Bob Davidson

[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.

[DG]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

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

All I see is his head in 2nd video. In first he had not come set before he stepped off. I still looking for the balk.

[zm1283]

Watch the entire second video. His front knee clearly buckles before he disengages the rubber.

[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."

[BaBa Booey]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

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."

Yes there is a difference in WHY the balk wasn't seen, but in professional baseball (at least in the minors, anyway) we were taught to echo the balk call, regardless.

And only Bob knows what Bob was doing, but if any of you out there are telling yourselves that you've never looked away momentarily during a live ball situation, you're flat out lying. Everyone has done it. Bob got lucky that this didn't blow up in his face (even though it still looks to me like his head is turned towards the infield)

[Rich]

Who cares? *Every*one looks away from the pitcher for a second. They have 4 umpires, for crying out loud and it only takes one. Hell, in 2-man I'd be hard pressed to say I am looking at the pitcher every split second that he has the ball.

It also looks to me like Bob is merely directing the runner home, not echoing the balk. Of course, that isn't a good enough explanation for those who dislike Balk-a-Day Bob or are looking for any reason to rag on MLB umpires.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by BaBa Booey

And only Bob knows what Bob was doing, but if any of you out there are telling yourselves that you've never looked away momentarily during a live ball situation, you're flat out lying. Everyone has done it.

This.

[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.