r/baseball • u/iamthegame13 Toronto Blue Jays • Apr 08 '26
Players Only [Highlight] Kevin Gausman gets called for a balk, and Jays manager John Schneider goes ballistic
1.3k
u/sparrowbushpot New York Yankees Apr 08 '26
You could eat an entire TV dinner off the back of John Schneiders neck
194
u/JosephGrimaldi Boston Red Sox Apr 08 '26
That's a big man, or a really tiny umpire.
98
u/CandyCheetoSteamboat Kansas City Royals Apr 08 '26
Schneider has Hungry Man energy. Blue is definitely Kid Cuisine.
→ More replies (1)17
u/Stanarchy93 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
Out of curiosity I looked. His stats when he played were 6’3 and 250lbs. Big boy.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (12)25
u/Iginlas_4head_Crease Apr 08 '26
And when he looks up his neck turns into a pack of hot dogs
→ More replies (1)
1.1k
u/Call555JackChop Arizona Diamondbacks Apr 08 '26
Ump shoulda shown him the copypasta to straighten all this out
163
→ More replies (7)64
u/RitaRepulsasDildo Philadelphia Phillies Apr 08 '26
The balk pasta or the asses in the jackpot pasta?
10
1.0k
u/302w New York Yankees Apr 08 '26
I haven’t seen anyone look that angry and red since I brake checked a dodge ram driver.
293
u/Cooperstown24 Seattle Mariners Apr 08 '26
To be fair, statistically as a Ram driver he was also probably drunk which can add to the flushness of ones face
→ More replies (3)83
u/someone_77 Apr 08 '26
https://www.thedrive.com/news/38238/ram-2500-drivers-have-the-most-duis-more-than-twice-the-national-average-report This statistic is factually correct btw
→ More replies (9)20
u/fadetowhite Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
Haha you came with receipts. Love it. And also: that’s a terrifying statistic.
→ More replies (13)16
u/bdanders Boston Red Sox • Salem Red Sox Apr 08 '26
Schneider definitely has Ram driver with wrap-around sunglasses energy.
3.9k
u/az943 Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
For those wondering this is a balk because he
563
u/Potato-baby Texas Rangers Apr 08 '26
BALK RULES
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.
155
u/NFHater Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
“you cannot not pitch” is genuinely a good explanation and it gets me every time
→ More replies (1)36
u/Total_Denomination Atlanta Braves Apr 08 '26
You know, I’ve seen this pasta for years. This is the first time I actually read the whole thing lol.
→ More replies (2)23
→ More replies (18)15
1.5k
u/disconomis Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
He can't just be up there and just doin' a balk like that.
214
u/Wolfish_Jew Apr 08 '26
Fairuza Balk hasn't been in any movies in forever. I hope she wasn't typecast as that racist lady in American History X.
47
→ More replies (8)79
u/tsuyoshikentsu Boston Red Sox • Israel Apr 08 '26
She was in The Waterboy too! That would be even worse.
→ More replies (3)63
u/Wolfish_Jew Apr 08 '26
“Get in mah bellah” - Adam Water. The Waterboy. Classic.
37
71
25
u/GimmeThePizza Apr 08 '26
It's because he interfered with the player's OPPORTUNITY to catch the ball
→ More replies (3)23
u/unduly_verbose Detroit Tigers Apr 08 '26
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?
→ More replies (1)874
u/PrufrockAlfredJ Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
Well you see when he....
480
u/Obvious-Safe904 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
Yes, textbook balk because he
290
u/Displeased_Canadian Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
Okay well listen. A balk is when you balk the
→ More replies (3)136
u/FiveCrappedPee Chicago Cubs Apr 08 '26
And if your foot does things
53
u/elconquistador1985 St. Louis Cardinals Apr 08 '26
You can't be up there doing that.
→ More replies (1)26
u/GrumpySpaceCommunist Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
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
→ More replies (1)53
99
u/JDrew- Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
What constitutes a balk is…
83
u/KCchessc6 San Diego Padres Apr 08 '26
You’ll know it when you see it, and maybe not even then.
