Another Joe Morgan funny

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by LDUB

The runner was on third base at the time of the pitch. Even if the runner actually crosses the plate before the pitcher releases the ball he still has not scored. If the pitch was batted foul the runner would be returned to third base. If it was strike 3 for out 3 then the run would not score. As you can see the runner just passing the plate does not mean he has scored. So if the pitcher balks after the runner has crossed the plate the umpire should still call time and enforce the balk even though it really doesn't change anything on the field.

And what the scorer scored it doesn't matter. The scorer isn't allowed to "nick" balks. The scorer writes down when the umpire calls a balk. If you read the definition of a stolen base you will see that this play would be ruled a SB had no balk been called. A similar play would be R1 who starts running towards second while the pitcher just stands there. The pitcher drops the ball just before R1 gets to second base. On the field it doesn't matter if the balk is called or not, R1 is going to be on second base. But it does matter for the statistics as R1 would not be credited with a stolen base because he advanced on a balk.

You mean to tell me that you're going to pick on my choice of baseball slang! You're kidding! What difference could it make to use the word nicked?

And you're kidding about the play too, right? The umpire should still call time and enforce the balk? Yeah? The guy stole home and nothing else happened. How can a balk be called, scored or whatever you do or say? We're talking about this one play with one runner on third who stole home before anything could happen or be called. It's about this one play and not a bunch of convoluted scenarios.

What is all of this other stuff regarding?