Balk or No Balk?

Harold, Greg and Carlos dive into Marlins' pitcher Richard Bleier after he was called for 3 balks in one inning.

[@tr0812]

More interesting is comparing his pitches in the same inning with and without being called a balk. They are indistinguishable.

[@ktbeatty]

That’s the actual problem with what happened. Not sure how Reynolds misses that that is the real issue. I’m still waiting for MLB and the ump to explain why the ones the ump called balks were a violation of the rule, and why the pitches weren’t. I won’t hold my breath. It was clearly personal for some reason and not an attempt to enforce the rules of the game.

[@zachlee7945]

“That’s not a stop, that’s just straight to delivery.” How ??? The dude legit stops, looks at first then at home, then pitches

[@PhantomofDB]

I don’t see it either, looks like a stop to me

[@kineticstar]

MLB tv trying to cover crappy umps

[@SenorTortas]

I honestly see greater analysis from the KZbin comments than the so-called "analysts" on MLB Network

[@tchevrier]

He's moving the entire time.

[@kqatsi]

@@arthurkosakowski1098 It's physically impossible to come to a literally complete stop. Bleier came to a reasonably complete stop.

[@2010COBHC]

Every time there's balk drama it seems like no human being has any idea what a balk is

[@ricflair9717]

Simple explanation, that ump bet on this game and needed to "correct" the resulting score.

[@SenorTortas]

Better bet. He's sleeping with Buck Showalter 🤣🤣

[@zachocracy]

Also, within Section 8 of the MLB rules, there is no predetermined time limit for being still so a microsecond is fine. Besides, the balk rule was originally put in place to prevent pitchers from decieving batters and has nothing to do with pausing. 'Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner. If there is doubt in the umpire’s mind, the “intent” of the pitcher should govern.'

[@Roilan_]

Even the Mets announcers were questioning those calls.

[@rayray4192]

Really, you are giving credibility to a broadcaster. Two just embarrassed themselves on this video.

[@SoSickRick]

@@rayray4192 you’ve embarrassed yourself with every comment

[@rayray4192]

@@SoSickRick you are so sick Rick. All I have done is speak the truth. You can’t handle the truth.

[@dr.blam0535]

‘That’s not a stop, I’m sorry’ You should be sorry. Because it’s clearly a STOP. JfC

[@tinkerbellcoco_8274]

Look at his glove, his glove never stops, it just keeps dropping.

[@mAgoo9999]

jomboy covered it better with side by side views. there's no balk, or certainly no consistency in calling a balk, the ump was nuts.

[@obie5357]

When Jomboy has more credibility than mlb network commentarors lol

[@danthurman9076]

This pitcher is neurotic, look at his hand double pumping the ball, his leg and foot movement, and of course no pause in his wind up out of the stretch. Hell yes he is balking on every pitch.

[@boywithallthecomments2832]

Next MLB rule: No baserunners. No baserunners, no balks. In fact, no more pitching…just gather in the dugout and discuss feelings.

[@trevorgerman6374]

MLB: "You have to slow down and come set before you pitch." Also MLB: "Let's put in a pitch timer so we speed these pitchers up."

[@tommyers477]

not even close to the same issue. you clearly have never played or even watched baseball. or you think you're funny, which you are not.

[@wolfgineer9340]

@@tommyers477 geez someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Chill, take a deep breath.. simply pointing the juxtaposition of a pitch timer meant to keep the game going and a rule meant to stop the game to allow fairness to baserunners. Juxtaposition is considered a "comedic device" as it can be used for a laugh. Take a breather and relax next time

[@rayray4192]

@@wolfgineer9340 you don’t get to tell anyone to do anything. How big is your ego? Tom Meyers is correct. The rule book states a pitcher must bring his hands together and come to a discernible stop. Pitchers coming to a stop does not delay the game. Balking delays the game. Arguing a balk delays the game. Getting ejected delays the game.

[@rayray4192]

@@wolfgineer9340 coming set does not stop the game. The ball is live and in play. Pitcher can step and throw to first base. Pitcher can step back off the rubber and separate his hands. Pitcher can deliver a pitch. The game is not stopped. Words have meaning and context is everything. Try using words that are actually precise.

