Justin Verlander balk.
 

The Detroit Tigers played a weekend series at the Oakland Athletics this weekend and evidently Justin Verlander, of the Tigers, committed a balk in Saturday's game. I have been told that it was a weird one. Did anybody see or hear about this balk and if so, can they enlighten me and the esteemed members of this board. Thanks.

MTD, Sr.

A TWP in MLB:

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Welpe:

Thanks. I went over to the NFHS Forums right after I started this thread and there was a thread about the balk. It looked like something a 10 year old would do.

Friday afternoon, MTD, Jr., and I had a JV game and with the winnig run 3B and a second runner on 1B, the pitcher faked a throw to 1B from the Set position. Game over.

And yes, Junior did work then Plate like a good son. :D

MTD, Sr.

Looks like the balk was delivering a pitch while not in contact with the rubber.

Seems like he was trying the jump move to first...and missed? Strange one.

Let me throw a wild idea out there (which I know I'm probably going to be wrong) but if the batter is HBP, he would get first base and the runner would be forced to second. The batter and the runner advanced one base and therefore the balk would be ignored? :confused: What a wild play...

-Josh

If it was, indeed, a pitch.

In this case, it appears that the balk was for making a motion associated with a pitch and then throwing home. Keep the ball live, but since it's not a pitch it can't be a HBP.

I knew I was missing something...Good catch!

-Josh

+1

That's how I read it, too. 8.05(g)

Justin Verlander said that he attemped a move to first, had a "brain fart" and tried to cover it up by throwing home, hoping he could fool the umpires?!!!!

What would have made this really intersting is if he threw the ball out of play.

whats priceless is watching the reaction of the Catcher.

In SOFTBALL - sure

No.

Rule 6 sec 8E (ASA)

Illegal pitch with runner on equals balk, either for no stop, or step off front of rubber before pitch, or both. Don't know why it can't be a HBP either way, altough did not look like it hit batter and apparently umpires agreed.