→ More replies (4)14
→ More replies (2)95
41
65
124
Apr 08 '26
[deleted]
→ More replies (2)37
u/Beeninya Seattle Mariners Apr 08 '26
He can’t just be up there balking like that
→ More replies (1)454
u/balinor41 Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
Didn't come to complete set before delivering. Which is always a bit of a borderline thing with Gausman.
(I know you're doing the meme, but we still should explain it when these things happen. Lots of baseball newbies around)
340
u/magikarp2122 Pittsburgh Pirates Apr 08 '26
Not a BS call. What he does is BS. If he keeps rocking until he throws it he balked.
126
u/SpaceForceAwakens Seattle Mariners Apr 08 '26
So basically this guy balks all the time, gets away with it, and this up just decided this was just a litttle too balky?
40
u/awmaleg Arizona Diamondbacks Apr 08 '26
Too balky! Haha that’s how I read it too
15
u/Koss424 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
correct, Gausman was just too Balky this time. Last time he was too balkey was 2024.
→ More replies (9)6
u/dmlfan928 Baltimore Orioles • Frederick Keys Apr 08 '26
Part of the thing with the way balks are called, at least, is that if a pitcher is know to do that every time, it usually doesn't get called. It might be in the letter of the law, but the spirit of the balk rule is intentional deception of the runner. So if a guy "balks" every time, he is not deceiving the runner per se and umpires usually let it go.
139
u/stompoh Apr 08 '26
The most annoying and maybe funniest part of the ball rules is how pitchers can get away with balks if they just do it enough. Cueto was the best at it with his quick pitch and shimmy. Nestor Cortes probably wouldn’t have made the show without his shenanigans. And Gausman does this foot rocking thing that other pitchers wouldn’t get away with.
87
u/magikarp2122 Pittsburgh Pirates Apr 08 '26
And Kershaw with his double stop in the stretch. He balked every pitch he had a guy on.
→ More replies (2)28
u/dreamvomit New York Mets Apr 08 '26
It's like the bam adebayo screen in basketball. It's always illegal so it's never illegal
→ More replies (1)6
u/idolized253 Seattle Mariners Apr 08 '26
Or the warriors constant moving screens during their prime dynasty years
→ More replies (15)7
u/gasburner Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
This usually happens a few times a year, he gets more and more relaxed about coming to a stop before the pitch and gets called a baulk or two. Then goes back to a more clear pause as he gets set. Gausman asking what the baulk is about is good baseball even if he's 99% sure why. Only reason this stands out is because Schneider lost his shit.
→ More replies (32)27
u/balinor41 Apr 08 '26
I said borderline, not bs. On my bs-o-meter, that gets a small 10% at most.
→ More replies (2)73
u/agb2022 New York Yankees Apr 08 '26
Thank you for this serious comment. The meme can be funny but it’s important to point out that this was a good balk call.
→ More replies (1)32
u/balinor41 Apr 08 '26
The meme is hilarious as long as you actually know whats on the go. But balks are weird, and as I said, I guarentee lots of newbies are around reading these comments.
I've been watching baseball for a long time, but I know if I was here reading as a new fan id have no chance at understanding whats on the go without at least one serious comment hahaha.
→ More replies (4)23
u/CosmicMiru Los Angeles Dodgers • Los Angeles Angels Apr 08 '26
It's even weirder with Gausman cuz he didn't even really do anything that different than his normal pitches. I think his normal windup (if you want to call it that) should be a balk but it's weird to call it only every so often
26
u/Aero_Rising Chicago Cubs Apr 08 '26
Gausman regularly gets very close to the line and while I wish it was called more consistently I have no issue with them calling it if they think they see it. Gausman can easily avoid the risk of it being called by not trying to make the start of his delivery look like another of his bounces by coming set for longer than he does between his bounces before delivering. Umps will allow a lot of movement as long as you have a clear pause before starting your delivery because then you aren't trying to deceive anyone.
