Willson Contreras uses pitch clock to his advantage against Kenley Jansen, a breakdown

[@Drew_H.]

Surprised you didn't cover the fact that MLB issued a warning to teams that this behavior is no longer allowed in the wake of this. This would now count as a strike instead of a ball.

[@kqatsi]

...why? The batter doesn't need to be ready until the 8-second mark, correct?

[@alanm2842]

if batter keep this up bean him

[@Verlisify]

Its clearly cheating to try to get an advantage. Its unsporting, not gamesmanship

[@LennonMarx420]

@@kqatsi This is like a balk on the batter, really. He's intentionally deceiving the pitcher by looking ready to hit but having a foot out.

[@MrSheckstr]

There was no lip reading needed

[@masondella-piana6632]

the fact that umpires don't explain it to the players on the warning is beyond me, especially when they look as perplexed as Kenley

[@CognizantCheddar]

Maybe because the ump is just as confused as I am as to how Jansen lacked the peripheral vision to perceive Contreras' leg position from 60 feet away.

[@zkeletonz001]

You'd think the catcher or one of the infielders would pick it up pretty easily and let him know what's going on.

[@ReadIcculus93]

Hey now, you want the pace of play sped up or do you want to see a bunch of explaining and arguing on the field? Cause at this point, if the fans want the pace of play sped up, don't expect umpires to explain every call. I know what would solve this problem, get rid of the pitch clock. There, no more confusing calls

[@kevinmach730]

Maybe, but we are about a quarter of the way through the season and I have not seen a pitcher struggle this badly to figure it out. Even with guys who weren't deliberately trying to trick him.

[@deusvult6920]

It's the responsibility of coaches to teach the rules to players. Not umpires.

[@BoujieeeBee]

i love the crowd breakdowns as well. The dual "oh shittt"'s really add to the situation.

[@kevinmach730]

And don't forget, ditching your kid while doing so, in order to properly voice your dissatisfaction. 🤣🤣

[@XL777]

​@@kevinmach730 best part of the video😂

[@jaycarneygiants]

They'll need to take that out of the rule for next season. The idea is to speed up the game... not allow the batter to INTENTIONALLY slow down the game and be awarded with a ball.

[@philabronc4667]

Agreed. Rules are getting ridiculous

[@TeemoQuinton]

Let me correct you. They'll need to teach Kenley to look at the batters

[@yodakazam]

Why? Pitchers are allowed to hold the ball until the last second so batters should be able to limit the amount of time they have to stand in the box. Kenley should just open his fucking eyes and see Contreras isn't even close to being in the box

[@michaelmiguelicutti2829]

Or just get rid of the pitch clock all together.

[@Brizzly]

Isn’t the time on the pitch clock still running ? So it wouldn’t slow down the game. It might speed it up a tad actually.

[@SixDrums]

I first discovered Jomboy after Kenley Jansen’s “intentional balk.” Funny to see all these years later, he’s still doing weird stuff worth breaking down

[@naturallynorthwest9748]

Hadn't seen that one til I read this comment. :)

[@wjatube]

That's a classic!

[@FPSWordle]

It's why the Dodgers got rid of him. Watching him come into games was an awful experience as a Dodger fan.

[@A38]

@@FPSWordle uninformed take. Do some research about what it costs to employ an MLB pitcher, then run a cost benefit on Jansen vs. other available closers the year the Dodgers replaced him, then come back here and tell us the Dodgers ditched him for his Jonboy clout

[@FPSWordle]

@@A38 Right. It wasn't all of his blown saves in the playoffs or anything. Idiot.

[@RottenPretzel42]

Would have been nice for nesn to show the pitch clock for any of these pitches. Definitely seems as if the batters weren't ready by 8 seconds

[@alexrobertsfcim]

I was watching that game, and NESN commentators explained their pitch clock timer doesn't show up until 10 seconds or fewer remain. So if you weren't seeing it, there were still more than 10 seconds on the clock.

[@Swordsfor200Alex]

Was watching on BSMW and they show the entire pitch clock countdown from 20 when a runner is on base. Contreras would start his step in at 9 seconds and his foot would be down at 8 second mark. It was all legal. Surprisingly the Red Sox coaches must not have taught Jansen the pitch clock rules.

[@unclejuan2274]

@@Swordsfor200Alexthan why did manny get ejected for trying to call a timeout at 8 seconds rules needs to put in place

[@TheEloheim]

​@@unclejuan2274Because the rule is the batter has to be in the box and ready _before_ the clock shows 8. If it's turning to 8 and timeout hasn't already been granted it's a violation.

[@steampunk_willy]

If the batters weren't ready in time, either the umpire would call a violation on the batter or the Red Sox would be arguing about the lack of a call. Neither happened, so its safe to assume the batters were ready in time.

[@magenlin]

We need a Playlist of Jomboy Balk Breakdowns and maybe with enough slo-mo footage we can finally figure out what a Balk actually is

[@Gabe-zm9vh]

A balk is just a when the pitcher is uhhh on the mound and the uhh umpire says balk it’s a balk dude

[@LennonMarx420]

@@canadianguy-nl1xw Unless you're a lefty, in which case you can never balk no matter how far into your motion you are, because reasons.