[@trevorgerman6374]

@@tommyers477 Correct, they are not the same issue. I played baseball for 13 years, I watch baseball nearly daily, and I'm hilarious. GG

[@mgagnon]

The whole point of the balk is to not “trick” the batter or runner on where they’re going…at no point in any of these calls was the pitcher masking his move, he was going to the plate every time

[@pigs6486]

Bullshit. The runners can't run if you're constantly moving. That's illegal.

[@mgagnon]

@@pigs6486 do you believe these were correct balk calls?

[@bradschneider82]

@@pigs6486 Good thing he came to a stop

[@pigs6486]

@@mgagnon As a runner, yes. As a fan, not really. But the biggest problem is doing it 3 fucking times...make the fucking adjustment yo. This is sports.

[@pigs6486]

@@bradschneider82 Being delusional doesn't help anybody here

[@cscotz]

What video were these analysts watching to say he didn’t stop? It looked like he clearly stopped, briefly, each time! Terrible call and frustrating for fans when there is umpiring inconsistencies.

[@ajb129]

obviously mlb network is going to defend the umpires, but this is still pretty gross on Harold's part

[@eric_beasley]

With them working for the MLB I don’t think they can talk bad about anything the league does…

[@ItsGamingFancy]

@@eric_beasley so 2 out of 3 people saying it was a bad call isn't good enough?

[@ItsGamingFancy]

@Jake Jortles did you read what I replied to? OP thinks mlb network is only going to defend the umpires yet 2 of them were saying he was in the wrong

[@SoSickRick]

@@ItsGamingFancy no they didn’t… they crumbled at the end…. 🤣

[@minority86]

But he literally didn't stop he kept lowering his glove then pitched

[@mischastarbuck460]

Pausing without stopping. Amazing

[@slo232000]

The bigger issue at hand is why MLB is so INCONSISTENT on calling balks. In prior years, MLB umpires never called balks when it was blatantly obvious pitchers weren't pausing. They need to stay consistent, either fully enforce balk calls or don't bother calling them at all.

[@egomez1524]

Hopefully that umpire is not in the braves mets series. Dude clearly has money down on the Mets.

[@mbdg6810]

I clearly have money down on this comment being too much hyperbole. (I am a mets fan and those balk calls were pathetic)

[@davidclemons9498]

This is garbage, correct him on his move early on in the season, not in September when he has done it all season

[@Flowerz__]

Yeah this guys pitching is gonna be all messed up now probably lol

[@tylermccann848]

Amen

[@positively_broad_st3780]

He's been doing it for seven seasons in MLB and has never been called on it. Odd timing for sure...

[@rayray4192]

@@positively_broad_st3780 He’s not stopping. It’s illegal. It’s always been illegal. Doesn’t matter what month it is.

[@rayray4192]

It’s the pitching coach’s job to instruct his pitcher; not the umpire. See a balk call a balk. Doesn’t matter what month it is. Your comment is asinine.

[@markwillis614]

The speed limit is technically a number that can't be exceeded legally, but the entire justice system has allowed cars to go 5 MPH over without being stopped for the last half century. Are you really going to argue that someone should be okay with being ticketed 3 times for going 5 over in 1 single trip? To argue that what happened is acceptable is 100% lunacy. Check that dude's bank statements...

[@mikewinter]

If this was in April/May and a focus of MLB for all pitchers then OK, but enforcing this in September against one pitcher in one game for 3 bases?!

[@rayray4192]

See a balk, call a balk. Doesn’t matter what month it is. After the first balk was called the moronic pitcher wasn’t smart enough to make an adjustment.

[@BMAN0310]

@@rayray4192 Not a balk

[@rayray4192]

@@BMAN0310 I’m going to go with umpire John Tumpane over you. Why aren’t the balks called by a trained professional not balks?

[@rayray4192]

@@BMAN0310 why, why is it not a balk?

[@papagrantits]

He sets, then delivers. Where is he supposed to stop? The middle of his wind up?

[@TuriSanchez3]

He has to come to a stop for a second when there are runners on it never gets called but it was a balk

[@papagrantits]

@@TuriSanchez3 I'm sorry, was him standing still for 3 seconds not him stopping?

