2011 MLB Thread

[illram]

When a pitcher's foot is on the rubber (the white thing on the mound) and the pitcher comes to the set position with his hands together, if the pitcher moves--even slightly--he must basically complete his delivery and pitch or throw to a base. He can also fake a throw to a base, but the base must be occupied (for instance a fake pick off on third to try and catch a runner on first off guard).

It is technically more complicated than that but that's the simplest way I can put it. If he wants to do anything other than pitch or throw to a base he has to take his foot off the rubber first. Think of it as a rule designed to prevent the pitcher from faking out the hitter or trying to catch the hitter off guard.

 

[sophie]

When a pitcher's foot is on the rubber (the white thing on the mound) and the pitcher comes to the set position with his hands together, if the pitcher moves--even slightly--he must basically complete his delivery and pitch or throw to a base. He can also fake a throw to a base, but the base must be occupied (for instance a fake pick off on third to try and catch a runner on first off guard).

It is technically more complicated than that but that's the simplest way I can put it. If he wants to do anything other than pitch or throw to a base he has to take his foot off the rubber first. Think of it as a rule designed to prevent the pitcher from faking out the hitter or trying to catch the hitter off guard.

Basically the easiest way to remember it is if the pitcher makes a move to the base you have to follow through with it. You can't make a move home and then turn around half-way through and throw to first. The place where it gets most confusing is with lefties and throwing to first. The right foot has to be at least 45 degrees towards first or else it's a balk. Naturally since this is baseball, lefties are taught to cheat and usually go for 43 or 42 and just come off the mound and walk towards first after the throw. Yes, as illram said though, it's a very complicated part of the game. It's really the sort of thing you learn from messing up and having it explained to you by someone who understands it.

 

[Scratch]

Cliff Lee threw his 3rd straight shutout last night, blanking the Red Sox and winning 5-0.

I've figured out a good way to turn off the horrors of listening to the broadcast team of McCarthy, Wheeler, and Sarge. I select the Spanish audio broadcast instead. And that way I can still hear the crowd noise and all, but not have to listen to 3 idiots.

 

[El Justo]

esta fantastico! Clifton Phifer Lee es el lanzador mejor en todas ligas! viva Clifton Phifer!!

 

[Scratch]

esta fantastico! Clifton Phifer Lee es el lanzador mejor en todas ligas! viva Clifton Phifer!!

I should spend some time on the Spanish Wikipedia and its descriptions of baseball, it would probably help me add some understanding to the little bits I can catch from what the announcers say.

 

[El Justo]

nice. i tune in to the spanish broadcast too every once in a while. took spanish for many years and can sort of make it out. fast talkers though my mexican friends have nicknames for many of the players - polanco is "El Cabazon" which essentially translates to "The Head". oswalt is "El Sarillo" (skunk, i'm told). howard: "El Torro" (bull)

 

[Scratch]

I think they kept calling Chase Utley "El Capitan" last night.

 

[El Justo]

i wouldn't argue with that

 

[sophie]

Aaaand now the Giants have won 7 in the row. I think the team is finally starting to click. Sure they've been totally crippled by injuries to their best players, but just like last year, their team as a whole is finding ways to make it work, and it's not always the same player that's doing it.

 

[El Justo]

swept the cubbies too

i wonder if the wrigley faithful are questioning the move to keep quade over sandberg as mgr. there are hints that ryno will take over for manuel when his days are through.

 

[bestrfcplayer]

Cleveland's beating Arizona 4-2. Go Tribe!!!!!

 

[sophie]

Cleveland's beating Arizona 4-2. Go Tribe!!!!!

Yes, go Tribe. Beat those d-backs.

 

[classical_hero]

Yes, go Tribe. Beat those d-backs.

No don't.

 

[downtown]

Yeah, that was the Indians' first series win in like 2 weeks. Their hitting has completely imploded, and with Choo out the next two months, the Indians are in a lot of trouble unless their new stud call ups (Phelps and Chisenhall) can start hitting immediately. Their bench has gone from surprisingly positive to completely non productive, and several of the typical big bats are struggling from injury (Sizemore, Hafner, LaPorta) or sucking (Santana).

 

[naterator]

The most expensive season never played has begun. Just when you thought the depths of NY Met stupidity was fully explored, something like this pops up. Eager to defer the $5.9 million Owed to Bobby Bonilla, the Mets agreed to pay him after 11 years. With a hell of an interest rate. The result? The Mets have paid the first of 25(!) annual installments of $1,193,248.20. That's $29,831,205 to be paid over the next 25 years, making Bonilla's 2000 salary the 2nd highest in baseball history (Just over 30 mil, including the $200k the braves paid him to play).

 

[Lambert Simnel]

That is just breathtaking.

 

[Rashiminos]

stuff

Balks require base-runners (who would be deceived into compromising positions by such acts). If there are no runners, than the acts would either be called balls, or would be allowed.

 

[sophie]

Yeah, you're welcome Indians.

 

[bestrfcplayer]

Yeah, you're welcome Indians.

At least they won today!!!

 

[sophie]

Balks require base-runners (who would be deceived into compromising positions by such acts). If there are no runners, than the acts would either be called balls, or would be allowed.

Actually, you can balk with no runners on base, it's just nothing happens when you do it.