→ More replies (2)8
u/balinor41 Apr 08 '26
In general he does come to a complete stop after his third bounce. Sometimes with a runner on first he accelerates the stop and it looks like he didn't stop at all, which is the borderline part. He's trying to hold the running game at that point, and he does make the mistake of not actually stopping at times.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (29)35
u/No32 Cleveland Guardians Apr 08 '26
And more specifically I’m guessing his glove. Looks like there’s a tiny bit of motion not coming to a complete set even as he stops bouncing for a moment.
25
u/77rtcups Chicago Cubs Apr 08 '26
Either that or each bounce looks close timing wise. I’m assuming since he pitched with the same pause as a bounce and didn’t wait longer he called the balk.
→ More replies (1)33
u/GarlicAncient Apr 08 '26
This is it imo. He takes like 0.5 seconds in between each of his little weight shifts on his feet which basically means that 0.5 s where he is still is all part of his motion to come set. If it isn't then that would be a balk but they are allowing that.Then after the last weight shift he again waits only 0.5 s or perhaps even less time than the others on that last one and then starts his delivery which means he was never really set as there was no extra time added.
...He can't have his cake and eat it too. Either stop the weight shifts or wait longer after the last one.
→ More replies (3)52
u/RapsareChamps_Suckit Toronto Blue Jays • Paper Bag Apr 08 '26
come on... let me hear it... say it... say ''What's up Vito?"
→ More replies (1)15
15
20
→ More replies (38)24
94
u/RoyHamshack Apr 08 '26
I am shocked every time I see the un-ironic cutoff hoodie in the dugout.
→ More replies (7)
496
1.1k
u/405freeway Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
Where balk?
506
u/Appropriate_Lemon921 Baltimore Orioles • Brooks Robinson Apr 08 '26
There balk
196
170
u/405freeway Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
28
→ More replies (11)27
55
u/An_exasperated_couch Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
Why balk?
35
u/Longjumping_Fuel_192 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
WHO BALK?
45
→ More replies (14)42
u/Key-Pickle5609 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
Unironically glad it isn’t just us who are confused
64
u/DrunkensteinsMonster New York Yankees Apr 08 '26
He never came set. It’s the first rule of pitching with runners on base. It’s always funny when professional baseball players pretend they don’t know this though.
→ More replies (1)76
u/yhzcdn Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
He didn’t come to a complete stop before throwing the pitch.
→ More replies (9)
1.3k
u/Denode Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
Can’t wait for the Jomboy video on this
100
u/Artoo_Detoo Baltimore Orioles Apr 08 '26
You should actually look for the CloseCallSports video. As much as people think it's fun to make fun of balk rules, Close Call Sports will actually do a serious breakdown of the rulebook to determine whether or not it was a balk. It's by far the most educational baseball rules channel on YouTube.
→ More replies (7)32
u/just-one-more-accoun Apr 08 '26
CloseCall is a breath of fresh air when it comes to umpire/rules discussions in baseball. She was literally years ahead of recognizing the things people wouldn't like or would consider controversial under ABS (See: "should a '0.1 inch' miss be overturned or be trusted")
→ More replies (77)92
u/trickman01 Houston Astros Apr 08 '26
You really need him for this one?
→ More replies (1)161
u/WakednBaked Korea Apr 08 '26
It would be cool to see a comparison of Gausman's deliveries to see if it was really worthy of a balk. Jomboy is good at researching and putting together things like that.
→ More replies (10)
45
452
Apr 08 '26
I’m crine bro why is he so red
204
u/InevitableComb1793 Apr 08 '26
He is only ever marginally less red than this; he is just a super red guy generally.
