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Here’s the thing people, if you’re going to say that almost everything that happens in spring training is meaningless, then you can’t get your panties in a bunch when Yu Darvish might or might not have balked in a GODDAMN SPRING TRAINING GAME.
The Chicago Cubs had a pretty solid all around game against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, when Darvish, Steve Cishek and Carl Edwards Jr. combined to only allow three base runners. As a matter of fact, the Cubs retired the last 21 hitters in a row to complete the 5-1 win that included home runs from Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber.
Aside from the two dingers, the highlight of the game came from a Darvish strikeout in the fifth inning of Drew Robinson. On the 1-2 pitch, Darvish lost his balance and hesitated during his already exaggerated delivery before throwing a perfect strike on the corner to catch Robinson looking.
You know it wasn’t intentionally because Darvish was caught laughing it off with Bryant afterward. Anyway, it was just a cool-looking strikeout because of Darvish having to regain his balance.
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Talk about messing with the hitter’s timing Yu Darvish 😂 😂 #Cubs pic.twitter.com/wz1dymc579
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) March 21, 2018
But of course some people wanted to focus on whether or not it was a balk.
Balk
— fish (@fish_SSchi) March 22, 2018
Balk!
— Ed Johnson (@hockeypimp17) March 21, 2018
I would be called on a balk for sure with this one.
— Sebastian Kok (@Lefty2001) March 22, 2018
Is that not a balk ?
— Michael Kehoe (@mkehoe703) March 22, 2018
how is this not a balk?
— Don Rúru (@dobleru) March 22, 2018
That’s looks suspiciously like a balk
— Drew (@DSaint23) March 22, 2018
Hell, this went on until the next day for some.
And then there was this poor soul that just couldn’t let it go. The Cubs put him in his place and put a swift end to this nonsense.
Balk
— Jesus E. Rodriguez (@jesusrodriguezp) March 22, 2018
How so?
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 22, 2018
you run an MLB twitter account. Surely you see that this is a balk.
— LomJ Watt (@LomDome) March 22, 2018
It's not a balk. Prove that it is.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 22, 2018
i'll just let you use some logic and figure it out yourself Rookie.
— LomJ Watt (@LomDome) March 22, 2018
Not a hill you want to die on. There were no runners on base. pic.twitter.com/ICjstXvFCA
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 22, 2018
so you are allowed to have a stop in your motion now?
— LomJ Watt (@LomDome) March 22, 2018
We'll just let you use some logic and figure it out for yourself, Rookie.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 22, 2018
haha well played.. but please present all info for your argument. Not just a piece slanted towards your side. Intentional deception to the batter and pauses in motion are not permitted.
— LomJ Watt (@LomDome) March 22, 2018
We took a screenshot of the rule. What else do you need? Do you remember Hideo Nomo's windup?
Please stop fighting this.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 22, 2018
I just cannot believe there were fans seriously arguing whether or not Yu Darvish balked in a meaningless spring training game. Goddamn, the regular season can’t come soon enough.
When that time arrives, bitch all you want about an insignificant event when there are no runners on base and a pitcher regains his balance mid-delivery.
