How do they know not to call a balk.
 

Glimpsed Gustavo Chavin of the Astros tonite and bit my tongue at first look. After watching a while I could talk myself out of the balk. He even has a different set with R2. My video won't show that.
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Good video clip. It would be tough to not balk.

Sorry, I did not see a balk at all.

He stopped twice. Balk.

Really? You're telling me that if you saw that move for the very first time, you wouldn't say that he set twice? In a way it reminds me of Mussina's...but from the left.

In the real world, a balk.

In the MLB world, not a balk.

BTW-That is in no way, shape or form compared to what Mike Mussina did while in the set position....:rolleyes:

The way I talked myself out of it was while stretching and coming to a stop above around the head his leg was continuously (well maybe not) moving or twitching to the to the set position. Once you see it once you can ignore it and obviously nobody is running on the first stop. It's a different game than the one we are calling exceopt maybe for ozzy6900.

If they're going to balk the twitching legs after F1 comes set, they better give him credit for the twitching as he's coming set. The video clearly supports the umpires' ruling of no balk there.

No he didn't. He stoppped his hands twice, but during the first hand stop he kept other body parts moving. He didn't get the total stop until the glove was at his waist.

He does it every time.
It's part of his natural motion.
He's not deceiving anyone.
No other ump has called it.

Nevertheless, I don't have a balk either.

Disagree. He comes to a total stop at 003, and again sets. Apparently the MLB umpires are letting him get away with it but in a HS or Legion game I'm balking him every time.

Just because you do it every time doesn't necessarily make it legal does it?

Not the way I see it.

At least 4 MLB umpires agree with you. ;)

Hmmm,
 

Everything posted by Ozzy, mbyron and dash makes perfect sense in MLB.

There is no way the video shows a complete stop (not good enough detail without filling in your own opinion).

This would never be called a balk at any upper level.

T

Gentlemen, this is a MLB pitcher in a MLB game, not a youth game. You will not get any self respecting MLB umpire calling this. You want to call this in Babe Ruth, LL (big diamond) or Legion, be my guest but if you work with adults, you better not even think of it.

Are you saying not to call this at the college level? Those are adults. ;)

Peace

I wouldn't call this in an NCAA game or any game. The first move some are seeing as a stop is not, in my opinion, a complete stop that I would allow if it were the only "stop".

Well,
 

I was looking at his left knee buckle while he came to his second stop of the hands. His hands were moving down as the knee bent ever so slightly.

Well considering that NCAA coaches seem to understand that rule better than any other rule, and they complain more about that rule than any other rule, I think I can see calling this. Or I would have to have a better explanation of why I did not call it than these are adults. But hey, we all have to do what we feel is right correct? ;)

Peace

Look at it this way.

Four MLB umpires dis NOT call it a balk.

2 MLB managers didn't claim it was a balk.

10 or so MLB coaches didn't think it was a balk.

50 MLB ballplayers didn't scream for a balk.

Maybe it isn't a balk - at least the way they're called in MLB.

Pitching Adjustments
 

I'm so use to seeing MLB pitchers "climbing down" the ladder, especially the closers, that it no longer bothers me. There are now a number of MLB pitchers who are starting to rock their feet back and forth before coming set. One pitcher brings his glove in front of his body and then raises it above his head. They may not gain an advantage but those two moves still irritate me.

He has been around MLB for 6 years. I would think this discussion was well covered before that.

You know, NCAA ball is still AMATEUR BASEBALL! They may be adults but they are not professionals. Sorry for assuming that you all understood my meaning. Next time, I'll be sure to spell it out for the dopes out there!