Wakefield, Hernandez, Francona and West

[Suudy]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

On item 3 -- I read the General, Baseball and Basketball threads as often as I read my email. So, reporting the post, which sends me an email, just means it takes me longer to get here to deal with it.

My apologies. I thought I was helping out.

[Ump Rube]

"There's clearly a gap between both my feet, but that didn't cost us the game there," Wakefield said.

Maybe I am missing something here, but I have never heard talk of a gap between the feet in referencing calling a balk.

Anyone else, have thoughts on this? Or is Wakefield missing something?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Ump Rube

Maybe I am missing something here, but I have never heard talk of a gap between the feet in referencing calling a balk.

Anyone else, have thoughts on this? Or is Wakefield missing something?

If the feet are in a straight line toward home before them move, and there's then a "gap" between them when viewed by the umpire after the move, then the pitcher gained distance and direction (assuming the pivot foot doesn't move).

[SAump]

F5 was not at 3B. F5 was playing back. Doesn't a good move require F1 to feint toward F5? Wakefield may have stepped to 3B, but he did not complete a legal feint to F5. Had he turned his shoulder to deliver the ball towards 3B, he may have avoided a balk call. F5 was no where near 3B and Wakefield made no attempt to deliver the ball to 3B or F5.

Wakefield separates his arms to simulate a pitch towards home plate and it is called a balk when he fails to deliver the pitch. This catches the runner off 1B. In summary, the PU may have seen what appears closer to a home to 1st move, than a legal 3rd to 1st move. That's a balk!

[tjones1]

Angel just got another one in the MIN/BOS game in the Top of the 8th.

[DG]

Angel just called another one from 1b position this time. Go look that video up, figure it out, and let me know what he was thinking. Uh, Joe West on the plate this time and Angel beat him to the call, if in fact, Joe would have called. I wonder, and doubt.

[tjones1]

Gardenhire dumped by West for balls and strikes.

Missed it but I think it was on a check-swing.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by tjones1

Gardenhire dumped by West for balls and strikes.

Missed it but I think it was on a check-swing.

tjones,

It was over a "foul tip" call by West where the Twins batter was incredulous that West judged it had hit his bat.

JM

[tjones1]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

tjones,

It was over a "foul tip" call by West where the Twins batter was incredulous that West judged it had hit his bat.

JM

Oh ok, thanks JM.

[UmpJM]

DG,

I happened to be watching.

I'm guessing that it's because the F1 started in a windup and then switched to a set without first disengaging.

JM

[DG]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

DG,

I happened to be watching.

I'm guessing that it's because the F1 started in a windup and then switched to a set without first disengaging.

JM

Interesting thought. I did not really think of him in the windup, his left foot was out front at about 45 degree angle and then he moved it foward and come set. Many ML pitchers do strange things and are not called balks because everyone recognize they do it all the time. Don't remember if he did, but it certainly would not fool a runner and I would not call a balk.

But you may be right.

[Jake]

I don't think his foot was not parallel to the rubber. It was pointing to the “library” area.
When he turned to go set he turned his pivot foot parallel with the rubber.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by DG

Angel just called another one from 1b position this time. Go look that video up, figure it out, and let me know what he was thinking. Uh, Joe West on the plate this time and Angel beat him to the call, if in fact, Joe would have called. I wonder, and doubt.

Yeah, they are a pair to draw to, for sure.