Surprised you didn't cover the fact that MLB issued a warning to teams that this behavior is no longer allowed in the wake of this. This would now count as a strike instead of a ball.

the fact that umpires don't explain it to the players on the warning is beyond me, especially when they look as perplexed as Kenley

They'll need to take that out of the rule for next season. The idea is to speed up the game... not allow the batter to INTENTIONALLY slow down the game and be awarded with a ball.

I first discovered Jomboy after Kenley Jansen’s “intentional balk.” Funny to see all these years later, he’s still doing weird stuff worth breaking down

i love the crowd breakdowns as well. The dual "oh shittt"'s really add to the situation.

Would have been nice for nesn to show the pitch clock for any of these pitches. Definitely seems as if the batters weren't ready by 8 seconds

I'm surprised that nobody's commenting that they aren't calling a balk every time that Jansen does that hip rotation and then comes back to set. On the first pitch he does it twice.

It’s amazing to me the amount of preparation mlb players put in. This was 100% planned by the cardinals for Kenley

We need a Playlist of Jomboy Balk Breakdowns and maybe with enough slo-mo footage we can finally figure out what a Balk actually is

Interesting breakdown. Only a matter of time before somebody found a loophole "You take him hunny I gotta stand up and yell" that line got me lol

I don't think they expected it to become as much of a factor on the game itself. I mean, it's putting runners on base and will create outs in the future... The fact that the MLB is reactive rather than proactive in their rulings proves this (MLB has said that this behavior will be called strikes going forward). It all just seems to come with a layer of ambiguity. Both the batter and pitcher being confused on the last violation sums it up pretty well.

Back in the '80s this would have resulted in a fastball to the helmet.

To clarify, the pitcher is not allowed to come set before the batter is in the box and ready thanks to Max Scherzer. Mad Max was gaming the rule by coming set right after he got the ball and throwing it as soon as the batter looked up. Thus, MLB ruled that pitchers are not allowed to come to the set position and wait for the batter (now it is an illegal quick pitch/clock violation). Jansen, for the most part, was not starting his motion/windup in this video. Rather, he was coming to the set position before it is allowed. Now Contreras' behavior will be altered to having to have the bat pointed down, or looking away from the pitcher (though I think he is actually looking in centerfield at the pitch clock). By rule, the batter is still allowed to delay until the 8 second mark as long as he is not trying to deceive the pitcher into coming set.

The pitch clock rules are imperfect. The batter should have to signal to the ump that theyre ready before 8 seconds, then the ump signals to the pitcher that its ok to pitch. Remove the inconsistency and the silly "eye contact" rule.

I feel like it's a big issue with these rapid rule changes going forward for the MLB in particular. The top comment here has yet another new layer added that batters can't do this intentionally. Thing is, here in the MLB there's quite the melting pot of languages and cultures. Primarily you have English speaking Americans (the continents), then Spanish and Portuguese speakers primarily from the Central and Southern American and Caribbean nations, and even Japanese speakers from Japan. English is that main language, especially with managers and umps, but not every player has the best grasp of the language. I'm not saying Jansen is bad at English. I don't know enough about him, but as he's a veteran MLB pitcher I presume his English is fine. I just think that Baseball has a communication problem. Even broadcasters can have no idea what's going on sometimes. I don't exactly want NFL-style ump-to-stadium loudspeaker calls every out, but perhaps for these weird deadball situations you get something out there because just yelling a bit from the plate and using some brand new signals that might not be understood or paid attention to doesn't seem to be cutting it.

Braves fan. The pitch clock was one of the reasons I was glad we let him walk. Though I'm sure he'll figure it out, he's a pro, but this isn't a big surprise

I watched this live and like everyone else was so confused as to why the ump kept calling it a clock violation. I knew immediately this was gonna be a breakdown 🤣

Next rule: no more pitchers to save time. Every batter must hit off a T in order to save time from pitches.

The guy with the kid breakdown, epic! Great breakdown as usual JB.

While the other commenters have pointed out that MLB has said this behavior will count as a strike on the batter, not a ball, this is just one more instance of gaming the rule to take it further away for its intention, i.e. speeding up the ball game. The simplest and easiest way is to just say pitcher and batter must be ready by x time, one time out per at bat per actor, no "gamesmanship", no bending the rules, no interpretation. However, baseball is not really a fan of hard and fast rules, so we all know this simple solution will not be offered.

Does a Jomboy evolve to a JimMan?

