UNC/ASU and Robin Ventura's shenanigans

[DonInKansas]

Is anyone else listening to this noise?

Robin, the ball hit the bat. It's foul.

Robin, the pitcher isn't balking. That move is legal in NCAA.

I think him and Tim McCarver had drinks together before the game.

[zm1283]

What happened with the balk? They're interviewing Pat Murphey right now about it and he seems to think it was a balk. What happened?

[SanDiegoSteve]

How about how they were saying early in the game that the umpire was giving up on the slow breaking ball too quick, and that it should have been called a strike, when I called it a ball because it was low, and so did the umpire. He didn't give up on anything! Then the very next pitch was a perfect curveball for a strike and that's when they compared the two very different pitches. These clowns are the best that ESPN can do?

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by zm1283

What happened with the balk? They're interviewing Pat Murphey right now about it and he seems to think it was a balk. What happened?

It's basically the classic NCAA "jump turn." They're saying he's not gaining ground towards 1st base.

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by DonInKansas

It's basically the classic NCAA "jump turn." They're saying he's not gaining ground towards 1st base.

I see....He just did it again and they claimed it was the "gray area" for a balk.

[DonInKansas]

It is cool having the umpires miked for the game. You can really hear the communication. I was especially a big fan of "Shut up, it's not a balk."

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by DonInKansas

It's basically the classic NCAA "jump turn." They're saying he's not gaining ground towards 1st base.

I see often on jump turns, especially with good pitchers, that they do actually execute the jump turn, but their free foot lands practically in the same spot. This isn't what happened, right?

(Video example of what I'm talking about at 0:33)

YouTube - NCAA Umpiring Bulletin #2 - April 1, 2004

[Kevin Finnerty]

Are you talking about this Robin Ventura?

[zm1283]

Did they switch color guys between games today? I only ask because Orel Hersheiser was the color guy with Karl Ravech for the Texas/Southern Miss game tonight. Just thought it was odd that they would switch them.