Balkin Bob?
 

Just wondering if someone saw the first balk called on Giants pitcher last night. ESPN showed the second which was pretty obvious, but they didn't show the first one. On the web news, the Giants all didn't see the first one and questioned it.

Of course the umpire making the call Bob Davidson "balkin Bob".

Just wondering if it really was a balk as some of his calls are often questionable.

Thanks
David

The pitcher clearly breathed while on the mound with the ball.

It was very early in Benitez' taking the rubber....hadn't come to a set yet, and his back shoulder flinch. There was an angle on SNY that made it clear.

Holy Cow!! What is wrong with Armando Benetiz? Even 10 year olds know that you can't do that!!

I know that the MLB umpires take some heat here, and well they should, when they deserve it. Not in this case, these were gutsy calls in a pressure situation with the game on the line. How many of us make these calls or just become shrinking violets when the heat is on?

I don't have a problem with the calls at all, just for education purposes wanting to see what he did wrong.

The last balk was basic (see it in HS all the time), but the first one no one seemed to know what he did and the UIC did not explain it other than to say that it was an obvious balk.

Obvious to whom was my question... (g)

Thanks
David

Obviously obvious to he who made it!!! ;)

The NY Daily News quoted Davidson as saying after the game:
<i>"The first balk, Benitez was looking in and started his body and he didn't like the sign, I guess, and stopped. Basically he started and stopped."</i>

The second balk was obvious and a "no brainer". In watching the game it seemed as if all the umpires were calling balk.

The first one i cannot figure out. Also, it seems as if ONLY Bob Davidson saw the balk because none of the other umpires "blinked"

As far as making a "gutsy" call IMO I do not think the last call was "gutsy" even though the game was on the line. I think most who saw the game called balk at almost the same time the umpires did. Every-one knew that Benitez balked.

I would not have called the first balk. Granted I didn't have my eyes GLUED to F1 but the balk was "petty" at best and IMO should not have been called.

The last one - No problem. The first one as the title of your thread indicates is Balkin Bob

BTW he had another call that went against LaDuca where he rang up a strike on a questionable check swing. So besides the balk Davidson also contributed in "other" ways.

Pete Booth

Ok...I'll admit it. Last night when I was watching while half asleep, I thought for sure Bob had the 1st balk call correct. I've watched it 10 times today at ESPN.com...and I just don't see a balk. That's my two cents.

hi,
for me as a new umpire, its not that obvious, that flinching his shoulder has to be called a balk, if he is not in set position. could anybody of you explain me, why this has to be called a balk (not in set position) and which rule is enforced.

regards
bruno

First balk...started and stopped. Maybe more subtle than Froemming would call, but a violation nevertheless.