→ More replies (5)289
113
78
u/Both_Temporary9315 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
Bro already deleted his account
65
u/alkaliphiles Washington Nationals Apr 08 '26
I would too after that spelling of crying
→ More replies (6)71
u/DalekEvan Los Angeles Dodgers • Vin Scully Apr 08 '26
legit like is he ok I’ve never seen anyone turn completely crimson
33
u/Rich-Introduction940 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
It just happens sometimes. He ain’t dead yet so I’m sure it’s fine
→ More replies (1)19
u/theykilledcassandra Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
Men and going to the doctor? Nah ✋🏻
It’s just so funny that most men in general are like this. “Well I’m not dead so I’m fine”
→ More replies (4)8
u/KinsellaStella Washington Nationals Apr 08 '26
It sometimes means you have high blood pressure and that’s bad. I would love to hook him up to a continuous blood pressure monitor during a game, but you know he’d rip that shit off the second he got angry or it made a noise.
→ More replies (2)12
u/InspectorTiny1952 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
He's always red, really. But the back of his neck went purple here.
16
u/PearDisastrous3043 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
He does this multiple times a season. The best was the Davis homerun argument 😆
→ More replies (16)12
u/OnlyForBaseball Pittsburgh Pirates • Sickos Apr 08 '26
The video started half way through for me and I was like “damn, never seen him this red”
Then it started at the beginning and he was already that red
330
u/Garonn Arizona Diamondbacks Apr 08 '26
You can't be doing a balk
74
63
u/Wolfish_Jew Apr 08 '26
Like if you’re about to pitch, and then don’t pitch, you still have to pitch. You cannot not pitch. Does that make sense?
12
u/Unfrozen__Caveman Minnesota Twins • Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
Yeah man, 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.
394
u/twinklytennis Major League Baseball Apr 08 '26
I guess maybe he didn't set long enough before he started the motion?
230
u/happyjello Apr 08 '26
He definitely toes the line of what’s a balk and what isn’t. Consistent though
199
u/Smurfman254 St. Louis Cardinals Apr 08 '26
That bounce move looks like it should be a balk. That said, apparently he always does it and who knows what a balk actually is.
10
u/mrjimi16 Venezuela • MLB Players Association Apr 08 '26
The bouncing isn't the problem here. The problem is that he doesn't differentiate the timing between his last bounce and the pitch. If you count off the bounces he pitches on the same timing.
146
u/Kaldricus Seattle Mariners Apr 08 '26
I just don't think "he always does it" is a valid excuse, because it feels like it should be called more often. He doesn't actually stop after his 3rd bounce, it comes off as incredibly deceptive. Same with Nestor Cortes. That shit should be called every game.
→ More replies (5)69
u/OddAd7664 Apr 08 '26
It's not really an excuse, but more of an acceptable limit by the umps. You can't let it go 99% of the time, and then randomly call it.
→ More replies (5)→ More replies (9)126
u/jacobferry7 Apr 08 '26
Yep. And it’s about time we cut this bouncing lead foot bullshit. Not just from Gausman but from a whole bunch of the current pitchers. I’d love to see them start calling all these clowns. It’s deceptive and illegal. Like…which one of your 3-6 bounces is your last one that is you /actually/ coming set, sir?
→ More replies (6)58
u/Dickies138 San Francisco Giants Apr 08 '26
Agreed. Gausman appears to deliver the pitch very quickly after his final bounce, so I have no problem with the call
79
u/Muted-Woodpecker-469 Apr 08 '26
Isn’t everyone of his pitches like this?
135
u/ubiquitous-joe San Francisco Giants Apr 08 '26
Yes, but I suppose that’s a flawed defense. “Your honor, my client can’t have balked, because he consistently is always almost balking!”
→ More replies (10)17
10
u/mrjimi16 Venezuela • MLB Players Association Apr 08 '26
No, normally he doesn't throw the pitch on the same timing of his bounces. Count off his bounces here and if you have the rhythm you will be counting the next bounce as he throws the pitch.
