Ryne Stanek and the Houston Astros were fuming after a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a controversial balk call.
Stanek and a Houston Astros assistant were eventually thrown out of the game, though the relief pitcher waited until after the final out of the inning to make a fuss.
The balk call itself was tough to make in the moment, but it did appear the Stanek's left knee moved ever so slightly. It's the type of movement that surely happens on many pitches over the course of an MLB game, but it just so happened to be caught with the winning run 90 feet away.
MLB Balk Rule explained: What is a balk?
FanSided's Drew Koch explained baseball's balk rule a few months back:
"There really isn't a simple way to explain what a balk is other than to say that it's an infraction on the part of the pitcher that allows him to gain an unfair advantage over the base runner. So, the first thing that can be said about a balk is that it only occurs when there are runners on base.
The rule actually dates back to the 19th century is covered under Section 6.02 (a) of the Official Baseball Rules. There are actually 13 different ways that balk can be called, the most common of which would be the pitchers feinting a throw to home plate without completing the pitch or feinting a throw to first or third base without making a pickoff attempt," Koch wrote.
Astros, Ryne Stanek upset about balk call
Stanek and Dusty Baker had plenty to say about the decision after the game.
"He said I moved my leg, which was pretty obvious because I stepped off the mound," Stanek said. "Beyond that, I wholeheartedly disagree. A balk is intentionally trying to deceive a runner. At what point was I trying to deceive a runner? I hadn't even come set yet. I literally was just stepping backwards."
"The move is beyond minor," Stanek continued. "I think that's a pretty drastic call to make considering that play right there the umpire decided the game."
As for Dusty Baker, the veteran manager took a more measured approach, simply stating that it was a tough way to lose a game, especially against a rival like the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"I needed some kind of explanation because Stanek was going ballistic," said Baker. "Boy, that's a tough way to lose one."
Damn right. Houston and LA play again on Sunday night at 7:10 p.m. ET.
