Ryne Stanek Lost His Temper As The Dodgers’ Winning Run Scored On Balk Call
A balk is one of the most unpleasant ways to lose a baseball game, which is how the Houston Astros fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 on Saturday night.
A balk is one of the most unpleasant ways to lose a baseball game, which is how the Houston Astros fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 on Saturday night.
Los Angeles, California, Ryne Stanek of the Houston Astros reacts to a balk call made by second base umpire Junior Valentine as he exits the field.
A balk is one of the most unpleasant ways to lose a baseball game, which is how the Houston Astros fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 on Saturday night.
Set the stage first. The score is 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth inning. With runners on second and third and two outs, Astros reliever Ryne Stanek faces Miguel Rojas. The outcome of the match is in doubt. Following that, the home plate umpire signals a balk, scoring the winning run for the Dodgers. Stanek is dissatisfied.
Then, was it a balk? Visit the rulebook first. A pitcher must throw to the hitter if his foot contacts the rubber when positioned on the mound or swings past it, as per Rule 6.02(a). A balk occurs when a pitcher walks off the mound after coming in.
Stanek performed a standard balk following the MLB regulations of 2023. When his right knee moved, he walked off the mound rather than delivering a pitch after getting into position with his foot on the rubber.
If the video were given to children learning the fundamentals of baseball, they would be able to define a balk quite accurately.
That wasn’t how Stanek saw it. He was quite agitated when the balk was called, but he could collect himself and continue pitching rather than getting sent out on the spot. He waited to lose his calm until after he had struck out Michael Busch, and boy, did he ever.
Before ejecting Stanek, the second base umpire gave him maybe two seconds to shout in furious wrath. And when manager Dusty Baker, who is usually up for providing an umpire a good talk, walked out to support his player, he was swiftly dismissed.
Dave Roberts, manager of the Dodgers, remarked after the game that although he disliked it when a game-winning run scored on a rule infraction rather than a legitimate baseball play, the umpires, in this instance, got it right.
The home plate umpire did not independently recognize the balk, but the other referees did. Rojas, the batter when Stanek intentionally walked, acknowledged the foul play and informed the home plate umpire of it, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, who talked with Rojas. There are occasions when abiding by the law will benefit you.
