7/15/2005: Nationals (Hernandez) @ Brewers (Sheets) 7:05 CST

[shaqkobefan]

This will be a night to remember in baseball with Rafael Palmero's 3000th hit and a possible no-hitter for Barry Zito. Way to go Brewers by adding to it with a BALK OFF!!!!

[Never Outhustled]

I saw it on TV, I think it was clearly a balk. Stanton's right foot moved back toward second base, which is illegal (if a pickoff attempt is going to be made). The reason Rickie was burned so bad was because that is one of the cues that baserunners are taught to look for. When the lead foot moves back toward second base, the pitcher is committed to throwing the pitch (or else its a balk).

 

Excellent point Slobberknocker. Thats what makes Cappy's pickoff moves so good, because he never moves his right foot towards 2nd in his motion, so he can throw over at any time.

[heresrobin]

Just got back from the game. Heck of a crowd. I was sitting just below the left field foul pole in foul territory right in the corner. When Carlos hit his homer, for a split second I thought it was foul from my vantage point, but then the place just errupted. When Carlos came out to left field in the top of the ninth, he got a standing ovation from the entire corner area. He waved his hand and tipped his cap to everyone a few times in appreciation. It was a pretty cool moment.

 

A few other points of view:

For whatever it's worth, it seemed like the Brewers were getting a lot of low strikes called against them. I didn't have the best view from where I was sitting, plus I'm just a tad biased.

The Ned Yost ejection was very enjoyable. It was fun watching Ned "going to bat" for his star rookie and the team as a whole. It really didn't seem to help any though, which led me and my friend to ask the question, "Has a bench coach taken over after the manager got ejected and later on gotten ejected himself?"

I have no idea if that was a balk or not, but my first thought was that the first base ump was ringing up the runner on first base for getting tagged out. My heart sank. A second passed. I realized what just happened. Everybody then went nuts.

By the way, I'm 2-0 at Miller Park when I wear my Brewerfan.net shirt.

[Mike Felder]

Quote:

---

when was the last time that happened?

---

 

I may be wrong, but I seem to remember Teddy Higuera getting called for a balk that lost the game for the Brewers back in the day ('88-'89). I was only about 7, but I remember because it was the first time I had ever heard of a balk.

[rluzinski]

I googled "walk off balk" and found a Milwaukee connection on the first try:

 

LINK

[jvrocksaz]

I witnessed a recent walk off balk, but at the college level... ASU VS Cal Fullerton, Game #1 of the Super regionals this past season... ASU lost the game when the pitcher didn't come to a complete stop before the pitch... I believe the bases were loaded... It was the correct call, but a horrible way to end what was an exciting game... ASU came back to win the series and advance...

[JoeH33]

I was at the game and had a great time! It's nice to see the Crew get a big win in front of a sellout crowd, although I was a little disappointed with the ending. Sort of anti-climactic. Here's some pics from Sportsline.

 

http://images.sportsline.com/u/ap/photos/WIMG103071521_lower.jpg

I love this pic^

 

http://images.sportsline.com/u/ap/photos/WIMG106071523_lower.jpg

 

http://images.sportsline.com/u/ap/photos/WIMG105071522_lower.jpg

 

http://images.sportsline.com/u/ap/photos/WIMG104071521_lower.jpg

Moeller's ground rule double^

[brewers19]

What's up with JJ's taped up hand? Is he having some problems with it?

[ja002h]

Boy, Frank is completely ignorant about why it was a balk.

 

"Unless home plate is down the first-base line, there no way he stepped toward home. His foot is toward the ground, toward first base. He can't do anything else. This game shouldn't have ended like that. How in the world do they think that a guy as experienced as Mike Stanton will come into that situation and fool around with some kind of balk move?"

[MatttyJay]

you almost hate to have one handed to you by the umps but a win is a win is a win (to paraphrase Gertrude Stein) AND the Brewers had one coming after SIX called third strikes against them AND Moeller's double that should have been called a HR.

 

we were at the game last night, great to see 40K fans at Miller Park where half of them weren't cheering for the other guys (e.g., Cards or Cubs)...

[Terok Balefire]

Actually it wasn't a homerun and I don't think any of strike 3 calls could be argued against. The only really notable ball called strike I think I saw was an inside pitch to Weeks, but that wasn't strike 3.

[Brian the Automator]

[ you almost hate to have one handed to you by the umps but a win is a win is a win (to paraphrase Gertrude Stein) AND the Brewers had one coming after SIX called third strikes against them AND Moeller's double that should have been called a HR. ]

 

If the umps would have called Moller's hit a homerun, THEN the umps would have handed it to them. The top of the yellow padding isn't a home run.

 

Regarding the balk, I had taped it and Stanton was _definately_ going to home plate before throwing to 1st.

[Worm8181]

Went to the game last night thinking it wouldn't be too big of a crowd, well I was wrong. We decided to do some grilling before getting our tickets, cause it was a rather long walk up to the windows. By the time we got up there, they were only selling 35 dollar tickets, and scalpers were selling tickets for over face value. We decided not to go in then. Kind of sucked for us, but it sure is great to see this many people coming out for the game.

[7rebmun]

WE'RE STREAKIN!!!

[Brian the Automator]

I hate knee-jerk reactions, but this club looks a bit different these days. If only they can get their bullpen situation straightened out, they might be able to keep their heads above the .500 mark.

 

Too bad they didn't realize Bottalico was going to implode before Paronto exercised his escape clause.

[heresrobin]

The look on the Rotoruder's face in that picture is priceless, like he's looking back onto the field and can't believe what just happened. Seems like Hardy is reassuring him, "Yeah, it did happen."

 

I also checked out the video highlights on milwaukeebrewers.com. Chad Moeller did a nice job of blocking Wilson's slide with his foot when he tagged him out on Jenkins' throw. I thought he was safe from where I was sitting at the game, but I was wrong.

 

Definitely a balk on the replay. No doubt. I would have loved for the Brewers to get a hit or a sac to win the game, but definitely a balk. At least we can now refer to it as the Balk Off game.

[Mike Felder]

Quote:

---

Regarding the balk, I had taped it and Stanton was _definately_ going to home plate before throwing to 1st.

---

 

Too bad the idiot writing for the AP didn't feel the same way:

 

"The Nationals vehemently argued the call and Robinson showed reporters the play on a small video monitor in the clubhouse to state his case that it was a bad call. The replays appeared to show it was indeed a legal step toward first base."

 

Link