Thread: Did he balk?
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Old Thu Oct 23, 2008, 10:52pm
UMP25 UMP25 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Emperor Ump View Post
I disagree. I do not believe it was a balk.

From the above and the behind replays you can see he is gaining distance to 1st base. Albeit more to the 45' mark, he gained more distance to first than to home (there was very little gained either direction, but more is more). Great no call.

This was a good, legal move, Pena just broke too early and gave the Phillies the opportunity to get him. You will see this move at the HS level too.
What is it with this "45-degree" mark? It's a frickin' myth! It doesn't exist. You guys have been listening to too much Tim McCarver.

The first time one learns to forget this mythical 45-degree reference will be the first time one better understands how to call a balk in these cases anyway.
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