Another Balk?

[Steven Tyler]

I saw this one in an A's/Rangers game last week.

Situation: R3 only and pitcher in the set position on the rubber. LHB, so F5 is playing a good distance from the bag. Ian Kinsler (R3) gets a good lead and starts like he is going to take off for home. Gio Gonzalez (F1) steps back off the rubber and makes what is very wild throw towards home that F2 doesn't even have a chance to catch. I'm sure he was trying to throw the ball so that F2 would have a chance on a play at the plate. Yep you guessed it, a balk was called by U1, our very own "Balk A Day" Bob Davidson. My guess was that he would have called the balk for simulating a pitch.

However, it looked to me as if Gonzalez just stepped off and was making what would have been a quick normal throw to retire a runner, abliet wildly. Just because Kinsler retreated back to 3B, I don't see any issue why a balk was called.

Did "Balk A Day" get it wrong, or am I missing something here? If the pitcher disengages the rubber first, can't he just throw it anywhere? It didn't really matter since Kinsler would have scored on the wild throw anyway.

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

I saw this one in an A's/Rangers game last week.

Situation: R3 only and pitcher in the set position on the rubber. LHB, so F5 is playing a good distance from the bag. Ian Kinsler (R3) gets a good lead and starts like he is going to take off for home. Gio Gonzalez (F1) steps back off the rubber and makes what is very wild throw towards home that F2 doesn't even have a chance to catch. I'm sure he was trying to throw the ball so that F2 would have a chance on a play at the plate. Yep you guessed it, a balk was called by U1, our very own "Balk A Day" Bob Davidson. My guess was that he would have called the balk for simulating a pitch.

However, it looked to me as if Gonzalez just stepped off and was making what would have been a quick normal throw to retire a runner, abliet wildly. Just because Kinsler retreated back to 3B, I don't see any issue why a balk was called.

Did "Balk A Day" get it wrong, or am I missing something here? If the pitcher disengages the rubber first, can't he just throw it anywhere? It didn't really matter since Kinsler would have scored on the wild throw anyway.

I was watching it and I feel like Davidson might have gotten him on buckling his right knee. I sure as hell couldnt tell for sure though.

[Rich Ives]

Throwing to an unoccupied base. Because the attempt was a feint it is not considered a play.

[DG]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Throwing to an unoccupied base. Because the attempt was a feint it is not considered a play.

Or, throwing a pitch, not from the rubber. Granted, I have not seen it so don't know.

[johnnyg08]

Looks like MLB changed their site...it's looking like it's tougher to search for these plays. Bummer. Anybody else having better luck?

[johnnyg08]

Here's the video clip...finally found it.

Pretty clearly shows that he started his pitching motion, then stepped off and threw home. First few angles are not very good...watch until the end.

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | OAK@TEX: Kinsler scores on an Oakland balk - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by DG

Or, throwing a pitch, not from the rubber. Granted, I have not seen it so don't know.

WHen Ellsbury stole home on Pettitte last year Pettitte just stepped back and then threw home. No balk. Too late on the throw.

[johnnyg08]

Spammer be gone

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by mrm21711

I was watching it and I feel like Davidson might have gotten him on buckling his right knee. I sure as hell couldnt tell for sure though.

My apologies....my response was for the balk Davidson called this afternoon in the Twins-Yankees game.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

I saw this one in an A's/Rangers game last week.

Situation: R3 only and pitcher in the set position on the rubber. LHB, so F5 is playing a good distance from the bag. Ian Kinsler (R3) gets a good lead and starts like he is going to take off for home. Gio Gonzalez (F1) steps back off the rubber and makes what is very wild throw towards home that F2 doesn't even have a chance to catch. I'm sure he was trying to throw the ball so that F2 would have a chance on a play at the plate. Yep you guessed it, a balk was called by U1, our very own "Balk A Day" Bob Davidson. My guess was that he would have called the balk for simulating a pitch.

However, it looked to me as if Gonzalez just stepped off and was making what would have been a quick normal throw to retire a runner, abliet wildly. Just because Kinsler retreated back to 3B, I don't see any issue why a balk was called.

Did "Balk A Day" get it wrong, or am I missing something here? If the pitcher disengages the rubber first, can't he just throw it anywhere? It didn't really matter since Kinsler would have scored on the wild throw anyway.

The pitcher was in the Windup Position, not the Set Position. Once he started his motion, he had to continue with the pitch. He cannot step off and throw at this point. The balk call was correct. Either way, by balk or wild pitch, that run is going to score anyway.

What I thought was typically bush was the announcer claiming that the Rangers had been "victimized" lately by overruled umpire calls. Poor Rangers.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

The pitcher was in the Windup Position, not the Set Position.

Then why was his whole non-pivot foot way in front of the rubber?

At the game and saw it on the jumbotron. He looked like he was in the set position to me.

Dollar hot dog night on Wednesday home games. Will be there for the Angels game tomorrow, also....

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Then why was his whole non-pivot foot way in front of the rubber?

At the game and saw it on the jumbotron. He looked like he was in the set position to me.

Dollar hot dog night on Wednesday home games. Will be there for the Angels game tomorrow, also....

It's just the goofy way he stands, but he clearly started his motion by dropping his non-pivot foot back behind the rubber and winding up with his hands together.

Don't eat too many hot dogs or you will get fat. Trust me on that one!

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

It's just the goofy way he stands, but he clearly started his motion by dropping his non-pivot foot back behind the rubber and winding up with his hands together.

Don't eat too many hot dogs or you will get fat. Trust me on that one!

Correct, he did start his motion to home before he stepped off. It was hard to tell from where I was sitting what did transpire. I caught a little of it on the jumbotron. I was mostly baffled by what was going on on the field, what with the huddle and such.

I couldn't access a video, but from the one that was provided, it was clearly a balk.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

What I thought was typically bush was the announcer claiming that the Rangers had been "victimized" lately by overruled umpire calls. Poor Rangers.

When you see calls such as another "boner" by Doug Eddings, you might see their point.

Why Eddings refused help or even some instant replay is beyond me. Everybody in the whole ballpark besides him saw it clear the fence....

Top Plays | BAL@TEX: Umps choose not to review Hamilton's double - Video | texasrangers.com: Multimedia

[SanDiegoSteve]

Well, I'm sure that the Rangers had many other opportunities to overcome any bad calls from the umpires.

I mean, it's not like a one-game playoff with the winning run missing the plate and never touching it ever, and being called safe by one of the supposed best umpires in baseball!