[@johnduras8585]

Everything has to stop. His hands, legs, body, he never completely comes set. But like everyone says this is NEVER called anymore and lots of pitchers do it. So you can’t just all of a sudden start calling it on some random night in September

[@jrmuckdog8836]

@@johnduras8585 That is not the rule dingus

[@rayray4192]

Pitchers don’t wind up from the set position moron. Pitchers in the set position must bring their hands together and come to a discernible stop. A change of direction is not a stop.

[@shicrapt]

If they're going to enforce a stop in the delivery, then they have to define what a stop is. Is it half a second stop, or 3/4 second stop or one second stop or whatever. The fact that they don't have it defined means their balk calls are stupid.

[@rayray4192]

Your comment is stupid. The concept of stop is so easy to understand a 5 year old can explain it. A change of direction is not a stop.

[@alanhess9306]

A discernable pause.

[@Stevo2557]

I keep hearing "if this is done the same time everytime".... that's not a rule. The MLB needs to direct umpires to call this

[@theumas1238]

"You can't just be up there and just doin' a balk like that." MLB Network 2018

[@Raydan116]

Watch the Jomboy breakdown on this He does a side by side comparison of the ones called a balk Wild

[@jackdillon5903]

Jomboy showed Bleier's "balk" and "no balk" pitches side by side and I challenge anyone to discern them accurately.

[@IdeaSlug]

@@jackdillon5903 I could not discern them accurately. In fact I think I got them all wrong. But all that told me was that MORE balks should have been called, not fewer. Bleier rolls through the set motion in all of his pitches.

[@danthurman9076]

He balked on every pitch.

[@ktbeatty]

No, the frustration is not that they called balks that inning when they haven’t been calling it. The problem is that if you overlay all of his pitches that inning there isn’t a single discernible difference between the ones the ump called a balk and those he didn’t. That suggests it had nothing to do with the actual rule enforcement and was something personal.

[@oldebill1807]

Hey boys, 1st base is in the wrong place. The whole base is supposed to be in fair territory.

[@lucretius8050]

Google will now implement a new captcha. Select all the gifs showing Balk Skip if there are none.

[@DAK4Blizzard]

Underrated comment

[@calebbradley5797]

He isn’t stopping all the way fully if you notice there is some slight movement before he delivers the ball BUT if he has never been called for a ball why now? Lol

[@ohiosteel1850]

I played with a guy who balked on every pick off move. It wasn't until He played with someone else that we warned the ump and got it called. He was so good at hiding the slightest movement but He got runners leaning because he was lift up his left heel every so slightly, which caused runners to steal. But he quickly put it back down and spun to pick em off.

[@nottherocketman]

It's like Travelling in the NBA. The league has let everyone slide on Balks for years, and then suddenly decides to be a sticker on them? That's absurd and you can't do that.

[@10Peter25]

It's not even that. MLB can announce during the offseason that it will start enforcing its balk rules more strictly the next season and follow through on their promise. I don't have a problem with that. It's not right for the league, or even an individual umpire, to suddenly start enforcing the league's balk rules more strictly in the middle of the season and with no prior warning, especially in the middle of a game with major postseason implications. Maybe Richard Bleier is never coming to a discernible stop in his pitching motion with runners on base, and that's, by definition, a balk. If that's a balk, then he should be called for it every time he does it, early in the season, middle of the season, late in the season, and by all the league's umpires. The problem is that no umpire ever called him out on his balk move until one umpire, John Tumpane, called him out on it three times in one at-bat. Maybe Tumpane was right, but Bleier was also right to call him out on his inconsistency with how all the other MLB umpires have been calling that move. Either Tumpane needs to enforce the league's balk rules no more strictly than the rest of the league's umpires, or the rest of the league's umpires need to start calling Bleier out for his balk move. Either way, we need more consistent enforcement of the league's balk rules, and that's a problem.

[@tigros40208]

@@10Peter25 One analyst believed that MLB had sent down a message recently on enforcing balk calls more stringently. I want to say that I have seen them called more here lately than normal, though that may just be it being brought up more.

[@rayray4192]

@@10Peter25 you have obviously never umpired a baseball game.

[@10Peter25]

@@rayray4192 Have you?

