Did he balk?

[johnSandlin]

Did anyone see Cole Hamels pick off move last night?

Did he balk?

I thought the umpires were in no win situation. I they toast if they called a balk and toast of they did not call a balk.

[johnnyg08]

If they called a balk it looked as though he failed to step...in other words, he didn't gain distance and direction on his throw over there. I think he got away with one there...and it was huge.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I hate balks and I hate to call balks and that was a balk.

[Emperor Ump]

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.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by Emperor Ump

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.

[tballump]

Thought I read somewhere that if you see clear daylight between the toe of the pivot foot and the heal of the non-pivot or free foot you have the step taken care of with a lefthanded pitcher.

No daylight would mean no step towards first and probably also mean a step towards home. Since there was daylight, it would seem the only question might be, did he "lean" in towards home or did the non-pivot foot pass the rubber in which case the 1st base umpire would have a better view than anyone else.

It also looked like the runner was going with the first movement (gambling) regardless of whether the pitcher was going home or going to 1st, although Madden said he wasn't. The runner just ducked his head when he was called out at second and didn't even question or make even a slight hand motion (they are great at those hand motions) about a possible balk.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by UMP25

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.

Jim Evans perpetrates this "myth" very plainly in his balk video. Good enough for me.

[Emperor Ump]

Originally Posted by UMP25

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.

This is a training guideline I was taught (Not at JEAPU). It doesn't appear in any rules book but gives a good consistent guideline as to what is gaining distance to 1st vs home.

[umpjayfire]

i have him getting D and D...no balk ....good no call

[johnnyg08]

does his free foot come down in the same place it started? that's part of the test too isn't it?

[mbyron]

It was too close to the 45 for me to rule that he did not gain distance and direction. Close play.

[johnnyg08]

tough call for sure...i suppose that's why they get paid the big bucks.

on another note, was Madden arguing w/ the PU? Shoudn't he be talking w/ the 1Bu? or was PU the crew chief?

[johnSandlin]

PU was the crew chief.

[johnnyg08]

which might explain why Madden went to the PU and not 1BU