THAT'S A BALK!! Same game, different guy....

[Thunderheads]

I love it, you can hear the umpire clear as day!!!

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20529513&c_id=det

[Mike Prince]

Sounds like a "bleacher umpire" yelling to me...

[Thunderheads]

a FAN....knowing that ... saying it the way you hear it??? Nawwwwww

[Welpe]

That was two kinds of ugly.

[cbiesecker]

Was it a balk because F5 wasn't near the base to take the throw, or was it because F1's step was more towards home than third base? I thought with the exception of first, F1 could throw to F4, F5, or F6 from the rubber, even if the fielder isn't near the bag to make a play. BTW, I'm assuming that there is runner at the base towards which F1 is throwing.

The announcer said it was because F5 wasn't at the bag to take the throw, but I don't trust them to know the rules.

[carolinablue]

Was it a balk because F5 wasn't near the base to take the throw, or was it because F1's step was more towards home than third base? I thought with the exception of first, F1 could throw to F4, F5, or F6 from the rubber, even if the fielder isn't near the bag to make a play. BTW, I'm assuming that there is runner at the base towards which F1 is throwing.

The announcer said it was because F5 wasn't at the bag to take the throw, but I don't trust them to know the rules.

It's a step balk. Nothing to do with the 3rd basemans position.

[BT_Blue]

Was it a balk because F5 wasn't near the base to take the throw, or was it because F1's step was more towards home than third base? I thought with the exception of first, F1 could throw to F4, F5, or F6 from the rubber, even if the fielder isn't near the bag to make a play. BTW, I'm assuming that there is runner at the base towards which F1 is throwing.

The announcer said it was because F5 wasn't at the bag to take the throw, but I don't trust them to know the rules.

It's a step balk. Nothing to do with the 3rd basemans position.

I was watching the game on tv thanks to the free preview of MLB All Access... I just about laughed outloud when I heard their reasoning.

[BT_Blue]

Shields also got dinged for this same balk last year in New York.

[bpate]

Ok, help me understand this one.

1. 8.05 C -- The pitcher, while touching his plate, fails to step directly toward a base before throwing to that base.

Looks like he didnt't step toward third. (step balk); however, it also appears that he didn't throw directly to third either. Is that a balk? Yes, he threw to the third baseman, but not to third.

2. Looks like he leans towards home plate before delivering to third. 8.05 A?

I've learned not to go with attempt to deceive :no:

[noumpere]

however, it also appears that he didn't throw directly to third either. Is that a balk? Yes, he threw to the third baseman, but not to third.

No thats not a balk. The pitcher can throw to F5 F6 F4 away from the base. Its only F3 that needs to be at the base or able to make a play.

[sdix00]

however, it also appears that he didn't throw directly to third either. Is that a balk? Yes, he threw to the third baseman, but not to third.

No thats not a balk. The pitcher can throw to F5 F6 F4 away from the base. Its only F3 that needs to be at the base or able to make a play.

Bingo.

The way that it finally clicked for me is to remember that it all starts with the legal step to a bag for the purpose of making a play. Once he legally steps, he is done (except to 1B), and there is nothing else he needs to do, e.g. complete the throw, etc. The only thing he can't do after he legally steps is throw or feint to a different base, AND if he breaks contact after the legal step, then he is just another infielder and he can fake or throw anywhere he wants.

So if F1 legally steps, he can throw the ball practically anywhere. Because there are nearly no restrictions after the legal step, that means he can even drop it or let it slip out of his hands. The legal step is the only real requirement for any kind of feint or throw.

The reason this is tough to grasp at first is because the rule book does not say this at all. The rule book dances around it. But this is the reality that emerges after we reorganize and reconcile the rules, and read the interpretations.

[bpate]

Thanks!!!

Now do you also have a balk on:

2. Looks like he leans towards home plate before delivering to third. 8.05 A?

[sdix00]

Thanks!!!

Now do you also have a balk on:

2. Looks like he leans towards home plate before delivering to third. 8.05 A?

yup. That is not the "legal step" that we require.

A "legal step" must be directly toward the base, meaning F1 can not take the scenic route (HP>>3B)