[@Whatuptho_8]

​@@canadianguy-nl1xw nah

[@magenlin]

@@canadianguy-nl1xw much like everybody in this comments section by think I know what a Bach is but everyday my confusion grows. But my real question from this video is how come the runner didn't get to advance a base on those two balks?

[@PatrickHaskins]

I don't understand why that weird body twist he does once or twice each time isn't considered a balk. It seems like balk rules are much different from when I was a kid in the 80s and 90s.

[@beardown6574]

Interesting breakdown. Only a matter of time before somebody found a loophole "You take him hunny I gotta stand up and yell" that line got me lol

[@helloman3676]

There is no loophole....the hitter has to be set in the hitters box and make eye contact with the pitcher before the 8 second mark....These pitchers are just stupid or playing dumb. The pitcher have until the time expire to start their motion to pitch. for the simpleton: 15 second clock with no base runner. The batters has 7 second to be set. The pitchers has 14 second to START his delivery (not when he releases the ball). 20 second clock for runner on base. The batters has 12 second to be set. The pitchers has 19 second to START his delivery (not when he releases the ball).

[@ohger1]

@@helloman3676 Agree - no loophole as long as we don't have an "Einstein" like Jansen pitching..

[@RSMoreno]

Gaming the system is part of baseball culture.. or maybe just human nature

[@papoukaofficial561]

@@helloman3676 im sure thats why the MLB updated the rules to prevent this from happening... no loophole at all man

[@jamesynfg]

@@papoukaofficial561 then what was the loophole? It’s the batter’s fault for the pitcher’s lack of awareness and/or comprehension of the rule he’s being paid millions to play under? By this logic, let’s ban the hidden ball trick and stealing bases during a long windup since those maneuvers also take advantage of an opponent’s lack of awareness lmfao. Plain and simple, the amendment they added to the rule is stupid and uncalled for.

[@aaronernst3693]

It’s amazing to me the amount of preparation mlb players put in. This was 100% planned by the cardinals for Kenley

[@michaelharkins4645]

What else are they gonna do.

[@TheRichFather]

I'm surprised that nobody's commenting that they aren't calling a balk every time that Jansen does that hip rotation and then comes back to set. On the first pitch he does it twice.

[@beinquisitive]

I just saw this vid, and my comment in the comments was "how is that not a balk every time?" It is an abomination.

[@Fly-The-W]

Its because he does it every time and is part of his motion so its not deceiving the runner.

[@Hdehshzyhwjw]

because the ump knows that’s how he pitches and the batters know that’s how he pitches. if a fresh ump was there he might’ve called it

[@jonathancoates5195]

To clarify, the pitcher is not allowed to come set before the batter is in the box and ready thanks to Max Scherzer. Mad Max was gaming the rule by coming set right after he got the ball and throwing it as soon as the batter looked up. Thus, MLB ruled that pitchers are not allowed to come to the set position and wait for the batter (now it is an illegal quick pitch/clock violation). Jansen, for the most part, was not starting his motion/windup in this video. Rather, he was coming to the set position before it is allowed. Now Contreras' behavior will be altered to having to have the bat pointed down, or looking away from the pitcher (though I think he is actually looking in centerfield at the pitch clock). By rule, the batter is still allowed to delay until the 8 second mark as long as he is not trying to deceive the pitcher into coming set.

[@Swordsfor200Alex]

Of course he is looking at the centerfield clock. Because he has to step in the box by the 8 second mark. Then the pitcher can come set and start his delivery. You would think all teams went over this in spring training. It isn't new in May when they have been playing for 2 months. Jesus, Kenley is an idiot if he doesn't know the pitch clock mechanics.

[@marijuasher]

Thankfully it's Max's fault and not, say, the Cardinals' organization that, from the breakdown above, gamed the rules. Nah, we'll blame the Met. After all, the Cardinals play ball the right way. Ain't that so.

[@bdelgado1979]

@@marijuasher Well, all of it was legal by the rules at the time, including Scherzer. What the OP is saying is that they adjusted the rule because of Max's gamesmanship, and they'll likely adjust it again because of this gamesmanship. None of it was a knock on anybody, just explaining the rule and how it has evolved and will likely evolve moving forward....

[@sjp2649]

@@marijuasher wow this really struck a nerve for you, princess?😂

[@Archerftw]

@@marijuasher they make medicated ointment for but their now.

[@FOmar151]

The pitch clock rules are imperfect. The batter should have to signal to the ump that theyre ready before 8 seconds, then the ump signals to the pitcher that its ok to pitch. Remove the inconsistency and the silly "eye contact" rule.

[@ItsDavidWright]

Yeah baseball is broken

[@notleeland]

Just remove the clock.

