Wakefield, Hernandez, Francona and West

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Another Troll has arrived!

No, Ozzy, that's simply "spam" - an entirely different thing.

JM

[bob jenkins]

When spammers appear, please do NOT:
1) respond to the post
2) quote the post
3) report the post
4) mention anything about the post

All of those make it much more difficult to remove the post, and you are in danger of being banned along with the spammer (it almost happened to you, Ozzy).

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. Now, if I miss a post and it's there for more than a day, then go ahead and report it. Or, if there's a post in another forum (e.g., softball or football), go ahead an report it. (But, don't report anything in the testing forum -- I jsut delete all that as a matter of course.)

[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).

[GA Umpire]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

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).

True but in this case, Wakefield gained distance toward HP which is where the balk came in, I believe. He went as much or more toward HP than 3B IMO. So, the gap he is referencing is of no defense for him going toward HP as well. I have a balk.

[SanDiegoSteve]

IMO, he stepped toward home, and in no fashion stepped toward 3rd. It was clearly a balk, everyone stop piling on Hernandez, and we move on.

DG, your argument that no pitcher's natural delivery includes such a step toward home is totally illogical and irrelevant. Wakefield stepped toward home, and not 3rd, and from where R1 was leading off, I am sure it looked like he was going to the plate.

There is legal deception, but this crossed over into illegal deception.