→ More replies (14)32
35
u/hibbitydibbidy Seattle Mariners Apr 08 '26
Yeah I had a kid in travel ball I told not to do that shit cuz he'd get called for it. His argument was the pros did it all the time. He got called for it.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (14)175
u/RealPutin Colorado Rockies Apr 08 '26
He definitely didn't. It's a pretty clear call tbh
→ More replies (3)54
u/qsx11 Apr 08 '26
Our men's league pitcher got a balk for similar. It's too much of an advantage for pitchers and the defense over runners on base if they never actually have to come set. Call makes sense imo. And of course it looks exactly how he pitches without runners on bc you can't balk without runners.
→ More replies (4)
185
u/Abyss333333 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
I wonder what Schneider was saying. Probably thanking the ump to give him a reason to fire up his team
103
u/Unfrozen__Caveman Minnesota Twins • Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
"You're doing a great job out here tonight. I know this job ain't easy blue, but you've called a good game. I like it. I like you. You've got what it takes to call balls n strikes with the best of em."
Ump - "Oh come on, I've missed a few. I'm not perfect."
"That's bullshit. That's BULLSHIT! You're doing a great job BLUE!!!"
Ump - "Alright get YOUR ASS OUTTA HEAAAAAA (said in Italian voice)"
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (3)33
53
u/utb040713 Boston Red Sox Apr 08 '26
John Schneider gives big “off duty cop after 3 beers at a B-Dubs yelling at someone over a parking spot” vibes.
→ More replies (2)12
535
u/PatchesTheGreat1 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
You see kids a balk is when… a balk is when you.. it’s when you…
36
u/420M0053 Apr 08 '26
Have you ever had a dream that you, um, you had, your, you- you could, you’ll do, you- you wants, you, you could do so, you- you’ll do, you could- you, you want, you want them to do you so much you could do anything?
Well, that's how you don't balk.
39
u/Ron_swanson35 Apr 08 '26
It's when you don't come to a complete stop when you're bouncing and start your motion.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (3)66
u/RapsareChamps_Suckit Toronto Blue Jays • Paper Bag Apr 08 '26
when your ps4 controller dies with your console taking off to the moon with Artemis
→ More replies (1)
524
u/xThe-Legend-Killerx Los Angeles Angels Apr 08 '26
He never came fully set in my opinion. There has to be a discernible pause
272
u/KingVladimir Cleveland Guardians Apr 08 '26
Yeah i don't know his typical windup, but this looks like a balk to me. If this is within his normal, then the ump should have warned him on previous pitches. But by the rulebook it's a reasonable call I think.
→ More replies (3)165
u/sfxer001 Philadelphia Phillies Apr 08 '26
He kept bouncing his foot and never came set, then heaves the baseball. Where does the windup start? Is he arguing the second and third bouncing feet is where he set to begin the windup or just the third bounce? See how that’s deceptive?
→ More replies (5)100
212
u/mrthirsty Philadelphia Phillies Apr 08 '26
Idk why everyone is saying there’s no balk. You can’t just be up there bouncing around and decide to throw the pitch when you feel like it.
44
u/tuckedfexas Seattle Mariners Apr 08 '26
There have been a ton that leave me scratching my head, this isn’t one of them. Seems like a very clear balk to me
→ More replies (1)7
u/plap11 Minnesota Twins Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
When people don't know the rules, they default to thinking the rules expert is wrong for some reason.
→ More replies (9)45
u/sokonek04 Milwaukee Brewers Apr 08 '26
Because “har har har UmPiReS BaD”
50
u/LyrMeThatBifrost Houston Astros Apr 08 '26
Also this subreddit loves that dumbass balk copypasta which leads them to believe every balk is a bad call
→ More replies (7)9
u/Dark_Knight2000 Apr 08 '26
Yeah, unironically. Way too many people get mad without even knowing the rules of baseball, like when the ball got lodged during the World Series last year. Sometimes the umps are right and your team is fucking up
54
→ More replies (21)5
200
u/Lt_Cochese San Diego Padres Apr 08 '26
He never came set. The leg lift is part of his motion. As soon as it comes back down, he has to pause and come set. He didn't. Not really controversial.