[@mdccxxvii]

​@@notleeland we're too deep already. Clock is staying forever

[@dungeonmaster6292]

Go back to at least before instant replay

[@Handall88]

Just put a Kanban board on the field

[@luisjalvareztorres8481]

I watched this live and like everyone else was so confused as to why the ump kept calling it a clock violation. I knew immediately this was gonna be a breakdown 🤣

[@Folse]

I don't think they expected it to become as much of a factor on the game itself. I mean, it's putting runners on base and will create outs in the future... The fact that the MLB is reactive rather than proactive in their rulings proves this (MLB has said that this behavior will be called strikes going forward). It all just seems to come with a layer of ambiguity. Both the batter and pitcher being confused on the last violation sums it up pretty well.

[@KC-nm4ct]

Can the pitcher still being confused really be blamed on MLB at this point? 😂

[@waltlock8805]

Give it a year and things will sort themselves out.

[@citylimit33]

which is why they should kill the pitch clock 😂🤷🏻‍♂️

[@jraymond1988]

Back in the '80s this would have resulted in a fastball to the helmet.

[@CommonSense823]

Back in the 80’s we’d still be waiting for the batter to get in the box.

[@Dead_Goat]

@@CommonSense823 That was the 90s.

[@C.A.D.]

And that's a bad thing

[@tdawgdawgonson3560]

@@CommonSense823 to be fair, in this particular game we were waiting for the batters to enter the box

[@RB-km8ze]

Next rule: no more pitchers to save time. Every batter must hit off a T in order to save time from pitches.

[@dungeonmaster6292]

Games will be simulated via AI

[@themonsterunderyourbed9408]

​@@dungeonmaster6292 Honestly, I'd rather watch this. At least the umps would make sense.

[@ericstoverink6579]

At least, then, there would be an actual reason for designated hitters to exist.

[@Valliac]

Just a pitching machine that spins in a circle before throwing.

[@Griggs58]

@@themonsterunderyourbed9408 You’ve clearly never played The Show. Those umps are like Angel Hernandez and Jim Joyce put together.

[@mukkslide27]

Worth pointing out that donovan intentionally positions himself in the line of the throw without interfering which likely helped with making the throw more difficult

[@briancandler8636]

Did that against the Brewers too

[@ogreman2229]

Smart baserunning

[@david-468]

Wow I dislike that a lot, because if he just nailed him in the head they blame that on the ss, if they truly want to protect fielders and runners they have to talk about that

[@mukkslide27]

@@david-468 he ducked

[@briancandler8636]

@@david-468 It’s legal. Nothing wrong with trying to get an advantage

[@Danjr704]

So what’s the point of a pitch clock if the clock doesn’t start until the batter and hitter agree to look at each other? Shouldn’t the clock dictate when they both should be ready by?

[@jonathancoates5195]

The clock starts. The batter is simply not required to be ready until the 8-second mark.

[@khain37]

It does. It dictates the batter has to be ready by the 8 second mark. Pitcher has to start throwing after batter is ready but before clock expires. The clock has started, Contreras was just using his full 12 seconds (clock starts at 20 with runners on base) to delay Jansen and Jansen wasn't looking at his lower half.

[@Danjr704]

I think the pitch clock should be more straight forward instead of requiring attention from the batter or whatever. If the batter isn’t paying attention it’s his fault. Pitch clock should be simple- during at bat after thrown ball or strike batter cannot leave the box and you have 15 secs to throw next pitch, if batter isn’t ready oh well. If a ball is hit foul you have 20 secs from when new ball is received from ump or catcher. Forget this be ready by 8 seconds, pitcher has to throw before time expires. If batter isn’t ready and pitcher throws a strike it’s a strike, if pitcher misses it’s a ball.

[@LemonStir]

@@Danjr704 This is a bad change you're proposing because it only awards the batter. Your change allows for a pitch to be a ball instead of an automatic strike. Unless you're Tim Wakefield, you're not throwing a pitch every 10 seconds for your rule change to even matter, and the batter could get a ball instead of a 100% called strike. This change only benefits the batter, and your goal is to try to make a rule to benefit the pitcher, which this change is the total reverse of what you want.

[@k.jacksonethier9958]

Jansen knows the rule. The batter is not supposed to dictate the pace of the game beyond being ready. Eye contact, bat in ready position & feet in the box are all controlled by the batter. If the pitcher is supposed to make eye contact and sees the bat in ready position, the pitch should be allowed.

[@atyt11]

absolutly agree!👌👌👍👍

[@benjaminpease8288]

While the other commenters have pointed out that MLB has said this behavior will count as a strike on the batter, not a ball, this is just one more instance of gaming the rule to take it further away for its intention, i.e. speeding up the ball game. The simplest and easiest way is to just say pitcher and batter must be ready by x time, one time out per at bat per actor, no "gamesmanship", no bending the rules, no interpretation. However, baseball is not really a fan of hard and fast rules, so we all know this simple solution will not be offered.

[@ernest1576]

That sounds like a perfect solution which ever party isn't ready in the allowed time would be penalize but I'm sure this solution wouldn't be right do too other factors that exists

[@MyBiPolarBearMax]

Does a Jomboy evolve to a JimMan?

[@JayD73]

The real questions being asked here

[@Gabe-zm9vh]

Woah

[@GuavaConQueso]

Then the final evolution is JamesSir?