[@rayray4192]

@@10Peter25 the problem is a pitcher can’t figure out what stopping means. Whenever a coach whines no one has called that a balk all year, I always immediately say,” It’s a balk today.” The whiny bitch pitcher isn’t smart enough to make an adjustment. And I’ve worked baseball as an umpire since 1976. Tumpane is the best umpire in mlb. His piers are missing the balk whenever this petulant child pitches. Start/ stop balks are not always easy to call. Usually the first one is missed. A coach will get your attention and ask you to watch out for no stop. Now you have to call the borderline balk. It’s easier to not call the balk. Enforcement causes issues. There is no problem with the clearly defined balk rule, which is one of the original rules; and there’s no problem with stellar umpire John Tumpane’s interpretation of the rule, but there is a problem with a Marlin pitching coach and manager who can’t teach a mlb pitcher how to comply with a basic rule.

[@RealSerie26]

0:43 That's something I've been wondering myself. Pitchers do that nonsense AND have different deliveries. It doesn't get any more deceiving than that. Note how no other umpire called a balk. 1B guy shouldn't be allowed to umpire in the playoffs for sure.

[@markwhite116]

Lol. He literally takes a breath after he brings his ball up and takes a small step. That is a pause...

[@joeyd7917]

I'm sorry, I'm watching the Mets vs Braves game tonight.. the relief pitcher ,Raisel Iglesias, though pitching from the stretch doesn't come to a stop at all once he gets the sign. Can someone explain the difference????

[@alanhess9306]

Were there baserunners? If there are no base runners, the pitcher does not need to pause.

[@ssriradio]

How in the world is he not pausing? None of them were balks.

[@bt1393]

watch his hands. they dont really stop at all even if the legs are set

[@ssriradio]

@@bt1393 Nobody thought he was gonna throw to first. Another ump wanted to be on a highlight reel.

[@bt1393]

@@ssriradio it’s not about if he was going to throw over to 1st or not. Your hands gotta come to a full stop if he’s gonna throw home

[@ssriradio]

@@bt1393 And he did. Im glad you love shitty umpires so much

[@nalvarado65]

@@bt1393 it's not just the hands, it's movement period. When you come set there can be no leg movement, leaning, or shoulder movement. It's a rule and was more important maybe in the seventies and eighties when base stealing was prevalent in the game.

[@jakegibson1082]

The first balk call I see if he never fully stopped like y’all mentioned the second call there was a definite stop compared to the first one and the Third pitch video statrted playing with him already pitching so I don’t know about that one

[@rayray4192]

Doesn’t matter what you think. The finest umpire in mlb ruled as an arbiter. Pitcher did not come set at least three times. He probably balked more than three times.

[@Dr.Krankenstein]

@@rayray4192 the finest? 😂

[@rayray4192]

@@Dr.Krankenstein petulant child sarcasm.

[@paraperera7786]

harold ramis just gave the most incomprehensible explanation of what happened that i've heard

[@sasquatchbigfoot4314]

Harold Ramis is the ghostbusters guy. That is Harold Reynolds

[@chrisscheurer9319]

harold ramis lmfao

[@SoSickRick]

He’s clueless about pitching who woulda thought

[@crackerjackB]

Do you play ball? Reynolds explanation is on point

[@John-pm1hk]

Huge if true

[@mattf3614]

I understand that a picture needs to “stop.” That’s what the rules say, but what the rules don’t say is for how long does that stop need to be? Is it a quarter second, half second, full second, 3 minutes? These were trash calls and the umpire should be embarrassed for injecting himself into the outcome of the game. In no way did the pitcher ever look to deceive the runner.

[@rayray4192]

Deceiving a runner is not the standard for a start/ stop balk. You are ignorant. How can you possibly be confused by the concept and meaning of the word stop? Tumpane is the best umpire in badeball and has no reason to be embarrassed. You are embarrassing yourself.

[@JuiceIsChillin]

Idk about you guys in the comment section....But from what they showed in the Mets game to last week to the Phillies game...he was doing the same thing!!!! MLB being MLB!

[@rayray4192]

You don’t have to watch. Balks are interpreted differently by different umpires. Zero balks would be called if he came to a discernible stop. Good calls by the best umpire in baseball.

[@recusantvessel]

Blatant rigging in the most EGREGIOUS way all season Guess we gotta give the NY fans their division wins any way possible.

