Balk? or Something Else?

[CricketChapman]

http://m.mlb.com/video/v385366683/?query=balk

Despite the video title, I suspect this was a base award for a pitched ball becoming lodged in F2's equipment/mask; there are no Balks listed in the box score.

Was anyone watching the game who can provide more info?  Note:  I didn't listen to this video with the audio on.

[Gfoley4]

Yes it was for the ball being lodged in the neck area. Guess there's no way to denote that so they just called it a balk. Since the strike remained on the count it obviously wasn't a balk

[maven]

No, it's not a balk, no matter what the web gurus post or announcers screw up.

The ruling was a lodged ball, and the penalty (when it's a pitch) is a 1 base award. Since that penalty looked the same as a balk penalty, they inferred incorrectly that it was a balk.

The ruling is pretty tight, since the ball popped right out. PU didn't even notice it — another umpire evidently gave him additional info, and he made the call (which is why he's talking to the skipper).

[Thunderheads]

No, it's not a balk, no matter what the web gurus post or announcers screw up.

The ruling was a lodged ball, and the penalty (when it's a pitch) is a 1 base award. Since that penalty looked the same as a balk penalty, they inferred incorrectly that it was a balk.

The ruling is pretty tight, since the ball popped right out. PU didn't even notice it — another umpire evidently gave him additional info, and he made the call (which is why he's talking to the skipper).

maven,

are we sure that the video is when the call takes place?  

[maven]

maven,

are we sure that the video is when the call takes place?  

Pretty sure. The announcers see R3 advanced to the plate without the batter doing anything, and they infer a balk. PU is talking to the skipper and F2.

It's an "inference to the best explanation," which Conan-Doyle habitually and erroneously had Sherlock Holmes call "deduction."

[DVA7130]

And with two strikes, the batter gets first.