Balk?

[Thunderheads]

.......I don't see it .......... looks like a typical MLB left handed move .......

NOT able to imbed yet, sorry.......

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v124060083

[Tksjewelry]

Was this called because he stepped towards first but still slightly out to home instead of a straight step? 

[Thunderheads]

Was this called because he stepped towards first but still slightly out to home instead of a straight step? 

​With Angel Hernandez, you never know, LOL ....

Honestly, I think they're saying he stepped toward home, you can see AH say "step" ......

[LMSANS]

I had a kid do this in a varsity game earlier this year.  His foot started towards home and then he stepped.  It's not a straight line to the imaginary 45.  He actually advances his foot towards home then steps toward the 1B line.

[maineump]

It looks like his front leg didn't come straight up, but opened like he was going to the plate, then stepped to first. Hernandez was the only one to call it, so hard to tell.

I wouldn't have the ba~~s to call that from the angles we saw it

Edited May 21, 2015 by maineump

[johnnyg08]

Some pitchers will open up then try to come back to the 45.  W/o watching the clip, that's my guess.  Was Angel at 1b or PU?  

[MikeSafari]

On the replay I could see why Hernandez might have called that, but I sure as hell wouldn't be calling that on my own.

[maven]

Hernandez was PU. I agree that the call was a step balk (that's why AH is slapping his leg, pointing to the plate, and saying, "Step...to the plate").

And he's pretty clearly right.

   

Two further comments:

1. MLB uses film to review pitchers and their moves, and they enforce these restrictions fairly tightly and with guidance from above.
2. We don't have video or guidance from a league office, so we shouldn't call it as tightly. That said, I think we could have gotten this one, from either B or HP.

[kstrunk]

On first view at full speed I thought he clearly put his foot either straight down (didn't gain ground) or toward home. 

[noumpere]

I had him leaning toward home and then throwing "away from" his body to first.  The leaning toward home commits him to pitch, no matter where the foot lands.

[maven]

I had him leaning toward home and then throwing "away from" his body to first.  The leaning toward home commits him to pitch, no matter where the foot lands.

​I saw that too, but that's something I'd expect U1/U3 to call, not PU.

[zm1283]

Guys, he called a step balk. I don't know why we're trying to come up with other reasons it may have been a balk. He pointed to his knee and indicated that the pitcher stepped to the plate. 

I thought it was a balk too. 

[Jimurray]

Guys, he called a step balk. I don't know why we're trying to come up with other reasons it may have been a balk. He pointed to his knee and indicated that the pitcher stepped to the plate. 

I thought it was a balk too. 

​Interestingly, while umpires are still required to indicate the step balk with a leg slap, managers are no longer prohibited from coming out for an explanation now on any balk call. Emphasis on explanation.

[TheRockawayKid]

Is this we can remark about his hat coming off when he ripped his mask off? 

[jpperez14]

I love the announcer talking about a 45 degree imaginary line. I would love to see where that is in the rule book. I balked a kid 3 times last year for doing the same stunt. 

[maven]

I love the announcer talking about a 45 degree imaginary line. I would love to see where that is in the rule book. I balked a kid 3 times last year for doing the same stunt. 

​The "45° line" is an interpretation, not black letter rule, and the announcer is correct.

The rule requires stepping toward a base. By interpretation, the requirement means more toward that base than any other base. By geometry, that's 45° either direction from the line toward the base.

[jpperez14]

​The "45° line" is an interpretation, not black letter rule, and the announcer is correct.

The rule requires stepping toward a base. By interpretation, the requirement means more toward that base than any other base. By geometry, that's 45° either direction from the line toward the base.

​I've always heard people say it was a rule, not an interpretation, My bad

[Richvee]

While it's not black and white in the rule book. It is just about universally accepted. I remember one spring training many years ago, they actually chalked the 45 lines off the front corners of the rubber, down the mound. . 

[blue23ll]

The announcer is Mike Krukow, one of the few who don't automatically assume the umpires are wrong. I noticed his hat come off too, did anyone else notice the marks on his forehead? I guess he likes his hats tight. Someone needs to do a survey on what size hat the MLB guys wear.

[Jimurray]

​The "45° line" is an interpretation, not black letter rule, and the announcer is correct.

The rule requires stepping toward a base. By interpretation, the requirement means more toward that base than any other base. By geometry, that's 45° either direction from the line toward the base.

​Geometry wise, let's not go to what the angle/angles actually are.

Edited May 22, 2015 by Jimurray

[Jimurray]

While it's not black and white in the rule book. It is just about universally accepted. I remember one spring training many years ago, they actually chalked the 45 lines off the front corners of the rubber, down the mound. . 

​Geometry wise, there's a reason why that didn't take.

[BuckeyeMike]

​Geometry wise, let's not go to what the angle/angles actually are.

​Why not?    I thought this was universally accepted as the interp for a step.    ??

You seem to have some other information/interpretation or even potential pitfall concerning this......I'd like to hear it.

[noumpere]

​Why not?    I thought this was universally accepted as the interp for a step.    ??

You seem to have some other information/interpretation or even potential pitfall concerning this......I'd like to hear it.

​The pitcher's rubber isn't quite halfway to second.  So, the H-M-1 angle isn't quite 90*.  So, stepping at the 45' line isn't quite 45*

 

And, the pitcher's foot might not be exactly in the middle of the rubber.