Bob Davidson

[MD Longhorn]

No, I would have said something regardless of who it was... although probably without the comments regarding the umpire being shocked that someone other than him called a balk.

Watch his head - I don't think he's looking toward the pitcher at all... what's more, when the 3BC and R1 start yelling and pointing, he reacts as if startled into paying attention, not knowing what the hubbub was about.

Worse, to me, was echoing the call. From the announcers POV and initial POV, it REALLY looks like he was talked into a call by the offense. Only after seeing the whole play do you realize U2 called it first. But it's a pointless echo anyway.

[Skarecrow]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

No, I would have said something regardless of who it was... although probably without the comments regarding the umpire being shocked that someone other than him called a balk.

Watch his head - I don't think he's looking toward the pitcher at all... what's more, when the 3BC and R1 start yelling and pointing, he reacts as if startled into paying attention, not knowing what the hubbub was about.

Worse, to me, was echoing the call. From the announcers POV and initial POV, it REALLY looks like he was talked into a call by the offense. Only after seeing the whole play do you realize U2 called it first. But it's a pointless echo anyway.

Definitely not watching the play....he is looking out at center....

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

No, I would have said something regardless of who it was... although probably without the comments regarding the umpire being shocked that someone other than him called a balk.

Watch his head - I don't think he's looking toward the pitcher at all... what's more, when the 3BC and R1 start yelling and pointing, he reacts as if startled into paying attention, not knowing what the hubbub was about.

Worse, to me, was echoing the call. From the announcers POV and initial POV, it REALLY looks like he was talked into a call by the offense. Only after seeing the whole play do you realize U2 called it first. But it's a pointless echo anyway.

Actually it was U1, Tim Timmons who made the initial balk call.

It appears Bob missed a great opportunity to put another notch in his gun handle.

BTW-I was watching it live and from the camera angle on the pitcher I didn't see anything at first. The replays at the end of game made it appear to be a balk. However watching it on the MLB website, it looks as if Vasquez stepped off the rubber before starting any motion with his arm.

[DG]

I missing the point here. He stepped off then pointed toward 3B. What is the balk?

It was called by 1B umpire.

What is elephant balk?

Is this the correct video for question at hand? Batter is stepping in the box and PU is behind F2 when balk is called.

[johnnyg08]

It looked like he started and stopped. The angles weren't that good. Looked like he set twice. Not sure though. Just listen to the announcers...they'll explain it for you :-)

[DG]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

It looked like he started and stopped. The angles weren't that good. Looked like he set twice. Not sure though. Just listen to the announcers...they'll explain it for you :-)

Not to me. I turn the audio down low when announcers start explaining balks.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by DG

Not to me. I turn the audio down low when announcers start explaining balks.

Can you get it low enough?

[justanotherblue]

in the second video, you can see he buckles his front knee, then steps off and points.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by DG

I missing the point here. He stepped off then pointed toward 3B. What is the balk?

You're kidding right? He started his leg motion to pitch, and then stopped and stepped off.

Originally Posted by DG

What is elephant balk?

An elephant play is something that the whole world sees - something so blatant that you can't NOT call it. Picture holding in football on my side, during a sweep to the other side. I'm not supposed to call that (unless I'm NFL). But when the holding involves wrapping the guy up, lifting him off the ground and throwing him 3 yards - it's an elephant hold. EVERYONE saw it... so I must flag it.

[MD Longhorn]

Besides ... the issue here is not whether it was a balk or not (it was). The issue is a MLB umpire first turning his back on the play and looking into the outfield during a live ball (heck ... with the pointing and yelling there could EASILY have been a throw to third here had there not been a balk). Then (to me) worse - echoing a partner's call when he couldn't possibly have seen the call in question.

[BaBa Booey]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Then (to me) worse - echoing a partner's call when he couldn't possibly have seen the call in question.

So if your partner calls a balk in a game and you don't see it, you're not going to echo it?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by BaBa Booey

So if your partner calls a balk in a game and you don't see it, you're not going to echo it?

Some places / mechanics teach to echo, some don't.

And, I think either way, there's a difference between "I was watching but didn't see what my partner saw" and "I had my head up my *** and the only balk I could have seen was a colon spasm caused by the burrito I had at lunch."

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by BaBa Booey

So if your partner calls a balk in a game and you don't see it, you're not going to echo it?

No. And if I saw it but someone else called it first ... still no.

[mbyron]

It was not that obvious from the video I saw, but if it happened like that you're right, it's a no brainer.

[RadioBlue]

I agree it's a no-brainer balk. Watch the front leg prior to stepping off with the pivot foot.

As for Davidson ... is he echoing the call, or is he pointing that the runner is awarded home? It doesn't quite look like he's pointing at the mound.