[@mbdg6810]

Stop focusing on that aspect thats clearly coming from your emotions. It was an atrocious trio of calls and i’m a mets fan. Pathetic umping.

[@recusantvessel]

@@mbdg6810 NY teams are the goldenchild of the MLB it's pretty obvious.

[@rayray4192]

You have no proof asshole.

[@rayray4192]

@@mbdg6810 you are ignorant. Pitcher doesn’t stop. Obvious violations

[@patrickbohn2099]

It's to late in the season for this silliness!

[@SoSickRick]

I really hate when infield guys whom never pitched a game ever wants to talk pitching and delivery 😂 Harold even bring up “you ever been hitting” 🤣

[@LordRae]

If you put the pitches called Balks side by side with the pitches to the same batter that were not you cannot tell a difference. The ump was being a jerk here at best or dishonest at worst.

[@sungear]

Most of y'all probably saw Jomboy's evaluation. If you haven't, check it out.

[@alanhess9306]

Why would I want to watch an evaluation by someone who does not know the rules?

[@onloveandsublimation4912]

LOL. You're making this up. Those were balks. The clips from earlier were not.

[@4baller_kids]

Friggin' ump show.

[@raygross8246]

Framing. We think of framing as something that only catchers do, but everyone does it. With human umps, it's all part of the game. I wouldn't change that. That said, this ump is sure making it look like he has money on the game.

[@chrisholmes434]

California balk

[@vw8886]

Power trip by the 1st base ump.

[@kevischnei]

This is crazy. I mean, you Could technically call 3 balks on Bleier. But geez, Bleier isn't being unduly unfair with his pitching mechanics. Should he stop for 5 full seconds then? Balks should only be called when it's blatantly obvious that the pitcher is unduly interfering with the game of baseball. Not giving the batter or basemen proper diligence to read if the pitcher is set and ready to pitch or not. But this was overboard imo. Ump made a mountain out of a molehill here. Bleier wasn't that bad to get 3 balks in one at-bat. Ump so nitpicky, just call every damn pitch a balk, ruin baseball that way

[@rayray4192]

Your opinion is meaningless and based in ignorance

[@alanhess9306]

DO NOT rely on Harold Reynolds to explain the rules.

[@positively_broad_st3780]

Harold's base stealer bias is showing...🤣

[@SoSickRick]

He paused literally every single time.

[@tinkerbellcoco_8274]

Did you look at his glove? He went stretch to head to belt to plate flowing straight thru

[@mr.gentlezombie8709]

1. You can’t just be up there and just doin’ a balk like that. 1a. A balk is when you 1b. Okay well listen. A balk is when you balk the 1c. Let me start over 1c-a. The pitcher is not allowed to do a motion to the, uh, batter, that prohibits the batter from doing, you know, just trying to hit the ball. You can’t do that. 1c-b. Once the pitcher is in the stretch, he can’t be over here and say to the runner, like, “I’m gonna get ya! I’m gonna tag you out! You better watch your butt!” and then just be like he didn’t even do that. 1c-b(1). Like, if you’re about to pitch and then don’t pitch, you have to still pitch. You cannot not pitch. Does that make any sense? 1c-b(2). You gotta be, throwing motion of the ball, and then, until you just throw it. 1c-b(2)-a. Okay, well, you can have the ball up here, like this, but then there’s the balk you gotta think about. 1c-b(2)-b. Fairuza Balk hasn’t been in any movies in forever. I hope she wasn’t typecast as that racist lady in American History X. 1c-b(2)-b(i). Oh wait, she was in The Waterboy too! That would be even worse. 1c-b(2)-b(ii). “get in mah bellah” - Adam Water, “The Waterboy.” Haha, classic… 1c-b(3). Okay seriously though. A balk is when the pitcher makes a movement that, as determined by, when you do a move involving the baseball and field of 2. Do not do a balk please.

[@mickylawless1941]

They were called because the ump had to cover a bet.

[@__dane__]

This is BS. If those are balks then every single pitch in that at bat was a balk. The should’ve done the side-by-side with a pitch that was a balk and one that wasn’t a balk.

[@jeremyr5196]

I don’t even understand why umpires are apart of MLB anymore. All they do is undermine and ruin the game

[@rayray4192]

You don’t understand because you are ignorant. Imagine this scenario without an arbiter. How is enforcement of one of the original rules in baseball ruining the game? You are a fool.

