Manager Joe Maddon ejected in ninth
Update 11 p.m. There has been a clarification from the official scorer, that it was not a "catcher's balk," but rather an error on the catcher for touching the ball with his mask.
It would only be a catcher's balk, apparently, if the catcher had left his designated area before the pitch was thrown.
In any event, Maddon watched the replay and agreed with the call that Matt Holliday should have been awarded third base on the infraction.
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Rays manager Joe Maddon was ejected in the ninth inning of Saturday's game, his second ejection of the season.
Home plate umpire Jeff Nelson had just called a "catcher's balk" on C Michel Hernandez, awarding Matt Holliday third base; a catcher's balk, apparently, is when a catcher tries to pick up the ball with his mask.
Maddon came out in a heated argument with Nelson, before getting tossed.
- JOE SMITH
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McLovin: it's a rule. In your world, in a five run game, would you say a throw beating the runner to first base would be safe; if an outfielder caught a fly ball would the batter still be out? Yes, it's a dumb rule but it's still part of the game.
Posted by: SC-Carl | July 12, 2009 at 08:45 AM
So he used his mask to bring the ball a little closer to him? Big deal. They weren't in the middle of a play. Of course time wasn't called, so technically play is still ongoing, but you have to let that go. Nothing was happening. No one is getting an unfair advantage because of it.
It's trivial. It's a 5-run game in the 9th inning. It's like Jeff Nelson (the home plate umpire) thought the tides would have turned if he hadn't made the call. Give Hernandez a break.
Posted by: McLovin | July 12, 2009 at 02:10 AM
Rule 7.05 deals with equipment that touches a live ball. Hat, mask, thrown glove=violation. In this instance it was the catcher and his mask, hence a catcher's balk. If any other fielder throws his glove or hat at a ball and it touches the ball, then that would probably be called a balk on that position. That makes two ways a pitcher can be called for a balk.
Posted by: Razzlegator | July 11, 2009 at 11:30 PM
Catchers balk is when a catcher steps out before the pitch is thrown. Normally during an intention walk situation.
Posted by: Jim - NJ | July 11, 2009 at 11:09 PM