[@dustinholmes3832]

JamMan

[@NickWeissMusic]

Not as of yet…

[@fromulus]

I just don't understand how nobody clarified to him after the Contreras at bat what exactly to look for, because they clearly did not.

[@DocSpengler]

In the heat of the moment, I doubt he would have made the adjustment. He'd be too frustrated to really be like "ok look for this every time now"

[@andrewrogers3279]

Idk, it seems like they did and he was just unable to adjust in the moment. Cora didn't even seem a bit frustrated with the ump crew, he got the explanation with Jansen and was 100% satisfied with how the rule was explained.

[@CommonSense823]

All that needed to happen was the catcher to go visit him, tell him what's going on, and to slow down a bit. They left him to figure it out on his own, and he didn't.

[@andrewrogers3279]

@@CommonSense823 I can't rewatch the Jomboy breakdown rn to see if he cut this out but I was watching this game and the team and ump all had a meeting where the rule was explained

[@jamesynfg]

@@andrewrogers3279 so the pitcher is just an idiot. Not sure why the rule needs to be changed because of general stupidity lmfao

[@JV-df9em]

Baseball is bizarre now - we spend more time during games talking about THIS then the actual game lol

[@Magicannon_]

I feel like it's a big issue with these rapid rule changes going forward for the MLB in particular. The top comment here has yet another new layer added that batters can't do this intentionally. Thing is, here in the MLB there's quite the melting pot of languages and cultures. Primarily you have English speaking Americans (the continents), then Spanish and Portuguese speakers primarily from the Central and Southern American and Caribbean nations, and even Japanese speakers from Japan. English is that main language, especially with managers and umps, but not every player has the best grasp of the language. I'm not saying Jansen is bad at English. I don't know enough about him, but as he's a veteran MLB pitcher I presume his English is fine. I just think that Baseball has a communication problem. Even broadcasters can have no idea what's going on sometimes. I don't exactly want NFL-style ump-to-stadium loudspeaker calls every out, but perhaps for these weird deadball situations you get something out there because just yelling a bit from the plate and using some brand new signals that might not be understood or paid attention to doesn't seem to be cutting it.

[@LemonStir]

This is why baseball is filled with signals. Doesn't matter what language you speak.

[@kyleharrison9772]

Braves fan. The pitch clock was one of the reasons I was glad we let him walk. Though I'm sure he'll figure it out, he's a pro, but this isn't a big surprise

[@chrisroberts6903]

How tf do you not realize that you’re making the same mistake for a 4th time? Mind boggling stuff.

[@WizzardofOdds]

It would be interesting to know what the pitch clock was at. The new rule: Pitchers will have 15 seconds to throw a pitch with the bases empty and 20 seconds with a runner on base. Hitters will need to be in the batter's box with eight seconds on the pitch clock. I would think that Contreras would have been called for a violation if the clock had been that far down, so Jansen may have been in too big a hurry or, the ump wasn't calling out Contreras.

[@ScubaShneve]

The rules have changed so much on me. How are the pitchers leg twitches not a balk?

[@blackout2189]

Per my understanding of the balk rules, and let's be honest no one understands the balk rules, because he does it every time in the stretch he's ok. If he deviated from that delivery motion it would be a balk.

[@119Agent]

He never stops and restarts his motion.

[@Gforcebond]

@@blackout2189 It's for sure a balk. He takes so long in his delivery and the fact he's a righty he's so easy to steal against.

[@idrizzyt7524]

Man, i just commented the same thing.... i pitched travel baseball for so long. the second i touched the ball with my other hand to my glove, i was never allowed to even shimmy or move my shoulders or else it was a balk by umpire. This guy comes to a weird set motion and continues to move his shoulders left and right. Seems so deceiving to a first base runner. I mean he comes set and moves his hips around weird.. i would be called balk on that every time. Then again wtf do i know.,

[@LemonStir]

@@Gforcebond Balks are not determined by length of time, so no you're wrong. To be set, you need to have a full stop. Until a pitcher is FULLY STOPPED (legs, arms and everything else) they are not set, and a leg twitch cannot be called a balk.

[@davidramos851]

Also did not talk about the fact that the umpire kept pointing to his watch signaling pitch clock violation. The broadcasters were completely confused by this because the pitch clock was well above the 8 second mark when the ump called the violations. So nobody really understood what was happening based on what the ump was signaling.

[@DVCVMVS]

I'm good with this, as long as the batter is also good with the pitcher making him "earn" the base by planting a fastball in the batter's thigh

[@JacieNicholson]

Not just the tying run, the go-ahead run Jimmy!

[@ninjasteph8350]

You know she said she threw a 50 pitch bullpen the day before right? definitely only 80 percent at best against a good hitter. I wouldnt be throwing 70% the day after 50 pitch bullpen. Most people wouldnt even throw. Kinda showing you baseball knowledge if ur judging her off this. If u watch trevor bauer, he would have done light catch to not even throwing that day and hes a pro. Eric is no major leaguer but definitely better than a college hitter. Im will to bet that u face her, u would get 0 hits.

