balk call was a "step balk," i.e., a balk for failure to step to 1B before throwing there, Wendelstadt's call was textbook, straight out of the MLB Umpire Manual:
(d) Official Baseball Rule 8.05(c) requires the pitcher, while touching the pitcher's plate, to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base. If a pitcher turns or spins off of his free foot without actually stepping, or if he turns his body and throws before stepping, it is a balk. See Section 7.6 (Stepping to a Base). NOTE: The pitcher is required to step directly toward a base when feinting a throw to a base. Umpires should indicate balks called under Official Baseball Rule 8.05(c) (no step) by slapping the side of their leg after calling the balk. This indicates the balk is for failure to step directly towards a base.
(e) A manager, coach, or player may not come onto the field or leave his position to protest the call of a balk as defined in Official Baseball Rule 8.05(c) (failure to step directly towards a base before throwing there). If such protest is made, the manager, coach, or player shall be ejected from the game.
Wendelstadt slapped his leg to indicate the balk, and clearly told Leyland "don't come out here" and Leyland did a 180 and went straight back to the dugout.
Textbook.