Balk

LOS ANGELES -- Given the way it all unfolded, it seems like a no-brainer. A baserunner on third in a potential walkoff situation, two outs, a pitcher trying to focus on getting the batter out and prolonging the game, and the baserunner makes a quick but phony move toward the plate in the pitcher's peripheral vision. It distracted him just enough to make him stop his delivery, committing a balk allowing that runner to trot home with the winning run.

So given the simplicity of it all, the way the Los Angeles Dodgers stole a 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks before 45,325 on Monday night at Dodger Stadium, why doesn't it happen more often?

Casey Blake of the Dodgers is mobbed by his teammates at home plate after scoring the game winning run on a balk in the ninth inning against the Diamondbacks.
Well, according to Casey Blake, the bearded, veteran Dodgers third baseman who successfully pulled his ruse on smooth-cheeked and relatively inexperienced Diamondbacks reliever Esmerling Vasquez, it isn't for a lack of trying.

"I just took a couple of steps to see if I could startle him a little bit," Blake said. "Most of the time, it doesn't work. But sometimes, it does."

And how often has it worked for Blake in his 12 major league seasons?

"Never," he said.

First, a little long-term historical perspective: according to the Elias Sports Bureau, this was the Dodgers' first victory by walkoff balk -- balkoff, if you will -- since 1989, when they did it against the New York Mets and their closer at the time, future Dodgers minor league pitching coach Roger McDowell. Furthermore, according to ESPN Stats and Information, the umpire who was at third base for this game, Bob Davidson -- a guy who was once known by the nickname "Balkin' Bob" for his tendency to call balks more frequently than any other ump -- was the same guy who called that long-ago balk against McDowell from behind the plate.

Finally, a little short-term historical perspective. Very short term