[@aarontelander]

I don’t get it. How did Jansen not get called for a balk at all???

[@ohger1]

He was out at first with a throw that was direct to the first baseman (who would stretch for it) as opposed to having to be "ole'd" off the dirt.

[@mprocks27]

I thought the batter has to be in the box ready at 8 seconds? So why doesn’t the pitcher just be ready to throw the ball at 7 seconds.

[@calebhoekstra7760]

Why can't he come set? If he pitched it that would make definitely be a ball, but why is coming set a problem? Pitchers have come set before they are in the box to wait for them and it was fine. I don't get why this is a violation. Just change the rules back.

[@joegallagher1842]

I heard about this but haven’t seen a breakdown until now. Thanks for doing this. As always, you are on top of the big stuff.

[@MaxHesh7]

not always

[@e36z32]

This pitcher f#cking blows. That aside, MLB just needs to widen the batters boxes so that the batter cannot step out of the box unless they move both feet.

[@larryfisher7056]

my thought exactly...

[@LemonStir]

Yeah e36 because he doesn't know a brand new rule this pitcher is trash. You don't even know the pitcher's name so why are you even calling him trash? You see "this pitcher" is in the top 99.9% of all people to ever play this game, at a high school level or higher. You're not even on this list of people. You're not near the bottom, you're not even the very bottom. Your placement does not exist. And the fact you think a pitcher is trash for not fully understanding a new rule, well that says more about your lack of knowing anything than theirs.

[@e36z32]

@@LemonStir Why is your argument to compare him to me? 🤣 I’d suggest it says more about the failures of the coaching staff if he doesn’t know the rules. I am aware of the name of this joke of an All Star. Sadly I was at this game watching him fall apart.

[@curtisharvey5579]

Should be on the umpire to explain why, even if it's as simple as pointing at the batter's feet or something. Obviously, the pitcher didn't realize the issue

[@steampunk_willy]

Umpires are not supposed to influence the game aside from the calls they make. Umpires are allowed to explain why they made a certain call and MLB has granted them some discretion to issue a warning with some of the new and changing rules. That's not just limited to umpires but includes most ruling officials like referees and judges.

[@TheMexicanSuperman1]

Surprised you didn't mention the clock part of this. It's perfectly clear of the "violation" without a clock, but Contreras was riding that "8 second mark" really close. That's what I was confused about.

[@mrallan8063]

That pitcher needs to buy glasses. The catcher wasn't even set, so who was he going to throw the ball to?

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

I can't believe Kenley didn't just wait him out each time. Just put it on the batter

[@mikebarker9187]

Yeah.

[@bryantsteury8910]

Totally, if Contreras isn't ready by the 8 count, it's on him. And one would think he'd be able to get a windup going in 9 seconds.

[@steampunk_willy]

Because he thinks Contreras is ready when he isn't. Jansen doesn't yet realize he's being tricked.

[@fluffypenguins]

@@steampunk_willy how is he tricking him? The batter has to be set and if the pitcher uses his eyes he can clearly see that the batter isn't set

[@EthanBeattie-wh4zx]

​​​​​@@fluffypenguinsJensen was suffering from good old tunnel vision. My understanding is that the pitcher and the batter essentially have to make eye contact, so Jensen was probably so focused on his head that he didn't notice the rest of his body wasn't properly aligned. It's like the classic video where you're given a task like counting shapes flying across the screen, and then a guy in a gorilla suit walks through frame. Most people don't notice, even though when you know what to be looking for it's extremely obvious.

[@IBNZ1W]

Yeah, this rule has it’s benefits but there is always no doubt some underlying tactics to abuse the rule as well. Strange that the Umps haven’t been trying to help pitchers who struggle with that rule on the mound to better clarify that the pitchers now need to make sure both Batters feet are well in box to declare the batter ready to receive the pitch before making their pitch.

[@LemonStir]

Because it's not a new rule. It's a rule that's been around since all of us were born.

[@Cookinberry]

Jose Caballero has already been doing this. It's what got the benches to clear against Houston.

[@Actionbanana42069]

can we take a moment to talk about how pristine that umpires hair was coming out the helmet? shit was beautiful

[@FaustoTheBoozehound]

I thought Jomboy showed that intentionally but then I saw it wasn't a keeps ad 😆

[@bat__bat]

Its true MLB made a "warning" to batters attempting to deceive the pitcher. Ok, like that wont be bungled further? How can the ump know whether or not the batter is "ready" - by looking at head or feet, or both? What happens when the batter moves his head, and is in the box with both feet, yet obviously not ready, such as the batter right after Contreras? What if the ump is pissed at the pitcher already and decides to side with the batter on a very close call regarding pitch clock "readiness". An obvious way to "fix" this if you think it's a loophole, is to rewrite the rule to require a batter to not make eye contact with a pitcher until both feet are set and all this must be done by 8 sec remaining.

[@Devan-he4kr]

It should only be a ball if you pitch before the batter is set.

[@Johnbobon]

I can't believe they allow that false-start wiggle before getting set on the rubber.