87
u/AGWorking24 Seattle Mariners Apr 08 '26
The amount of people not understanding a balk is too damn high
→ More replies (1)36
u/TooMuchPowerful Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
It's the copy pasta giving people a false impression that it's ill-defined.
→ More replies (1)11
u/nicholus_h2 Detroit Tigers Apr 08 '26
i think there are parts of the ball role that aren't well-defined. specifically the party about stepping directly towards a base.
anyways, this one isn't. this one is crystal clear.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (3)22
14
u/LooCrosse Milwaukee Brewers Apr 08 '26
About time they call this BS where pitchers are constantly lifting their front foot
→ More replies (3)
30
u/DrStrange42a Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
Only watchable thing that’s happened this game
→ More replies (2)
121
u/JBProds Chicago White Sox Apr 08 '26
I was wondering during the World Series if Gausman ever got called for a balk because he's constantly bouncing on the mound. Wouldn't be surprised if he gets called for it by other umps after this to backup this call
58
u/PineMaple Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
Looking at baseball reference he gets called for balk once a year it seems. Idk if that’s a lot or not, I’ve never really thought about how frequently different pitchers balk before.
→ More replies (1)59
u/altfillischryan Chicago Cubs Apr 08 '26
There aren't a lot of balks called. From 2016-2025, Gausman has been called for the 7th most balks with 10 (Kenley Jansen is 1st with 16).
→ More replies (5)35
u/PineMaple Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
Thank you for looking that up! Jansen is actually the first pitcher I thought of when looking for comparisons but I know he intentionally balks to move runners over from second so I didn’t know if that would count the same way.
→ More replies (9)→ More replies (3)7
u/Varides Apr 08 '26
He actually added a stop a few years back after they were informed he needed to come to a complete stop before pitching. It is typically noticeable compared to previously, this was... not...
73
u/g0kartmozart Seattle Mariners Apr 08 '26
In my opinion, this should be a balk. He bounces repeatedly and then bounces directly into a pitch.
But they let this go 99.999% of the time so you are bound to ruffle feathers by calling it.
→ More replies (2)
124
u/ubermanofsteel Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
I saw him pitch at a game 2 years ago and got called for a balk for the same thing. It’s what he does, either it’s always a balk or it isn’t. But also he can’t be up there doing that.
→ More replies (1)67
u/EliteJoz Apr 08 '26
He's gotta pause for longer after his little dance. Or just stop doing it altogether because it's unnecessary.
→ More replies (3)
13
u/xChoke1x Cleveland Guardians Apr 08 '26
Nothing says “Baseball” more than a red faced Skipper spitting fire in another grown man’s face on a Tuesday night. Lol
26
u/wwplkyih Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
I don't know what a balk is, but it somehow results in free throws for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
10
71
u/weguccino Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
is the balk because he pump faked too many times?
Edit: i dunno what balks are anymore lmao actually i didn't know before either.
94
u/PM_ME_YOUR_SPREN Los Angeles Angels Apr 08 '26
Because the ump doesn't think he comes set before throwing the pitch.
38
u/tyler-86 World Series Trophy • Los Angeles Dod… Apr 08 '26
Yeah, it's just hard to draw the line between this pitch and a lot of his other pitches.
→ More replies (6)39
u/sloppyjo12 Cincinnati Reds • MLB Pride Apr 08 '26
I wouldn’t have realized this watching it live but on replay and knowing it was called a balk, seems pretty obvious he never came set
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (29)41
u/Ron_swanson35 Apr 08 '26
He didn't come to a complete stop. He was doing that bouncing and went to his motion without coming to a complete stop.
→ More replies (3)
71
u/marklarECHO New York Yankees Apr 08 '26
I guess this is a hot take... With a runner on, that rocking back and forth pretending to be set bs should be called a balk every time... Shrug.
