Did he balk?
 

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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?

PU was the crew chief.

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

I haven't seen a good replay yet (missed that segment of the game last night), but from what I've seen, a good no-call (based on the video at mlb.com). Close, but looked like some distance and direction - albeit close to the 45° line.

I got a balk here. You should not only consider his foot. his upper body was certainly going home (albeuit slightly) before he changed his mind and picked off to 1st. It was not huge but it was a balk. I can't remember the last time I saw a big league coach come out and discuss a possible balk. Madden would not have come out if there was not something to it. He certainly had a better angle than Welke. Danley should have made the call but we know they just don't call balks in the bigs. Danley can be forgiven. when you only see a balk once in a blue moon you can be forgiven for not recognizing one when it does happen.

45 degree is only a guideline though right? it's not written anywhere in the rulebook right?

No, there is no OBR reference to any number of degrees or imaginary line, etc. Umpires will use it as a guideline to determine if the pitcher stepped toward the base before throwing there.

I like how you could clearly hear the manager sayin "come on Timmy, thats a balk, Bull $h1t!!! Then suddenly that mic was shut off.