[@aidensidk3273]

"To balk or not to balk that is the question"

[@bdogg20101]

thats the problem when you have a rule that is not black and white. it clearly states that you need to pause. but for how long? and you leave it up to umpire judgement whether or not the pitcher stopped enough or not. then there will always be discrepancies on whether some umpires call it or not.

[@alanhess9306]

The rule says the pause must be discernable. If I can see that he has stopped and nothing is moving, he is good.

[@ClittoralWombatShits]

If there’s a league that’s created it’s own “letter/spirit of the law” problem. The MLB is the king.

[@stevegabbert9626]

Knit picking, what is "come to a stop" or "come set"? Do they have to stop for a length of time, or can it be .003 seconds? How do you then measure "stopped"? The pitcher could have come to a stop and you didn't notice it. The runner isn't guaranteed a steal. Want to make a steal entertaining? Do it no matter if you think he stops or not. Earn it.

[@zachocracy]

Why not just have a balk be a non-call, it simply cancels the pitch. Counts for the pitch count, tires the pitcher, gives the batter an extra look, but doesn't effect the count. One less way for Vegas to influence pro sports.

[@dkmike2299]

Harold Reynolds’s is just making himself look stupid by siding with the ump and this absurdity. Jomboy showed a side by side of the pitches that were called a balk by bleier and the ones the weren’t and there was absolutely no difference. Bleier even slowed down further and stopped longer than on some of his No ball pitches and was still called. It’s just bad calls and the ump should have to use the side by side and explain himself cause I would have been investigating him for possibly having a bet on the Mets to win the game. I mean 6-3 then 6-4, Miami up in the bottom of the 8th with Mets trying to come back. That seems shady as hell

[@channelcreator317]

So if the mlb is adding a pitch clock, how many pitchers are going to get caught by this? He pauses, even for half a second he pauses but that just means he’s quicker than other pitchers, makes no sense to me

[@nochepatada]

I'd like to see these guy take the test at the end of Jomboy's breakdown. If they can't get all 3 correct, stfu

[@gburyhockey9]

nestor cortez's quick pitches. if these are balks, then what are the pitches from cortez? super balks?

[@victorw6732]

He only does those pitches with no one on base so there is no balk

[@michaellyden2580]

So, it'd be as if an NBA ref suddenly started calling Traveling on James Harden; Yes, it's definitely the right call, but why are you calling it now?

[@pokemongo-up3rq]

MLB: NOOOOOOO WHY ARENT PEOPLE WATCHING OUR GAMESSSSSSSSSS

[@XxXFlyingArmBarXxX]

Clearly all balks

[@rogerszmodis]

In a while some bookie is going to buy a new Ferrari as a gift and it will be registered to some guy named Tohn Jumpane

[@prestonjones20013]

I don’t see how that’s not a stop

[@alanhess9306]

Pausing means the pitcher needs to stop all parts of his body, His arms, his legs, his hands etc. This guy never paused.

[@prestonjones20013]

@@alanhess9306 he came to a full stop, just turned his head. Which is allowed

[@alanhess9306]

@@prestonjones20013 His hands never stop. That's a balk.

[@america1st721]

I saw no balks, I have a feeling the fix was in. It was just a matter of time now that gambling is legal.

[@alanhess9306]

You apparently don't know the balk rules.

[@zachocracy]

The pitcher stops every single time, as a former pitcher this is BS. I guess they need to get a ventriliquist out there to hold a pitcher by strings for 3 seconds, since no movement and pausing while getting a grip on a ball is "continuous motion" When you compare the "balks" to non balks, many of the "balks" were slower than the non balks. It is sickening that you lie just for views.

[@alfarrell]

Large businesses usually make the mistake of believing their customers are stupid, or don't care about wrongdoing. If MLB is smart it will let that umpire know that he's going to be investigated and possibly fired if there's a repeat of his obvious tampering.

[@igorlobkovenko9480]

All he has to do is stop for a half second. Is that really too much to ask? How is this about business practices? Investigated, for finally calling what he and other umpires have missed? Why dont you just tell him to let Bleier do what he wants because its unfair to enforce the rules at this juncture. You dont think other pitchers will do the same?

