Balk off! DET @ CLE

[maven]

Al Albuquerque balks in the winning run in the 13th inning, giving CLE a series sweep over DET.

 

Easy start/stop balk. Maybe all 4 had it, I saw PU and U2 get it.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33042279

 

13 innings, 21 total runs, 30 total hits, 5 hours 16 minutes.

 

I'd be relieved to call a balk off too!

[Mad Mike]

Does the level of play dictate whether you would call that in say high school varsity or legion vs. say JV or Babe Ruth ball?

 

I could call that all day long, but it seems like grabbing the wrong end of the stick.

 

How do some of you guys see it?

[maven]

That's a balk at any level with balks.

[LMSANS]

I called last week and all the coach said was "do you know what you did?"

[JaxRolo]

Does the level of play dictate whether you would call that in say high school varsity or legion vs. say JV or Babe Ruth ball?

I could call that all day long, but it seems like grabbing the wrong end of the stick.

How do some of you guys see it?

I hate the term "wrong end of the stick"

Enforce the rules! It wouldn't be a problem if all umpires would the critical call when it needs to be made.

[mjr_2013]

I called a balk in the 2nd inning of my game that started at 4... I think that these guys were just echoing my call.

[dumbdumb]

How many areas have umpires that would get their schedule reduced by making this call??? Seems like some in different areas conveniently accidentally miss this call or call this picking buggers. Has anyone not been allowed back at a school for making this call due a coaches complaint. What do you do if the leaders in an area say not to call this?

 

Aren't the umpires suppose to just let this go at this point in the game? Aren't they suppose to let the game be decided on the field and swallow the whistle so to speak on this type of call?? I never did figure out when you "can" call this for those who say you do not make this call at "this" point. When the hell do you call it?, for those that do not think it should be called at this point. When is a good point in the game to call it? What are the determining factors for when to make this call and when not to?? What are the other plays that only get called at certain points, what are those calls, and at what points do they and do they not get called??

 

Glad to see this is the same interpretation for all organizations.

[johnnyg08]

How many areas have umpires that would get their schedule reduced by making this call??? Seems like some in different areas conveniently accidentally miss this call or call this picking buggers. Has anyone not been allowed back at a school for making this call due a coaches complaint. What do you do if the leaders in an area say not to call this?

 

Aren't the umpires suppose to just let this go at this point in the game? Aren't they suppose to let the game be decided on the field and swallow the whistle so to speak on this type of call?? I never did figure out when you "can" call this for those who say you do not make this call at "this" point. When the hell do you call it?, for those that do not think it should be called at this point. When is a good point in the game to call it? What are the determining factors for when to make this call and when not to?? What are the other plays that only get called at certain points, what are those calls, and at what points do they and do they not get called??

 

Glad to see this is the same interpretation for all organizations.

I'm surprised nobody chimed in on this. It's easy to talk tough on here about getting all of the balks…but for some, the reality dictates that it sucks when you make these calls. My ratings are the lowest they've been in ten years because I had six FPSR's this year, a handful of balks, one umpire interference (not me, but my partner was down after getting drilled, a couple St. Louis World Series Infield flies, and it all comes down to the fact that nobody else has probably called one or any of these all year so the coaches get surprised and I get lit up on my ratings.

@dumbdumb brings up a great point. No, I don't think calling this balk is acceptable in all of there areas where I work. No different than the players from Indiana not getting dumped in Omaha last year. Many times we're expected to not make the call, but there are no black/white guidelines.

[Thunderheads]

 

How many areas have umpires that would get their schedule reduced by making this call??? Seems like some in different areas conveniently accidentally miss this call or call this picking buggers. Has anyone not been allowed back at a school for making this call due a coaches complaint. What do you do if the leaders in an area say not to call this?

 

Aren't the umpires suppose to just let this go at this point in the game? Aren't they suppose to let the game be decided on the field and swallow the whistle so to speak on this type of call?? I never did figure out when you "can" call this for those who say you do not make this call at "this" point. When the hell do you call it?, for those that do not think it should be called at this point. When is a good point in the game to call it? What are the determining factors for when to make this call and when not to?? What are the other plays that only get called at certain points, what are those calls, and at what points do they and do they not get called??

 

Glad to see this is the same interpretation for all organizations.

I'm surprised nobody chimed in on this. It's easy to talk tough on here about getting all of the balks…but for some, the reality dictates that it sucks when you make these calls. My ratings are the lowest they've been in ten years because I had six FPSR's this year, a handful of balks, one umpire interference (not me, but my partner was down after getting drilled, a couple St. Louis World Series Infield flies, and it all comes down to the fact that nobody else has probably called one or any of these all year so the coaches get surprised and I get lit up on my ratings.

@dumbdumb brings up a great point. No, I don't think calling this balk is acceptable in all of there areas where I work. No different than the players from Indiana not getting dumped in Omaha last year. Many times we're expected to not make the call, but there are no black/white guidelines.

 

That's a shame Johnny ...you do the right thing and you're chastised for it, ....it's crap!

 

I called this EXACT balk in a conference Varsity game last Friday afternoon in the 7th to put the winning run on third (the run scored for a walk-off) ...and....I didn't hear a peep from anyone, AND ...the pitcher knew it as soon as I called it.

 

It is what it is ....

[maven]

I'm surprised nobody chimed in on this. It's easy to talk tough on here about getting all of the balks…but for some, the reality dictates that it sucks when you make these calls. My ratings are the lowest they've been in ten years because I had six FPSR's this year, a handful of balks, one umpire interference ...

Careful: that's a slippery slope. Is it merely talking tough? I understand that the "expected call" isn't always the "correct call," and that game management can have an impact on how to call a game.

 

There's a spectrum between absolute by-the-book umpiring at one end and absolute pandering to coaches at the other. Like many other aspects of game management, it takes experience and game smarts to locate the right spot for our games at our levels.

 

Reputation also earns us credibility when we pass on the expected call in favor of the correct one. Not easy to get that, either.

[treydawgmt]

We see the "expected call" still at the MLB level, and I think to a degree our levels.  The "neighborhood play" at 2nd base, while still not technically allowed (the rules have always required you to touch 2nd), isn't review-able and that basically says it's allowed.  This is something that is generally acceptable at all levels of play I'd say, as long as it is close.  Calling that guy safe might truly have some repercussions.

[CentralOhioUmp30]

Tim Timmons gettin' after it.