I find it to be Dallas/Arlington epitomized, personally

OK then speaking of Arlington I hope it's OK to ask about something that happened earlier in the TCU/USC game. I asked this on the college forum and didn't get a response, but I know one of you will have the answer.

USC had a runner on 3rd. TCU's pitcher came set for about a second, then started his delivery. The ump called a balk. I couldn't see a balk and the announcers didn't either.. They interviewed TCU's pitcher in the dugout. He said the ump told him that the balk was called because the pitcher didn't declare whether he was going to pitch from the stretch or windup.

I thought the pitcher only had to declare if he was going with a windup. Is that not right? Does he have to declare either way?

"A pitcher will be considered in the set/stretch position when he stands facing the batter with his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher's plate and his other foot in front of the pitcher's plate while holding the ball in both hands in front of his body and coming to a complete stop.

With a runner or runners on base, a pitcher will be presumed to be pitching from the set/stretch if he stands with his pivot foot in contact with and parallel to the pitcher's plate and his other foot in front of the pitcher's plate.

However, in the scenario above, a pitcher can notify the home plate umpire that he is pitching out of a windup position before the beginning of an at-bat. The pitcher will be allowed to inform the umpire he is changing to pitch out of a windup during an at-bat when:

A substitution is made by the offensive team.
One or more base runners advance during the at-bat."

Whole article-
https://www.ncaa.org/news/2020/9/9/new-pitching-rule-seeks-to-clarify-windup-stretch-positions-in-baseball.aspx

Thanks, that confirms my understanding. No way the pitcher was in a windup. He came set. The home plate ump is well known to some of the posters and he doesn't have a good reputation. That call could have cost TCU the game but they won in extra innings.

Breaking: Matt Chapman to Giants. $20M $18M $16M. $54M total. 2 optouts.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 2, 2024

That has to hurt. Apparently he turned down 100 M from TOR. I think the Giants got I fair value for him. He overplayed his hand big time. Even if he has a good year and opts out, how much is a guy heading into his age 32 season gunna get.

He must be planning on being some team's plan B after Bregman signs next winter. Could still work out for him.

Astros-Cardinals pic.twitter.com/kTxssQ1lOb

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 2, 2024

linkdude said:

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He must be planning on being some team's plan B after Bregman signs next winter. Could still work out for him.

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Is Bregman much better than Chapman? Seems to me Alex should be hitting up Crane's cell trying to get something done.

MaxPower said:

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linkdude said:

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He must be planning on being some team's plan B after Bregman signs next winter. Could still work out for him.

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Is Bregman much better than Chapman? Seems to me Alex should be hitting up Crane's cell trying to get something done.

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Offensively? Yes.

Breggy is a top 30ish hitter & Chappy is a top 100ish hitter.

Chapman's elite defense closes the gap a little, but Bregman is no slouch with the leather. Chapman started to show some decline last year. It might have been due to his hip. Guess we'll see this year.

tjack16 said:

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That's a good lineup

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No kidding! Hoping to see the bats come alive today. Thursday's win was good, but not much offense.

I've said this before but in case anyone missed it: The Astros had serious conversations about trading Alex Bregman this off-season and signing Matt Chapman. I'm not 100% sure what they wanted in return considering he would only have one year left. But this is something they actively talked about.

Wabs said:

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Cole is a sensitive little *****

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Not that Cole is Bob Gibson but Gibson would drill you after a HR regardless of what you did. I don't care for Cole but I like a pitcher to carry a chip on his shoulder.

with the Astros current manager -- yes

with the one that just got fired...no

Some updates from Espada:

- IF Dixon Machado has Grade 2 quad strain & will miss several weeks, maybe remainder of camp
- Justin Verlander & J.P. France will throw bullpens tomorrow
- Shawn Dubin (shoulder) is still a no-throw
- Colton Gordon starts his throwing program today

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 2, 2024

no news on Whitley, yet

Ride with style this season!🔥🤘

These Houston Rodeo Snapbacks are available NOW in the Astros Team Store!@NewEraCap x @TBGeneration pic.twitter.com/3EQVkYSzlL

— Houston Astros (@astros) March 2, 2024

My dad would've loved those. He was a big Astros fan and spent years on the horseshoe pitching committee at the livestock show.

Eight batters into this game, the Cardinals have already stolen two bases off Cristian Javier. Victor Caratini didn't have a prayer on either one because Javier is so slow to the plate. Holding runners has been one of Joe Espada's emphases all spring. A ways to go.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 2, 2024

Shortening the pitch clock again is going to make SBs skyrocket. These guys will get timed up everywhere.

I wonder if we will start to see more and more pitchers try and quick pitch.

Isn't quick pitching with guys on base a balk?

And Altuve doubles him home with his first hit of the spring. https://t.co/OoUE3LbIKu

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 2, 2024

And Yordan brought him home!

Cristian Javier’s spring debut: 3 innings, no hits, two walks, three strikeouts. He got up to 51 pitches, 26* strikes. Fastball was 92-94 mph. The Cardinals stole three bases during his outing, two by Masyn Winn.

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) March 2, 2024

One steal was catchers indifference with 2 outs