[@TheRealTiburon]

I hate when teams abuse rules to win games. The rules are meant to keep the game honest and within an atmosphere of the sport not work arounds to exploit. I want to watch baseball, not who can bend the rules with nuances to win.

[@XxSEETH3RxX]

You must be watching the wrong sport. Baseball players have been bending rules for over 100 years

[@Redmenace96]

well said. If you are exploiting? are you a good ball club?

[@TheRealTiburon]

@@XxSEETH3RxX The weak and desperate always will.

[@freedomthefreeman487]

I don’t see anything wrong with what Contreras did. The rule is the batter has to be ready at 8 seconds left on the pitch clock correct? Id make the pitcher wait and step into box at 9 seconds so the pitcher can’t make me wait forever. I never understand when batters step into the box right away after a pitch. Wait it out.

[@LemonStir]

Rhythm batter is why. Some batters do better without long waits.

[@poocrafter2]

Jose Caballero has been playing the clock fully to his advantage since getting called up. So much so the Trashstros cleared to benches over it

[@paulhopkins1905]

How the hell is that twitch not a balk? He goes back, starts forward then resets his delivery. They told Garcia he couldn't do his windup, with no runners on, but let this bullshit, and the shit that Nestor and other relievers do with runners on base

[@LemonStir]

He's not set. Not once in this whole motion is he ever fully stopped.

[@paulhopkins1905]

@@LemonStir he still makes a move towards the plate, twice

[@jeffshootsstuff]

I don't get why Jansen's double knee-jerk every pitch isn't a balk every time.

[@119Agent]

He is consistent and never stops after coming set.

[@BarackLesnar]

If you balk every time, you're allowed to do it.

[@119Agent]

@@BarackLesnar correct.

[@FaustoTheBoozehound]

@@BarackLesnar haha the Pettite Principle

[@chocolatecoveredgummybears]

bcz he comes to a set.

[@Rain4est1337]

so first the pitcher gamed the pitch clock and we got the Scherzer rule...now the batter's are starting to do it. Will there be a Contreas rule now?

[@andrewrogers3279]

Yes, they literally added one Weds/Thurs. “We have advised umpires that conduct by batters designed to deceive a pitcher into beginning their windup or coming to the set position early - including pretending to be in the batter’s box and alert to the pitcher - constitutes circumvention under the pace of game regulations.” “Pitchers must continue to be aware of the position of the batter, and identify when the batter is appropriately in the batter’s box and alert to the pitcher before the pitcher begins the windup or comes set,” Hill added. “However, if the umpire determines that a batter appears alert to the pitcher and prepared to hit a pitch with more than eight seconds remaining on the timer, but is deliberately keeping one or both feet outside of the batter’s box, the umpire will not call a violation on the pitcher, but rather will issue a warning to the batter for his deceptive behavior.” Additional similar conduct by the batter would result in a violation on the batter and a strike called.

[@MysticZefer]

Glad to see mlb is the biggest joke sport LOL

[@billbaldridge9784]

@@andrewrogers3279 So all the batter has to do if he wants to use all his time after the rule change is not be alert to the pitcher until 8 seconds when he is required to be. Willson wasn't trying to deceive Kenley, he was clearly out of the box. Kenley was just oblivious.

[@andrewrogers3279]

@@billbaldridge9784 I don’t understand what you’re saying, the batter was already allowed to not be alert and ready in the box until 8s, that was already the rule Willson was 100% trying to deke him, that’s why he’s smart and it was a smart play. He had his hands/bat in ready position, eyes out to the pitcher, and one leg in his stance

[@billbaldridge9784]

@@andrewrogers3279 You think Willson was trying to appear in the box and alert to the pitcher? I don't. Watch the video again. He's clearly in the classic, one leg in, one leg out, timeout stance. The first pitch he has the bat held down by his waist. The second one a little higher. The third pitch he was nowhere near in the box or in the hitting position. He does not look like he's ready to hit in any of them. What he did here probably is still fine after the rule clarification. All he's trying to do is disrupt glacially slow Jansen's timing by taking the max time allowed by the batter and Jansen was oblivious and kept coming set sometimes without even looking to see if the batter is ready. That's 100% on Jansen, and his team didn't seem to help him out.

[@toadwiiremotewithwiimotion6247]

"Oh shit you take him honey i gotta stand up and yell" lmao

[@Aqwtiny]

How do you not notice an open stance with a leg out the box. Also every run is important. Especially when it’s the tying run at the plate lol

[@seanparker4495]

As a Dodger fan seeing Kiké. Turner on the field brings me joy. But as a Dodger Fan. I knew Kenley would blow it. 😅

[@heroclix0rz]

I'm not a pitcher, and I know the meta games go deep, but.... shouldn't it be obvious to the pitcher when the batter's foot is very far out of the box?

[@steampunk_willy]

Not when his foot is only just outside. Not to mention, Jansen is trying to focus more on making his pitch than trickery.

[@barrymccockiner9464]

That's what I was thinking. Anyone playing a professional sport should have good enough vision to see someone from head to toe from 60 feet away.

