Betances 'non-balk'

[kstrunk]

Disclaimer - I'm not only an umpire and former coach, but a baseball fan, and a 'died-in-the-wool' Yankees fan. 

However, watching Dellin Betances last night, I'm wondering why no balk? His normal move includes the Mariano Rivera patented front foot multi-step, after which he normally stops, completely. But last night, as he started to get a bit frazzled (2 runners on), there were at least 2 occasions where his normal motion (front foot multi-step) did NOT stop before he completely lifted that front leg and began his motion to the plate, so that at least for me, I couldn't tell if his front foot was still coming set or starting his move to the plate. No call, so obviously it's not a balk, but somebody help me understand why not? Thanks.  

[noumpere]

link?

 

Otherwise, all we can assume is that either the umpires missed it twice, or they judged it to be a complete stop.

 

Even though we might use the same OBR rules as MLB, the standards by which (many) balks are judged are different.

[maven]

 ... so that at least for me, I couldn't tell if his front foot was still coming set or starting his move to the plate. No call, so obviously it's not a balk, but somebody help me understand why not? Thanks.  

A general officiating philosophy (in all sports): if you don't see the infraction, then it was legal.

Or: if you have to guess, then it was legal.