[@John2000sBaby]

@@igorlobkovenko9480 found the Mets fan

[@bdogg20101]

see it would be different if the rule had a specific time that the pitcher must pause, like 3 seconds. then that is black and white.

[@alanhess9306]

A discernable stop is what the rules require.

[@DrewC41]

When the runner was on 3rd, I’m throwing a pickoff to 1st that buzzes the umpires tower.

[@nathanmeyer375]

But you can't pick off to an unoccupied base. It will be another balk! The universe just has it in for him.

[@DrewC41]

@@nathanmeyer375 that’s my point. Anything was going to be a balk. At least throwing one past his ear gets your point across.

[@ohiosteel1850]

@@DrewC41 hahaha now thats funny. Not recommended but I like it 😂

[@alanhess9306]

@@DrewC41 It does not get your point across. It makes you look like a doofus, and will probably get you ejected.

[@DrewC41]

@@alanhess9306 it absolutely gets my point across if I get ejected.

[@shicrapt]

Check that ump's bank account if he received a huge deposit that didn't come from MLB or whatever umpire club he's employed.

[@Jamesballsworth]

I'm so confused. Isn't there such a thing as quick pitching someone? Basically, as soon as they get in the box, you can throw. This seems completely normal to me. I've seen a ton of crazy wind ups, leg and foot movements and timings and this wasn't one of them.

[@THEMASTER26]

Yes you can do anything you want on the mound when there is no one on base. Runners on, you must come set, pause, no movement once so ever, then pitch.

[@Jamesballsworth]

@@THEMASTER26 thank you, that makes perfect sense!

[@THEMASTER26]

@@Jamesballsworth 👍🙏

[@10Peter25]

@@THEMASTER26 That is incorrect. Per Rule 6.02, a pitcher is not permitted to deliver a pitch before the batter is reasonably ready for it. That is a quick pitch. A quick pitch is called a balk with runners on base. With no runners on base, the pitch is called a ball. Now, with no runners on base, a pitcher can deliver a pitch with no discernible wind-up as long as the batter is set in the batter's box and ready for the pitch. Johnny Cueto does this a lot to throw off a batter's timing. This is a balk with runners on base. With the bases empty, however, this is permitted.

[@rayray4192]

@@THEMASTER26 bullshit, a quick pitch with bases empty is illegal and an attempt to gain an unfair advantage over the hitter. The award is one ball on the batter. There is a penalty with no runners on.

[@kylesanders9144]

This is so stupid like I don't understand it he never deceives the runner or the hitter one time.

[@IdeaSlug]

By not stopping, he is deceiving the runner. The pitching process is explicit: you figure out the pitch, you come set (stop movement), and then deliver either to home or in a pickoff attempt. By stopping movement, the runner gets the message that the pitcher's next movement is a pitch or pickoff.

[@Dsbobias]

I disagree with Harold here. I think he does come set.

[@dominicanluk]

I see no balk here at all! Ridiculous

[@alanhess9306]

Apparently you don't know what a balk is.

[@ncmor3678]

Just get rid of the balk rule. It’s a stupid rule. tricking the base runner makes the game interesting.

[@alanhess9306]

Without balk rules you will never see another stolen base.

[@chrisholmes434]

Why didn’t he just sell the stop?

[@Thunderbolt2396]

You know this is kinda bs, because take a look at Mike Clevinger. The man never stops moving then delivers the ball. Where are his balk calls?

[@IdeaSlug]

Clevinger comes set. If you're talking about his pitching motion from the wind-up, then you don't know the basics of balks or "coming set".

[@Thunderbolt2396]

@@IdeaSlug 1: i absolutely do not know balls lol 2: i just saw a clip of him pitching and it looked like his glove never stopped moving

[@IdeaSlug]

@@Thunderbolt2396 Was he pitching from the windup or from the stretch? I can't speak definitively about every pitch he's ever made, but I'm guessing it was the windup. Can you share what clip you watched?

[@joshuathomas8010]

in an age where @MLB is trying to speed up games, they have umps/rules trying to slow it down. GTFOH

[@mattwalker529]

The called Balks he stops longer then other pitches he threw, seems someone was trying to get the Mets the win and he wasn't a team member, Matching fixing?

[@woweezowee334]

Horrendous calls. Those were not balks. I cannot wait until umpires are removed from baseball.