[@metallicakixtotalass]

you have to consider that the game camera is considerably higher up than the pitcher's eye level and therefore it's hard for a pitcher to tell when a batter's foot is just outside the box and when he just has a wide stance.

[@ballinbunnies]

@@barrymccockiner9464 it's a good thing you are well prepared with that profile pic.

[@neils19]

Shouldn’t the ump say cut the shit and get in the box?

[@TheMuricanMerc]

Contreras was doing this all season. Was quite funny to watch.

[@backyardbaseball2006]

You gotta throw in the fact that Contreras was also purposefully waiting riiight until 8 seconds to step into the box 1more second in the box and its an automatic strike 2:50 like here how he tries to stick his foot in the box real quick

[@dezmondsunflowerviii8396]

".. they're tricking him but I don't know if that's my place as an umpire.." 😭🤣

[@CommonSense823]

Some people are just easily tricked. All the possible verbiage in the rule book can't fix stupid.

[@georgechugalugging7777]

I watched baseball my whole life. Bought every package that direct tv offered. This is truly the first year on twenty years that I only see updates through Jomboy. This game has turned into bullshit.

[@CommonSense823]

😂😂😂. The steroids didn’t do it, but damn it there’s a clock now. Fuck this! I’m out!!! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Beowulfgang_Amadeus]

For the record it's not just Jansen that Contreras uses his entire pitch clock for. He gives the pitcher as little time as possible in almost all at bats, as he should. Those first 12 seconds are his time, the pitcher gets the last 8 all to himself.

[@CommonSense823]

Yep. There is no reason for him to get in the box and be ready to swing for 20 seconds waiting on a pitcher.

[@randominternet5586]

They should obviously make it 10/10.

[@jerfy2001]

As a dodgers fan... sorry Boston, welcome to the world of kenley blowing games in the 9th...

[@antonio551]

I’ll never understand batters needing to meditate and get a full massage in between pitches. you didn’t swing, stop checking your gloves and staring at the bat, it’s still there, get in the box and play the goddamn game

[@patton303]

So the ump knows that MLB sent out the new rules memo and updates (Scherzer rule). But like any other company that employs people, one or two people probably read it and just assumed everyone else was in the loop. This is top down, bad management. You need to make sure your slower players understand.

[@claybond7430]

Cardinals be poppin off rn.

[@redbrrdz7423]

Best team in the league and its not even close

[@nellAx19]

@@redbrrdz7423 Okay, I love the Cardinals, but I suggest we wait a while for them to improve their record before we start jumping to that conclusion. They're on the right track as of late, though.

[@claybond7430]

@@nellAx19 yeah they definitely had a rough start but hopefully they can keep it together.

[@canman1407]

Jomboy never fails to deliver

[@acct5910]

I don’t see how these new rules are making baseball any better

[@SurrValla]

Different rules, same ol’ Kenley Jansen: blowing up save opportunities .

[@nathanmays7926]

why is that hitch he does every pitch not a balk?

[@MyBiPolarBearMax]

This is fucking beautiful. I am so here for all of this.

[@IkLms11]

Yup. It's great to see pitchers actually have to deal with the same kind of stupid shit they've gotten away from for years.

[@1463sirmatt]

Waiting for the World Series decided by pitch clock gamesmanship. So great

[@CommonSense823]

Maybe this pitcher will understand the rules by that time.

[@chocolatecoveredgummybears]

so true. rules are absurd

[@jamesharris7240]

how is that pitch wind up not a balk? I thought once you start your wind up motion you weren't allowed to stop...

[@CommonSense823]

Apparently if you balk every time it’s no longer a balk???? 🤷‍♂️

[@andrewrogers3279]

That wind-up is just how Jansen comes to a set position. He wasn't beginning his throwing motion. The "Scherzer Rule" is about the pitcher not being able to come to a set position until the batter is ready. I actually think Jimmy kinda messed up by not specifying that in the video.

[@ryg2304]

@@CommonSense823 sadly pretty much 😂😂 if you do it every time youre allowed to unless it’s completely egregious

[@juddnearhood6581]

this is 100 percent a balk like what the hell? he moves 3 times before throwing totally tricks the runner???

[@notthed0d791]

@@andrewrogers3279WAIT WHAT?! You can’t even come set until the batter is set too?! How tf does that work?! That’s so stupid, that’s literally just a way to say “hey I’m ready to throw” obv Sherzer would illegally quick pitch guys when they weren’t set but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to come set whenever you want to😡fuckin bs bruh I never use the angry emoji cause it’s stupid but fuck man idk how else to express it without getting my acc suspended 😂

[@Robbie06261995]

I just so happened to catch this live at a Sybergs. We were all quite surprised at the violations.

[@Masonjar94]

Castros weird foot tapping and swaying back and forth on one leg is completely fine so why not this, both are mind games

[@jonathankirschke7133]

I don’t even recognize baseball as a professional sport anymore. The MLB has no sense of professionalism and is ruining the game for true baseball enthusiasts. Smh

[@Defx10]

Agreed. I can't even take baseball seriously with these new rules. It's become a gimmick.