Worth pointing out that donovan intentionally positions himself in the line of the throw without interfering which likely helped with making the throw more difficult

Jansen knows the rule. The batter is not supposed to dictate the pace of the game beyond being ready. Eye contact, bat in ready position & feet in the box are all controlled by the batter. If the pitcher is supposed to make eye contact and sees the bat in ready position, the pitch should be allowed.

It would be interesting to know what the pitch clock was at. The new rule: Pitchers will have 15 seconds to throw a pitch with the bases empty and 20 seconds with a runner on base. Hitters will need to be in the batter's box with eight seconds on the pitch clock. I would think that Contreras would have been called for a violation if the clock had been that far down, so Jansen may have been in too big a hurry or, the ump wasn't calling out Contreras.

I heard about this but haven’t seen a breakdown until now. Thanks for doing this. As always, you are on top of the big stuff.

So what’s the point of a pitch clock if the clock doesn’t start until the batter and hitter agree to look at each other? Shouldn’t the clock dictate when they both should be ready by?

I can appreciate that you think this is creativity. Ultimately I like the pitch clock. Definitely speeds up the game but I do frown on shenanigans with it. Love your vids. Keep doing what your doing!

I'm good with this, as long as the batter is also good with the pitcher making him "earn" the base by planting a fastball in the batter's thigh

I just don't understand how nobody clarified to him after the Contreras at bat what exactly to look for, because they clearly did not.

He was out at first with a throw that was direct to the first baseman (who would stretch for it) as opposed to having to be "ole'd" off the dirt.

I don’t get it. How did Jansen not get called for a balk at all???

Love the voiceovers!!!!

Baseball is bizarre now - we spend more time during games talking about THIS then the actual game lol

Not just the tying run, the go-ahead run Jimmy!

Yeah, this rule has it’s benefits but there is always no doubt some underlying tactics to abuse the rule as well. Strange that the Umps haven’t been trying to help pitchers who struggle with that rule on the mound to better clarify that the pitchers now need to make sure both Batters feet are well in box to declare the batter ready to receive the pitch before making their pitch.

I just so happened to catch this live at a Sybergs. We were all quite surprised at the violations.

The rules have changed so much on me. How are the pitchers leg twitches not a balk?

Wow. That’s Wilson Contreras highlight for ‘23 season so far.

You're why I show interest in baseball. Love it.

Also did not talk about the fact that the umpire kept pointing to his watch signaling pitch clock violation. The broadcasters were completely confused by this because the pitch clock was well above the 8 second mark when the ump called the violations. So nobody really understood what was happening based on what the ump was signaling.

Jose Caballero has already been doing this. It's what got the benches to clear against Houston.

This pitcher f#cking blows. That aside, MLB just needs to widen the batters boxes so that the batter cannot step out of the box unless they move both feet.

I appreciate your appreciation sir, salute to you.

Thanks

I can't believe Kenley didn't just wait him out each time. Just put it on the batter

MLB has already ruled on this afterbirth so called gamesmanship. Once you put a foot in the box the pitch clock starts

That errant throw let the go ahead run score, the tying run scored on the fielders choice😊

Jose Caballero has been playing the clock fully to his advantage since getting called up. So much so the Trashstros cleared to benches over it

SHout out to first base couch who still manages to make a bubble, like a boss, as there is an overthrow and a tying run in the 9th inning.

so first the pitcher gamed the pitch clock and we got the Scherzer rule...now the batter's are starting to do it. Will there be a Contreas rule now?

I thought the batter has to be in the box ready at 8 seconds? So why doesn’t the pitcher just be ready to throw the ball at 7 seconds.

Its true MLB made a "warning" to batters attempting to deceive the pitcher. Ok, like that wont be bungled further? How can the ump know whether or not the batter is "ready" - by looking at head or feet, or both? What happens when the batter moves his head, and is in the box with both feet, yet obviously not ready, such as the batter right after Contreras? What if the ump is pissed at the pitcher already and decides to side with the batter on a very close call regarding pitch clock "readiness". An obvious way to "fix" this if you think it's a loophole, is to rewrite the rule to require a batter to not make eye contact with a pitcher until both feet are set and all this must be done by 8 sec remaining.

Should be on the umpire to explain why, even if it's as simple as pointing at the batter's feet or something. Obviously, the pitcher didn't realize the issue

Yeah. Between the margins. Unlike framing which is flat out illegal, and cheating, and we made it a stat instead of enforcing it.

can we take a moment to talk about how pristine that umpires hair was coming out the helmet? shit was beautiful

4:35 here honey you take him, i gotta stand up and yell LOL

I can't believe they allow that false-start wiggle before getting set on the rubber.

