When the Los Angeles Dodgers called on Julio Urias in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the National League Division Series he became the youngest pitcher in franchise history to appear in a postseason game.
When Urias starts Game of the NL Championship Series on Wednesday, he’ll be the youngest pitcher in MLB history to start a postseason game. Along with opening eyes on the national stage for his remarkable poise despite only being 20 years old, Urias’ pickoff move became a topic of debate.
On the eve of Urias’ start in Game 4, Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon put the spotlight on the young left-hander’s potent move(s).
“When you get to see it on TV, it’s pretty obvious, it’s not even close. It’s a very basic tenet regarding what is and what is not a balk,” Maddon said Tuesday. “That’s balking 101 for me.
“Give him credit, man, for going through with it. That’s part of the game. There are other balks that I always get annoyed with that aren’t called. So I’m certain that the umpiring crew has been made aware of it. We’ll see how it all plays out.”
After walking Bryce Harper with two outs in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the NLDS, Urias ended the inning by picking off the reigning NL MVP.
It came after the young lefty threw over to first base multiple times. In just 77 innings pitched across 18 games (15 starts), Urias led the Majors this season with six pickoffs. San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto had five over 32 starts.
Urias’ lethal pickoff move presumably influenced Jayson Werth the following inning when he reached base via a leadoff walk. Werth was easily thrown out at home plate on a Ryan Zimmerman double down the left-field line. Statcast data revealed Werth did not take his usual secondary lead.
According to Rule 8.05, “If a left-handed or right-handed pitcher swings his free foot past the back edge of the pitcher’s rubber, he is required to pitch to the batter except to throw to second base on a pick-off play.”
Urias was not called for a balk this season. As a point of comparison, Clayton Kershaw, who has worked to improve his pickoff move throughout his career, was one off the Major-League lead with three balks this season.
Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker attempted to put the spotlight on Kershaw’s pickoff move, though the three-time Cy Young Award winner did not suffer any repercussions.
