soundedlikeastrike |
Thu Jul 10, 2008 09:11pm |
From J/R,
"MLB: a player, manager, or coach cannnot leave the dugout or his position to argue a balk called for a pitcher's failure to step to a base. Umpires are to indicate the nature of such a balk by slapping the side of their leg."
My last post on here about an umpires "percieved" lack of unbiasness and fair play (Bungee, which MLB agreed with me by the way) got me accused ah smoking something,, so hang on a minute.
K..
Though I can't see blue's leg, his arm motion looked like he slapped his leg just before he raised his hand and shook his head, in other words "that was a step balk, and we ain't talking about it". F1 talked about it, gone. That was easy.
So, if, this umpire had a history with this player, the video leads "me" to feel blue was out to get him..that is what "I saw" on the video, here's why..
For those that didn't see the "no step" balk, I'm with ya. At least from the angle of this video.
From the initial motion of F1, I saw PO all the way, (and would have balked him had he gone home for sure).
Right shoulder turns to throw to 1B as well as right hip, the step seemed okay also (more on that later), gained distance and direction. If it (FF) indeed landed in the same spot, it must have been the outter rim of his heel landing where the tip of the toe's were, cause it clearly landed closer to first.
IMO, PU begins his balk signal way to soon for a step balk (strike one). (See him coming up with the left arm before the foot plants and he's leaning towards 1B, as if he know's it's a PO also (strike two). At the onset of PU's balk signal (IMO) the FF is still in the air, so it's to early to judge "no step". And the speed of which R1 and F3 turn towards HP indicates "to me" that PU never reset. So IMO he had decided on a balk call pretty early, at least to call the "no step". The reaction of R1 getting back indicates he saw PO all the way also. The reactions of R1 and R3 looking back at the plate and not towards U1 at all indicate there was no agreement echoed by U1 (strike 2 1/2), PU took this one all the way. I know, I know, a step balk will probably be PU's call anyway, just the fact the U1 "seems" to not have seen anything gains a 1/2 strike. So he's still up, but hanging by his teeth.. Hang on....
K...
For those that saw a balk, I'm with you also. Just not for the same reason.
I didn't like the last move of the FF as it does clearly go towards home, looks like the right knee bends inward and the FF changes directions towards HP.
So, had I called "that" a balk, (I feel more of U1's call BTW) I wouldn't have called it a "step balk" rather a lack of smooth and continous motion. And would have splained that pretty quickly, "I saw you change direction in a non smooth and continous motion, that's a balk". That's that, any ejections would be welcome after that point.
Bottom line, unless we could here PU take us through this video himself it's pure speculation as to what he "really" called and why.
Ouch, I think I just got a sliver in my a-- riding the fence like that...
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