Balk? video

[MidAmUmp]

I wouldn't balk the pitcher on either his step or start/stop.  In the first clip he is adjusting the ball in his glove then comes set and his step it to 3rd.  In the 2nd clip it begins as he's coming set so there's not enough evidence to call a start/stop and again his step is to 3rd.

 

My opinion: you're picking boogers, writing reports and answering to a supervisor if you balk him for a start/stop balk.

[Fittske24]

I wouldn't balk the pitcher on either his step or start/stop.  In the first clip he is adjusting the ball in his glove then comes set and his step it to 3rd.  In the 2nd clip it begins as he's coming set so there's not enough evidence to call a start/stop and again his step is to 3rd.

 

My opinion: you're picking boogers, writing reports and answering to a supervisor if you balk him for a start/stop balk.

Amen.

[Jocko]

One of my shortcomings is not calling balks. I tend to over-analyze what I saw, and by the time I'm ready to call it, it's too late. Unless, of course, it's very obvious. I can never be accused of 'pickin boogers' and might more aptly be accused of being too lenient.

[Haid D' Salaami]

I had a start/stop balk on both, but they come well before he initiates the 3rd to 1st move.

JM

how long do you make them stop for?  I thought it was a good stop..but you dont have to stop to attempt to retire a runner.

[Haid D' Salaami]

I will be completely honest here UmpJM...you call these balks, you will not make it far.. these are nit picking and he came to a complete stop.if he pitched the ball, but since he attempted a pickoff.. it's nothing..

[BalkHawk]

One of my shortcomings is not calling balks. I tend to over-analyze what I saw, and by the time I'm ready to call it, it's too late. Unless, of course, it's very obvious. I can never be accused of 'pickin boogers' and might more aptly be accused of being too lenient.

 

     My thoughts exactly. That's why I stay in the "balk" section of my beloved manuals, and always keep asking myself "was that a balk?" My wife hates it so bad when I rewind and play in slow-mo over and over. It seems to me that over a long period of time, umpires have found the balk a tough call to make. I believe most would rather let a little balk slide, since they are the only ones who know what they saw.

     I was being evaluated by a man whom I hope will assign me games one day. After my innings, I asked him if he thought a particular balk was worth calling. His reply was, "you're not gonna get promoted for calling the most balks." So there's that. At the same time, pitching is the art of deception, and our job is to see that they only deceive the other team within the spirit of the rules.

     Not to mention, if every umpire before us was "nit-picky" we probably wouldn't have to be. Call 'em if you see 'em.

 

     And another thing, the Jim Evans Diamond Challenge video shows a pitcher not disengage, then step to third, and this is where I'm not sure what  exactly he's saying. The pitcher, instead of stepping, does more of a bounce, 3rd to 1st, without lifting his pivot foot. Jimmy says you gotta watch out for this. I'm just not exactly sure what he is telling me to watch out for.

[BalkHawk]

I will be completely honest here UmpJM...you call these balks, you will not make it far.. these are nit picking and he came to a complete stop.if he pitched the ball, but since he attempted a pickoff.. it's nothing..

 

Watch it again. JM only pointed out the FACT that the pitcher came to a set, then, be it ever so slightly, he lowered both hands before coming set again. He never mentioned "no set."

I love this argument, and I don't think anyone here is entirely right or wrong. 

[BalkHawk]

The second play in it's entirety:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhVFIqO7qO4&feature=youtu.be

The umpires who didn't call this a balk are great guys, not to mention they have more knowledge than me in their little fingers. Also, this single play takes away a lot of context from the situation. I'm only saying, if I'm watching on tv and JM or any other umpire jumps on this balk (this is a balk, however nitpicky) I'm literally gonna be standing up out of my seat and cheering for him.

:givebeer:

[Haid D' Salaami]

There no balk in the 2nd video , your taking about his "possible stop at the top" his glove and arms are still moving... check out Mariano rivera and his move... he wiggles his glove from the top of his head down to his chest.

Please explain to me why you think this last video was a balk?

[Thunderheads]

There no balk in the 2nd video , your taking about his "possible stop at the top" his glove and arms are still moving... check out Mariano rivera and his move... he wiggles his glove from the top of his head down to his chest. Please explain to me why you think this last video was a balk?

Lol ....they talked to James Hoye about Rivera at SEMUC Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

[noumpere]

... check out Mariano rivera and his move... he wiggles his glove from the top of his head down to his chest.

Please explain to me why you think this last video was a balk?

Reference your post on another part of this site about what the ML umpries do and allow compared to what should be called at the levels we do.

 

I do agree with whoever posted about taking one play out of context.

[UmpJM]

Guys,

 

From what I'm seeing in the videos, the pitcher comes to a complete and discernible stop with his hands together in front of his face. He then drops his hands about an inch and comes to another complete and discernible stop before initiating his pick-off move. 

 

The second stop is a balk. 

 

I in no way suggested the pitcher must come to a stop before making a pick-off move.

 

Maybe some of you perceive him continuing to have "movement" while at "the top" - looks to me like he comes to a complete stop.

 

JM

[NWA_UMP]

JM...In video #1, you are talking about the movement at the 9 or 10 second mark which is after his initial set. He does move a second time...

 

 

I think either way you can argue your case....picking or letting it slide. Has he gained an advantage...that is my basic rule...

[BalkHawk]

I'm not good enough to see a balk, then glance at the runner to see if he has been fooled, then decide if I'm going to call it while watching for more balks. I have never been instructed to do so, either.

Call me a booger picker, but its better than just letting them hang under your nose, I say.

[bam]

I showed that video to my assignor and my rules interpreter.  All they did was glare at me.

[Jocko]

I could have probably called 10 balks today. I called 1. If Granny in the stands knows something isn't right, I gotta call it.