Getty Image / Harry How
It feels like baseball is experiencing an influx of controversial calls lately, as we’ve seen players and managers lose their cool on the umpires.
On Saturday, another wild situation played out in the game between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers. It has baseball fans butting heads about the call.
In the bottom of the eighth, Ryne Stanek was on the mound for the Astros with the game tied at seven. While he was preparing to make his pitch, the umpire suddenly called him for a balk.
The result led to the Dodgers earning a run, giving them an 8-7 lead, which ended up being the final score of the contest.
However, MLB fans can’t decide whether the right call was made on the Astros or not. See for yourself in the video below.
This was clearly not a balk. Yet, it was called a balk and the go-ahead run comes home.
It was the first balk in the career of Ryne Stanek.
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) June 25, 2023
Was it balk? Was it not a balk? Who really knows? It’s one of the most controversial calls in the sport in general.
Astros fans clearly hate the decision, while other MLB fans are either on the fence, or just happy to see Houston suffer a little bit.
Here is what some people had to say about Saturday’s controversial call.
Not sure what the issue is, he moved his right leg before he stepped off the plate.
Flinching while coming to a set is considered a balk— FriarFrankyDiego (@pfrankyx) June 25, 2023
Anybody else appreciate this explanation?
Basically just anything that could deceive the runners or batter that they are going to throw the ball when they aren’t. So fidgeting and stopping or not stepping towards the base, dropping the ball, quick pitching, etc.
— Daryle Ward Fan (@DaryleWard) June 25, 2023
Some people blame the umps, as usual. Meanwhile, plenty of people believe it was the right call.
But this one was clearly a balk.
— Fractionalized Monkey Jpegs (@Bennihana70) June 25, 2023
A lot of other fans will agree with this guy.
It happened to a well deserving team , I hope the Astros lose every time they play the Dodgers !!!
— Rick Nabers (@RickNabers) June 25, 2023
Even Derek Carr’s brother thinks it was a balk.
Nah it was.
— Darren Carr (@DCarr75) June 25, 2023
Nobody can agree on anything.
Looks like a balk to me.
— Edward Vidaurre (Order Cry,Howl) (@VidaurreEdward) June 25, 2023
At the end of the day, Ryne Stanek was called for a balk. There isn’t much he can do at this point.
Overall, it just looked awkward. So, maybe that’s why the umpire called it, as Stanek made some motions he normally doesn’t make.
With that said, look for the Astros to seek redemption on the Dodgers on Sunday night.