Strange Play in Cleveland

[wish7694]

That makes sense that it was not a balk. It is VERY ingrained in players that throwing to an uncovered base is a balk, thus my initial confusion. It looks like at least U1, if not others also had the same initial reaction before recognizing the mistake. Clearly a mistake was made made in pointing and declaring a balk, but wasn't it another mistake to call time out and kill the ball before R1 reached second base even if they thought it was a balk at the time. It seems amazing (even if the correct rule book call on a dead ball that should not have been) that a pitcher could throw to first, hit a runner, have the ball bounce to the 1B dugout and the end result is placing R1 at first.

Note: I changed unoccupied to uncovered since it is what I meant and does not change my point.