There aren't many rules in baseball that can get fans completely torn in an argument like the balk. And Monday's game between the Padres and Guardians was a prime example of that.
With Kyle Hart on the mound in the fifth inning, Guardians infielder Gabriel Arias took off stealing for third. Hart — who is a lefty — made spinning pick-off move to third base where Manny Machado easily tagged out Arias. Then, the play got even weirder when Arias gave Machado a bear hug, preventing the Padres third baseman from making a throw to second to catch a stealing Austin Hedges.
The umpires called Hedges out on Arias' interference, but the Guardians and their broadcast were livid that no balk was called on Hart. Check it out:
We’ve got an interference play in the Guardians-Padres game
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 1, 2025
Broadcasters are wondering why no balk was called pic.twitter.com/cplAGQ6Axy
The broadcast claimed that Hart didn't disengage with the rubber while throwing to an unoccupied base, but the spin move was a disengagement. Plus, there is Rule 6.02(a)(4) that gives the exception to the pitcher to make that move to an unoccupied bag if it's for the purpose of making a play on an advancing runner.
With Arias taking off stealing there, Hart was allowed to make that throw. It was one of those plays that looked like a balk, but in reality, was totally legal.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: The Padres had the Guardians broadcast calling for a balk after the wildest double play on a pickoff
