Balk, ... AND an EJ!

[Thunderheads]

Easy one, ......I'm surprised U3 didn't see this .........

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v33741437

[maven]

Easy indeed. As usual, I'll ask what provision he violated, just to keep you on your toes.

[Thunderheads]

Easy indeed. As usual, I'll ask what provision he violated, just to keep you on your toes.

8.05 c

[GreyhoundAggie]

I'm not sure of the exact provision. The simple answer is he stepped toward home.

[maven]

Easy indeed. As usual, I'll ask what provision he violated, just to keep you on your toes.

8.05 c

 

[johnnyg08]

Didn't step to the base.  Didn't gain distance and direction to third base.  

 

Great call.  Gutty.  I am also surprised that the third base umpire didn't get it.  Maybe he got blocked.

[grayhawk]

Did his foot go behind the rubber too?  Hard to see since the runner got in the way of the camera.

[Thunderheads]

Did his foot go behind the rubber too?  Hard to see since the runner got in the way of the camera.

it certainly seemed like it was headed that way didn't it?  And, I think that's what Eaton was complaining about (I think)

[Thunderheads]

I tried my best on this ............

 

the red dot on Eaton's hand is approximately the rubber based on Shields pivot foot .... the small circle inside the larger one is the upper-sole of his cleat ....

[Jimurray]

I'm surprised Emmel forwent the step balk signal and allowed Yost to come out. I'm pretty sure he had a step balk and had no angle to see the foot past the rubber. (OBR - any part of foot past back edge)

[noumpere]

I tried my best on this ............

 

the red dot on Easton's hand is approximately the rubber based on Shields pivot foot .... the small circle inside the larger one is the upper-sole of his cleat ....

Okay -- but the entire foot needs to pass behind the back of the rubber. (I think)

[maven]

 

I tried my best on this ............

 

the red dot on Easton's hand is approximately the rubber based on Shields pivot foot .... the small circle inside the larger one is the upper-sole of his cleat ....

Okay -- but the entire foot needs to pass behind the back of the rubber. (I think)

 

 

FED is the entire non-pivot foot behind the rubber (6-2-4-f); I think @Jimurray is right about OBR being any part of the foot (interp of 8.05(a) COMMENT).

[Lindsay]

The MLB Umpire Manual: "When a pitcher swings any part of his free foot past the back edge of the pitcher's rubber, it is a balk if he does not pitch to the batter, unless he throws (or feints a throw) to second base on a pick-off play" (emphasis included in the MLBUM)

[noumpere]

 

 

I tried my best on this ............

 

the red dot on Easton's hand is approximately the rubber based on Shields pivot foot .... the small circle inside the larger one is the upper-sole of his cleat ....

Okay -- but the entire foot needs to pass behind the back of the rubber. (I think)

 

 

FED is the entire non-pivot foot behind the rubber (6-2-4-f); I think @Jimurray is right about OBR being any part of the foot (interp of 8.05(a) COMMENT).

 

Since I wasn't sure, I went to look it up.  My (old) version of NAPBL says "entire foot."  My (old) MLBUM says "any part".  Didn't see in in JR or JEA. Can't find my BRD.

[Lindsay]

Can't find my BRD.

Got you covered...

 

FED: "entire non-pivot foot" (6-2-4f)

NCAA: Same as FED except from set position, if pitcher breaks the plane with "any part of his 'stride leg'" (9-1-b-3, 9-1-b Pen)

OBR: 8.05a CMT

 

Wendelstedt: "Unlike FED and NCAA, where the entire non-pivot foot must pass the plane of the rubber, it is a balk if the pitcher brings any part of his foot behind the back edge of the rubber. (HW/PL145/p. 124)"

[BT_Blue]

Watch the rest of it. He steps towards home.

[UmpJeff]

Watch the rest of it. He steps towards home.

You can even read Emmel's lips telling him he stepped home.

[ricka56]

From the TV angles provided, I don't see any more of a step towards HP than lefties get away with. This was a planned/practiced pickoff play. He may have stepped more towards HP, but I can't tell from those TV angles. If this was a leftie and a pickoff at 1B, I'd be surprised if a balk is called for stepping towards HP.

[MikeSafari]

From the TV angles provided, I don't see any more of a step towards HP than lefties get away with. This was a planned/practiced pickoff play. He may have stepped more towards HP, but I can't tell from those TV angles. If this was a leftie and a pickoff at 1B, I'd be surprised if a balk is called for stepping towards HP.

 

If you look at the replay angle shown at the 52" mark, you can see that he pretty clearly stepped towards home (at least IMHO):

 

[RichMSN]

Another ejection, another Ned Yost scream-fest.  What a joke.

[UmpJeff]

He's a rat.  Always has been, always will be.