Blue Jays Pitcher Gausman Called for Balk on 1st Pitch with Runners

[Lindsay]

Called for a no-stop balk by 2B Umpire Jeff Nelson, Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman strode toward the umpire before being restrained by Toronto teammate Bo Bichette, buying time for manager John Schneider to get an explanation for why Gausman was called for a balk on his very first pitch from Set Position with runners on base during Monday's Jays-Orioles game in Baltimore.

With none out and none on in the bottom of the 4th inning, Orioles batter Adley Rutschman singled on a fly ball to the shallow outfield for Baltimore's first base hit of the game. Immediately thereafter, during the first pitch to ensuing batter Anthony Santander, Gausman was called for a balk by Nelson.

Official Baseball Rule 6.02(a)(13) states, "If there is a runner, or runners, it is a balk when—The pitcher delivers the pitch from Set Position without coming to a stop."

Thus, Gausman's balk occurred at the first opportunity for a balk to be called on him, meaning that in Nelson's judgment, Gausman's habitual delivery when using Set Position and/or the very first time Gausman worked from Set Position on Monday was illegal.

What's your call? | Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Umpire Crew Chief Nelson calls Gausman for balk on first delivery from Set (BAL/TOR)

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[Richvee]

As far as I’m concerned, he balks every time he pitches from the set with runners on. I’m curious to know if his set looked any different the rest of the game, or was it the same old no stop set he’s been doing for 2 years now?  
Maybe MLB has gotten heat from other teams about it? And now they want to crack down on him? 

[Jimurray]

27 minutes ago, Richvee said:

As far as I’m concerned, he balks every time he pitches from the set with runners on. I’m curious to know if his set looked any different the rest of the game, or was it the same old no stop set he’s been doing for 2 years now?  
Maybe MLB has gotten heat from other teams about it? And now they want to crack down on him? 

In my games when an always set pitcher does not stop to my liking with no one on (yes even in FED it's a no call) he and the SS (somehow they see the balks as soon as I do and before I tell the pitcher what it was his SS is saying "you.......) will hear me say I need a better stop. You can't do that in MLB so balk it right away and everyone knows. What we don't know is what changed and why didn't Gausman get the memo.

[Richvee]

39 minutes ago, Jimurray said:

In my games when an always set pitcher does not stop to my liking with no one on (yes even in FED it's a no call) he and the SS (somehow they see the balks as soon as I do and before I tell the pitcher what it was his SS is saying "you.......) will hear me say I need a better stop. You can't do that in MLB so balk it right away and everyone knows. What we don't know is what changed and why didn't Gausman get the memo.

I’ve said that often in FED games . “ hey I’m gonna need a better stop than that” after the first pitch with runners on. I’ve also called my share of no stop balks on pitch 2 with runners on. Some don’t get it. Or don’t believe you’ll call it. I’m not sure which it is.