Balk-off wins (Dodgers & Diamondbacks)
Posted by Andy on June 1, 2010
Yesterday the Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks on a balk-off, i.e. the winning run scored on a balk. Esmerling Vasquez joins an unfortunate list of pitchers to lose a game in this fashion. This one was particularly painful as there were two outs and just a runner on 3rd. Seems like a lot of balk-offs happen with the bases loaded where there is more pressure on the pitcher.
Back in February, we had a post here about walk-off balks (now I'm calling them balk-offs, yes.) Looking through the comments you can see past games where this has happened.
Thanks to Steven H. for the idea for this post.
June 1st, 2010 at 3:12 pm
I'm just surprised it wasn't Bob Davidson who made the balk call (it was his crew). Maybe he was telepathically controlling Tim Tschida.
June 1st, 2010 at 3:25 pm
As screwy as his delivery was, I would not be surprised if it was determined that Luis Tiant has made some pretty impressive inroads into this particular area. Any way that could be determined?
June 1st, 2010 at 5:59 pm
I've never played baseball, let alone pitched or batted, but as a fan, to me, the balk is the most useless play. I'd like to see it discontinued, and it really hurts to know that a winning run can score on one.
I remember watching a game on T.V. - it may have been a Braves game on TBS, and I think the pitcher was Mark Portugal - in which the pitcher going into his wind-up slipped and fell. The ball fell out of his hand. This looked clearly like an accident to me. But it got called a balk. What if this had happened when the bases were empty? Would the batter have been awarded first base?
I also know there's a famous incident involving Stu Miller being blown off the mound in an All-Star Game in Candlestick Park. Again, this sounds purely like an accident, and again, what would have happened if there hadn't been anyone on base?
June 1st, 2010 at 6:18 pm
DoubleDiamond,
You cannot balk with no one on base. It would simply be "no pitch".
June 1st, 2010 at 9:34 pm
DD-
The balk does serve a point. Without the balk rule, there would never be another stolen base (which perhaps some people would celebrate). Additionally, batters would have such difficulty getting into a rhythm as the pitcher could just keep fake pitching until the guy zones out. Now, there could certainly be major improvements to the rule, but it is necessary at its core.
June 2nd, 2010 at 1:23 am
Can anyone tell me what exactly was the move that was called as a balk. didn't he just step off the rubber er as they do when they fake a throw to third?
June 2nd, 2010 at 4:51 pm
I'm a Dodger fan, but I must say that was a bogus call. The pitcher stepped off the rubber before he made any move. If you step off the rubber, you can move however you want.
I think it was a terrible call, and I think everyone knows it but refuses to acknowledge it. They don't want to admit the ump made a mistake, and they don't want to make an argument for the proposed instant replay call.
Baseball just farted.
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Did anyone notice that the hitter was not yet in the batter's box when this balk was called? Eventhough the ball is in play I did not think you could have a balk called when there was no one at the plate. I documented this on my site, but MLB zapped it.