When I first heard the rules I was honestly a bit worried about the speed of the game causing some of these mind games to go away.... I've been very happy they are still here!

Castros weird foot tapping and swaying back and forth on one leg is completely fine so why not this, both are mind games

You gotta throw in the fact that Contreras was also purposefully waiting riiight until 8 seconds to step into the box 1more second in the box and its an automatic strike 2:50 like here how he tries to stick his foot in the box real quick

How the hell is that twitch not a balk? He goes back, starts forward then resets his delivery. They told Garcia he couldn't do his windup, with no runners on, but let this bullshit, and the shit that Nestor and other relievers do with runners on base

It should only be a ball if you pitch before the batter is set.

"Oh shit you take him honey i gotta stand up and yell" lmao

Contreras was doing that during the series vs the Angels too.

How tf do you not realize that you’re making the same mistake for a 4th time? Mind boggling stuff.

During the pitch attempt at 2:52 the pitcher didn't even bother to look towards the batter before starting his windup.

How do you not notice an open stance with a leg out the box. Also every run is important. Especially when it’s the tying run at the plate lol

The errant throw actually caused both the tying and leading runs to score i think.

The Cardinals have made life hard for Kenley many times, but this is genius.

This is just the flip side of the Max Scherzer rule we had to work out in Spring Training when Max tried to get a competitive advantage by having already come set and quick pitching as soon as the batter was ready. So now there is a rule against this, because what Baseball really needs is a new rule to fix the new rule that fixed the new rules they put in place. Honestly with all the changes they made is anyone surprised stuff like this is going to have to be shaken out during the season? At least this wasn't a postseason elimination game or something.

Great video thank you

Surprised you didn't mention the clock part of this. It's perfectly clear of the "violation" without a clock, but Contreras was riding that "8 second mark" really close. That's what I was confused about.

As a Dodger fan seeing Kiké. Turner on the field brings me joy. But as a Dodger Fan. I knew Kenley would blow it. 😅

Jomboy never fails to deliver

I don't watch a lot of baseball but i do follow it. The games that i do watch i wish they would show the pitch clock like they show the play clock in other sports

What a great rule. Really sped things up....

Cardinals be poppin off rn.

I don't get why Jansen's double knee-jerk every pitch isn't a balk every time.

This guy cracks me up!

Was at this game. Pain.

Contreras was doing this all season. Was quite funny to watch.

I'm not a pitcher, and I know the meta games go deep, but.... shouldn't it be obvious to the pitcher when the batter's foot is very far out of the box?

I think umpires need to hurry batters into the box more then give pitchers a 10 to 15 second count to make your throwing motion. Also allow pitchers ablity to throw the ball anyway they want as long as the ball once in windup leaves the hand. It encourage pitchers to fast pitch or slow pitch more and thus throw more strikes which mean less balls which means fewer balls, which means fewer pitches, which means faster innings etc.

Different rules, same ol’ Kenley Jansen: blowing up save opportunities .

As a dodgers fan... sorry Boston, welcome to the world of kenley blowing games in the 9th...

For the record it's not just Jansen that Contreras uses his entire pitch clock for. He gives the pitcher as little time as possible in almost all at bats, as he should. Those first 12 seconds are his time, the pitcher gets the last 8 all to himself.

Umps should put their hand up until the batters are ready. Then the pitcher has a clear indication the batter is ready. Simple fix.

I didn’t think you’d pass off your kid to yell at me. Too funny

Donovan with the smart block on the double play by staying in the base path

Paying back Kenley for the *hours* of my time wasted by his pace before the pitch clock is just *chefs kiss*

"You put your baby down just to yell at me, i'm upset too" 😂

Consider changing the rules ..... 1) same as it is now on the first pitch 2) afte the first pit the pitch can throw the ball and tim they are ready ence if the batter is not in the box..... This will speed thing along ...... batters will have to adjust........

Very interesting. Very good. Wish we had this against the prima donna pitchers in Little League who held all the advantage over us batters.

This is fucking beautiful. I am so here for all of this.

I know he’s only been here for 5 minutes, but Jose Caballero has been a pain for pitchers ever since being called up. Check it out!

This is great content. I see it, I must watch it.

It’s like they just invented the batter’s box and caught pitchers totally in the dark about what it means.

Someone throwing off Kenley's timing is baseball justice.

Love it!!

The gamesmanship around the pitch clock will be what makes it stick around. Baseball has a way of engraining rules that make sense.