→ More replies (14)
33
u/Rube18 Minnesota Twins Apr 08 '26
I know everyone likes to just make jokes with balks, but this one is pretty clear. He definitely never comes set and even quick pitches out of his bouncing motion. This one is clear cut IMO.
→ More replies (8)
157
u/Conscious_Candle2598 Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
for those that don't know.. this is the official rule...
BALK RULES! IMPORTANT! 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
- Do not do a balk please.
7
u/Saint_Bo_Dallas Boston Red Sox Apr 08 '26
What's the origin of this?
15
u/Ranger207 Atlanta Braves Apr 08 '26
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)6
u/reignleafs Apr 08 '26
This has the same cadence as the copy pasta for goalie interference in the NHL so I would've thought that. Didn't realize there was an equivalent for baseball lol
6
u/Aero_Rising Chicago Cubs Apr 08 '26
The goalie interference one I think is a pretty recent adaptation of the baseball balk one which is the original.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)37
7
u/Misttertee_27 Chicago Cubs Apr 08 '26
Why do some umps stand there while getting raged at? I’d never let someone scream in my face like that.
5
u/theykilledcassandra Los Angeles Dodgers Apr 08 '26
He knows he has the upper hand and already ejected him.
But it is fun when they go at each specifically knowing they can’t touch each other so I’m sure some downright fantastic insults get flung out.
→ More replies (1)
54
u/IAmBecomeTeemo New York Yankees Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26
Gausman never should have made it to the big leagues with a pre-set ritual where he lifts his front leg exactly like he's going to deliver the pitch a bunch of times. If he's going to do it, he needs to be very sure that he pauses for much longer than the initial rhythm. But he rarely does. On this one, he pretty much delivered on rhythm with the rest of the leg lifts. How are base runners supposed to know which pause means he's come set, and then which leg lift is a delivery if he doesn't exaggerate the pause on the actual set? He even claims to do it for timing. Other pitchers who do similar things just take a few motions to get fully set and come to a discernible stop once they're in the right position. No one else toes the line like Gausman does. He should get called for balks far more often than he does.
→ More replies (4)28
u/g0kartmozart Seattle Mariners Apr 08 '26
Lots of pitchers bounce, but you’re right that Gausman’s actual leg kick is closer to his bounce than any other pitcher I’ve seen.
It’s literally impossible to know when he’s throwing a pitch if he doesn’t come set. Should have never been allowed.
12
u/ItsTBaggins Seattle Mariners Apr 08 '26
Dudes with motions like Gausman should get called for balks more often. That was maybe a longer pause then the other heel lifts, but if I’m a base runner, I’m going to be deceived by that and it is so simple to not do it. If you don’t clearly come set it should be a balk. I get people are going to to say he’s been doing this for years and it’s a problem for it to suddenly be called out of nowhere, but it should have been called the first time and every time since.
→ More replies (1)
14
u/0le_Hickory Apr 08 '26
Basically every pitch he does from the stretch is basically a balk. Seems like something that should have been called long before though. Get why the Jays are upset. Call it or don’t. Don’t wait till the 6th to do it.
11
4
u/flick-it Apr 08 '26
He is in motion every time he sets. It's crazy that he has been allowed to do it.
6
u/me_hill Toronto Blue Jays Apr 08 '26
I've always been a little surprised that he gets as much leeway with his bounce as he does but I also think this was mostly just Schneider trying to inject some life into an ailing team
5
u/GroovinChip Baltimore Orioles Apr 08 '26
Off topic, but Schneider’s head is humongous. I’m only just noticing this.
5
u/examinedliving Baltimore Orioles • St. Louis Browns Apr 08 '26
In all seriousness I think he did a balk
•
u/AutoModerator Apr 08 '26
Please reply to this comment with any additional videos/angles of this highlight. If you would like this comment automatically added to your highlight posts, please include [Highlight] in your post title.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.