[@mbdg6810]

Computers aren’t going to call base outs

[@gothard5]

Absolutely not

[@ManOfThePeople75]

Umpire seems to have learned from Tim Donaghy.

[@SamJones-cz3ds]

You can get mad about the inconsistency of the calls and whether a coach said something or not but that doesn’t matter at all. Bleier made no attempt to correct what he was called for and then lost his mind when he got called for it again. Cmon now, that’s on him and nobody else

[@ohiosteel1850]

100% agree. Pause then Go. Pretty simple.

[@RealSerie26]

1) It's the same shit he has always done and 2) no other umpire thought they were balks.

[@SoSickRick]

He came to a stop every single time

[@ohiosteel1850]

@@SoSickRick his hands did not. Sooo no he didn’t

[@ohiosteel1850]

@@RealSerie26 cry about it. Don’t keep moving your hands and keep complaining that it’s a balk. Because in the book it’s a balk

[@paedahe4975]

I personally believe it may have to do with the direction his head is facing when his front leg goes up, then down then up again for the pitch. If he’s facing first. Balk.

[@kylesanders9144]

There also was a total pause like honestly the umpire is trash

[@alanhess9306]

The umpire knows a balk when he sees one, you don't.

[@bobbydyne]

-No it wasn’t a balk and it was a discernible stop because it’s a part of his routine therefore doesn’t doesn’t influence runners- Comment redacted due to the Major League Umpire Union’s feelings

[@alanhess9306]

It's been redacted because it is an incorrect statement.

[@ConBarry11]

They are the right calls, Bleier doesn't pause when he comes to his set, he just continues moving throughout...therefore he is balking. Just as an FYI, when you come to a set as a pitcher the only things that can move are your head and your eyes. Bleier needs to clean up his routine. However, you almost never see these calls being made today and in my opinion its a stupid rule

[@rayray4192]

No one cares about your opinion. The balk rule is one of the original rules and prevents a pitcher from gaining an unfair advantage over a baserunner.

[@ConBarry11]

@@rayray4192 Whats with the hostility man, be better

[@rayray4192]

@@ConBarry11 weary of the asinine umpire bashers. They are one of. the reasons the umpire shortage is at a crisis level. The ignorant assholes accusing John Tumpane of cheating a team could be better and you could be better and focus on them.

[@mkl5448]

Who's genius idea was it to have three grown men on a fake baseball field, wandering around, looking ridiculous, and talking about nonsense? Do you know what people really want to see??? Highlights and action. Some randos opinion means absolutely nothing but sports networks seem to all think viewers actually care to watch it. Remember when ESPN used just be highlights?

[@CrushTrolls2023]

The umpire has to make the spread. Check his bank account 😂 All these umps are dirty. But in all honesty… the pitcher has to pause and I don’t see a pause in any of these videos they just showed. The problem isn’t the pitcher it’s the umpire’s always being inconsistent. That is the problem with baseball. Games are won and lost by the umpires calls and that has to change. If you havnt called it all year then why call it now unless you were influenced or have money on the spread

[@rayray4192]

You have no proof asshole. You are a little boy masquerading as a man

[@DCBJ2011]

Cohen told the MLB “the Mets WILL make the playoffs”

[@andrewrussell26]

That is a pause. Is there a timer on the pause? What duration is required? Jomboy did a side-by-side of the balks vs no balks and they were identical. This is BS.

[@isbjorneliassen]

I know pitchers can have a reputation for being a bit dim, but once you've been told you're balking and you cannot bring yourself to pause a bit more (2 more times,) what does that say about you?

[@part6133]

Is Uncle Buck John Candy managing the Mets?? They need someone younger

[@jamescarr9842]

Ump is a Mets fan! Very obvious

[@22bk113]

He’s stopping .. that’s not a roll through or anything of the sort

[@alanhess9306]

Wrong. His hands never stop.

[@22bk113]

That’s a stop just high holds are deceptive

[@alanhess9306]

@@22bk113 Watch it again and pay attention, his hands never stop moving.

[@22bk113]

@@alanhess9306 he does the same thing every time,it’s not deceiving..prob others need to watch it more than once.. but I don’t .. he never varies so he’s a base stealers perfect lefty..