Worst rule in baseball...

[umpjim]

Might have been a balk two ways, step and back edge of the rubber:

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?co...95267&c_id=mlb

I'm in FED mode now so I'll have to review whether it's any part of the free foot in OBR. Need the whole foot in FED.

[Rich]

I just wonder why any umpire allows the LHP to swing his leg back, loop it around, and land the foot on the 45 degree mark. What about stepping directly is hard to get and why do we (as a group) allow pitchers to do that?

[Welpe]

It was a good call and the Padres TV guys are some of the worst homers I've heard yet.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Welpe

It was a good call and the Padres TV guys are some of the worst homers I've heard yet.

Yes, Grant, Emberg, Gwynn...they are nearly as bad as Hawk Harrelson or Ron Santo.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by GROUPthink

I just wonder why any umpire allows the LHP to swing his leg back, loop it around, and land the foot on the 45 degree mark. What about stepping directly is hard to get and why do we (as a group) allow pitchers to do that?

Agree. He's clearly moving to HP and then throws to 1B. Easy call.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by umpjim

Might have been a balk two ways, step and back edge of the rubber:

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | WSH@SD: Balk called against Richard in sixth - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

I'm in FED mode now so I'll have to review whether it's any part of the free foot in OBR. Need the whole foot in FED.

jim it seems as though, if it was a violation of the back edge of the rubber, U1 would have blinked, moved or even called something. The pitcher seemed to gain some appreciable distance twoards first but PU evidently did'nt think so and that was his call. I thought it was marginal but he called what he called and made his decision that it wasn't.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by jicecone

jim it seems as though, if it was a violation of the back edge of the rubber, U1 would have blinked, moved or even called something. The pitcher seemed to gain some appreciable distance twoards first but PU evidently did'nt think so and that was his call. I thought it was marginal but he called what he called and made his decision that it wasn't.

Two guys with a better angle than me didn't call it (the back edge) and my view was trying to project the pitchers foot position thru the pitcher's body so I don't have much of a case.

[Rufus]

I'll admit I don't know what a "step balk" is so can someone help me with that?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Rufus

I'll admit I don't know what a "step balk" is so can someone help me with that?

8.05c requires that F1 step directly to a base when throwing there. "Step directly to a base" is interpreted as gaining distance and direction to the base. "Direction to the base" is interpreted as stepping within 45° of a straight line to the base — more toward the base than toward the plate, in the case of 1B.

F1 didn't do that in the video.

I also think he moved toward the plate, which also committed him to pitch to the batter. 8.05a

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by mbyron

8.05c requires that F1 step directly to a base when throwing there. "Step directly to a base" is interpreted as gaining distance and direction to the base. "Direction to the base" is interpreted as stepping within 45° of a straight line to the base — more toward the base than toward the plate, in the case of 1B.

F1 didn't do that in the video.

I also think he moved toward the plate, which also committed him to pitch to the batter. 8.05a

Thanks for the quick reply. I saw that in the video as well and thought that might have been the reason but wasn't aware of the specific rule.

Other than they just missed it (which happens) is there any reason the U1 or U3 didn't call that instead of the PU? Seems they would have been in a better position to see the step to home, then redirect to 1st. I say this as a coach, not umpire, so I'm not sure who has responsibility to watch what during a delivery, but I only picked up on the movement when they showed the camera view from behind 3rd base.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by umpjim

Might have been a balk two ways, step and back edge of the rubber:

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | WSH@SD: Balk called against Richard in sixth - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

I'm in FED mode now so I'll have to review whether it's any part of the free foot in OBR. Need the whole foot in FED.

MLBUM 7.5

Any part of the foot past the back edge - must pitch or move to 2B..

Moving the knee past is OK.

[RPatrino]

Its hard to tell from the video whether his foot broke the plane. I think his knee clearly did. He was definitely on the ragged edge of stepping toward the plate relative to the 45 degree line though. Wouldn't U1 have the best view of both these violations?

[DG]

I think Mgrs must have in their contract to be tossed from a specific number of games to show support for their players. Otherwise why get tossed over this obvious balk?

It appears to me for passing the back of the rubber with free foot and not coming home, not for not stepping directly to 1b.