There will be a re-broadcast of the game on the YES Network on Monday morning, beginning at 9AM. If you DVR or TVO the game, you can run it back and forth in Slo-mo to either confirm or deny whether or not the secondbase umpire motioned for a balk as the pitcher made his move.

From what I saw of the play, it appears that the umpire made the call immediately, but you must see it for yourself, so that you can draw your own conclusion.

BTW: Could you provide me with a phonetic pronunciation of your last name, so that I’m sure that I have it correct in my mind?

Thank you for your time.

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They’re pretty blurry, but I think one can make out that he only raised up his arm for the third one, which was taken after A-Rod had already been tagged out. There was no motion at all from Vanover until after the tag was made at first. It’s clear as day in HD. CSN just showed it again the second inning today.

I watched the YES replays, and I still don’t see what you are. There’s no replay of the second base ump calling it during the pitcher’s motion. He only called it after the play.

Also, you make it sound like Cano and Swish were just standing around and let a soft dribbler make its way through the infield.

Re-read the paragraph… I took no issue with Swisher’s play. That was all about Cano. He started to run after the ball, gave up on it because he thought Swisher would get to it and then started running again after he realized Swisher didn’t have it. If he just kept going in the first place he would have had no problem getting to it.

It was in the YES replays moments after the discussion. It showed that as the pitcher went thru his motion, he swung his leg beyond the limitations. As he adjusted his direction and went to first, AND even before he released the throw to 1st, the 2nd base umpire’s arm was coming up and pointing at the pitcher. How’d you miss that! OR DO YOU HAVE SELECTIVE VISION AS WELL AS SELECTIVE OBJECTIVITY!!

Also, you make it sound like Cano and Swish were just standing around and let a soft dribbler make its way through the infield. Swish was even with the bag, dove at it, and still couldn’t get a glove on it, Cano had to cover a great distance to attempt to scoop that up. C’mon man that wasn’t “half-hearted” at all. Are you guys turning into PFT?

It may also qualify as the most weird-ass play in MLB, ever.

Success in one run games can be attributed to a lot of thing, including luck, but I believe that a lot of baseball savvy people will agree that it primarily comes down to the bullpen in general, and the closer in particular.

If a competitive team with a good rotation and a feisty line-up, keep said team in the game by one run, they have a better chance of winning the game if they have a shut-down bullpen and a reliable, lock-out closer.

These reasons objectively explain why winning one run games varies from team to team, i.e., because not every competitive team has shut-down bullpen and a reliable lock-out closer. These reasons also objectively explain why winning one run games varies from season to season, i.e., age and arm wear-and-tear are factors that determine how well an individual bullpen pitcher will do in any given season.

Now, add in the extra determining factor of bullpen trades, and you can objectively conclude that there are many elements, besides luck, that affect the performance of a bullpen, a closer and thus, one run games.

In sum, I think multiple factors play a larger roll in determining how the chips of one run game wins will ultimately fall, then the single factor of luck.

They’re both competing for the division.

And whoever doesn’t win that is in place to win the 1st (and what would have been the only) wildcard in previous seasons.

The whole “they have a winning record, but have still been out-scored in runs overall” is such a nonsensical argument.”

The way baseball works, you have a line-up of pitchers. Obviously, some of those pitchers are not as good as the others. Also, some days… your bats are just not hitting. Nobody is “hot.” When this happens to all your guys at once, it really sucks… especially if one of your lesser pitchers is on the mound. But it happens.

So, the Orioles get blown out on a day when they’re not hitting. Guess what, that greatly effects the run differential. Then they win a few close games. That gets them wins, but still might not make up for the run differential of ONE huge blowout.

The thing is… you can call winning ONE game by a run lucky. Maybe the team gets a “blown call” by the umpire or something. But hey…. last time I checked… the Yankees and Red Sox were getting many more blown calls in their favor than the Orioles(or anyone else).

But when you keep winning a bunch of close games… it’s not lucky anymore. It’s a habit. It’s how they win. How can hitting walk-off homeruns be lucky? Because that’s what a whole lot of their 1-run games have been. I’d say that’s clutch.

And I think any baseball fan can agree that it would be cool to see the Orioles in the playoffs. If for no other reason than…. that awesome Camden Yards ballpark finally gets to be featured in some October baseball again!

Go find a better excuse.

It’s not like I’m alone in my opinion, either. The Oakland broadcasters were talking about it innings after the fact.

I grateful the Yankees pulled out a win but a classic, .. not so much.

The Yankees scrapped, fought and gave it their all but giving up three HRs in extra innings isn’t “classic”.

On the other hand they are still a game ahead in the AL East.

Buckle Up.