MLB 2022: The Long and Winding Thread

He's got to come to a complete stop.

In my view, on all three pitches, his hands (with the glove and ball) are still coming down and as he starts his delivery. He brings ball and glove together, and he's slowly sinking his hands and then goes directly into his delivery.

The first time? Maybe pedantic. But then he's told. .... the second time? It's still marginal. .... the third time? I'm surprised he didn't come set for four or five seconds out of frustration. Was he worried the runner was going to steal home if his delivery wasn't quick?

 

Funny how he’s never been called for a balk before.

 

Part of pitching well is a consistent delivery. Many pitcher would have trouble altering it without losing effectiveness.

 

That was my first thought. I was of course too lazy to look it up. So thanks for doing the legwork. None of those was justified. I'll give the ump a pass on the first, but the other two were beyond ridiculous.

 

Of all the stats on the internet, I can't find balk numbers at all.

 

If there’s one rule that’s enforced haphazardly in MLB, it’s balks.

The weirdest part is when a pitcher balks, it’s usually because they’re trying to slow down a running game, but no one runs anymore …

 

This chart shows how dominant the Dodgers have been this season. They have had winning streaks of 12, 8, 7 (3 times), 6, 5, 4 (4x), 3 (4x) and 2 (9x). The longest losing streak is 4 games, with four streaks of 3 and four streaks of 2.

And I know none of it means anything unless they win the World Series.

 

That reminds me of a Mets game from around 1990 or so. The bases were loaded in the top of the ninth and John Franco was called for a balk by Doug Harvey at home plate because Franco didn’t come set for a full second before his delivery.

Franco did his best George Brett impression and flipped out on Harvey. For some reason, he didn’t get tossed out of the game.

The next pitch, Franco exaggerated his set position for multiple seconds before throwing. Still no ejection. He got the side out and in the bottom of the ninth, the Mets actually rallied to win as Franco was screaming in the dugout.

 

The first two are balks.
The last one is close, but after you’ve already rang him for two, let common sense rule the day and say we don’t really need to get him for a third in the 8th inning.
There has to be a definitive pause.
All of that being said…….you might get the first one. Might.
Are you getting 2 and 3? No way in the world.

 

Balky Bleier?

 

Meh, Pennsylvania has their number. Phillies 4-3 ... and Pirates 5-1. Somebody's got to explain that one to me.