[@briangulley6027]

Back in the day doing crap like that would earned you a free pass to first base albeit with bruised ribs or butt.

[@buggydclown8460]

Yeah back in your day cavemen also hunterex for their meat

[@briangulley6027]

@@buggydclown8460 I wasn't around for that but I do thing old school baseball is better. The pitch clock thing is old school baseball as most, not all, pitcher got the ball and threw the ball.

[@seamusfinnigan1916]

@@briangulley6027 his name is buggy d clown. most likely under 25 living with his parents how can you take him seriously lmao. I love how the immediate reaction by every young person these days is to just say boomer or something about age. Truly a logical and stunning arguement.

[@billyczech6555]

Donovan with the smart block on the double play by staying in the base path

[@S0D0M0J0]

I know he’s only been here for 5 minutes, but Jose Caballero has been a pain for pitchers ever since being called up. Check it out!

[@cubkid82]

I didn’t think you’d pass off your kid to yell at me. Too funny

[@Badoopboop]

Honestly…… this shit makes me sick of sports. I love you jom. You do amazing work. Sad when the thing that’s supposed to distract you from the BS becomes it.

[@aroddy123]

I miss the old days when the batter would get one behind the ear for that type of 'sportsmanship"

[@KevinBYee]

4:35 here honey you take him, i gotta stand up and yell LOL

[@magicoA]

"ooohh honey take the kid! I'm upset so I need to.stand up" 😂

[@Write-Stuff]

The time wasted by umpires calling time to reprimand pitchers over pitch-clock violations completely negates the pitch clock.

[@AliceYobby]

No, it doesn’t, and you can tell by the time of the game being 45 minutes shorter than last year

[@SeraphsWitness]

It will take time for everyone to adjust.

[@danielfreeman8725]

there are more plays that aren't violations than plays that are by a wide margin, this does not add more than a couple of seconds while every other pitch is time saved, and that's the vast majority.

[@LemonStir]

Write-Stuff is on drugs. A pitch clock violation is basically a thrown pitch. If anything the violations speed it up more!!

[@omny6686]

I love how they'll throw this entire new rule set in after a year or two in the minors. But then think having blind 70 year old calling balls and strikes is better for the game.

[@ScootsMcPoot]

How many umps are 70?

[@ScootsMcPoot]

The oldest person to ever umpire a game was 68 years old. And he retired that year. And this was 20 years ago

[@totaltrol]

Lol definitely exaggerating, but I get your point these umps really need to take a chill pill.

[@williamfitzpatrick4533]

MLB is killing baseball

[@8bitdee]

That “eye contact” rule is dumb. One shouldn’t have to wait for the opponent to be ready in order to make your move; if he ain’t ready then he ain’t ready, that’s on him. You’re trying to compete and beat him, you shouldn’t have to wait until he’s in his comfort zone. If you’re ready to go and he ain’t, then it’s on him for not being dialed in to compete.

[@CommonSense823]

Sure. Then the pitcher needs to deliver within 3 seconds of the batter stepping in. He shouldn’t have to wait either. If he’s not ready he’s not ready. You shouldn’t have to wait for him to be comfortable.

[@franksterner6789]

I can appreciate that you think this is creativity. Ultimately I like the pitch clock. Definitely speeds up the game but I do frown on shenanigans with it. Love your vids. Keep doing what your doing!

[@samus4040]

I can’t stand these new non-rules. I loved the game, it’s pace and integrity the way it was 😕

[@cotydavismusic]

I wish the worst on anyone in favor of this pitch clock nonsense

[@KIDRR]

Stupid rule. Baseball is even more unwatchable now.

[@CWPTraining]

Now Jomboy is READING LIPS OF FANS IN THE STANDS Mad Props

[@Uppernorwood976]

Why don’t pitchers just throw with 6 seconds left on the clock every time? Then they don’t have to worry about the ‘eye contact’ BS. If the batter isn’t ready by then it’s already a strike.

[@Axeom]

Was at this game. This needs to be fixed - they're putting pressure on the pitchers without any repercussions on the batters.

[@knowur10sand18s]

Of all the convoluted new rules in MLB this one seems the most straightforward with every other pitcher in the League not having this issue. Pitcher seems to not be focused or doesn't care.

[@JH-sb8cd]

Love the voiceovers!!!!

[@Blt-rr2lm]

Kenly needs to change his cadence. He is looking down while beginning the delivery. As a player, it drove me crazy when my teammates didn’t know the rules, nor how to take advantage of them. It’s a part of the game. Kenly is either mindless, or no one has helped him practise correctly.

[@karsonmapes]

side note: lime green cleats look awful with a red sox uniform. side effects may cause shortness of arm with the whole damn game on the line. consult your physician before engaging in lime green cleat application

[@glitchxero4687]

Maybe I'm just underestimating the amount of focus required to pitch at a pro level, but it seems to me like a person would notice the batter having a foot entirely out of the box, even if just out of the corners of your eyes. Like I said, maybe I'm just underestimating here, but I feel like if I was looking right at the guy, I'd notice that.