One of life's greater questions, which we rarely get a chance to analyze due to the rare nature of the exciting event, is what is the proper reaction after winning a baseball game by virtue of a balk?
It happened Wednesday when the Indians scored a victory -- and series sweep -- over the Tigers when Al Albuquerque was called for a balk with a runner on third in the 13th inning.
This isn't a walk-off home run where a player does the traditional trot around the bases, then gets mobbed at home plate, maybe even doused with Gatorade or pied in the face.
No, this is a balk-off, a play wrought with 'wait, what just happened?' Do you point and laugh at the pitcher? Who's to congratulate -- batter at the plate, runner at third, fan behind home plate on the cellphone certainly providing an incessant distraction?
Recent history provides two other major-league games, and a minor-league contest, decided by the dreaded balk, an illegal motion made by a pitcher after beginning his delivery to home plate.
On the Fourth of July in 2011, the Royals were the victims, as Aaron Crow was called for a balk with 2 out in the ninth. The umpire goes crazy, Crow and Royals skipper Ned Yost become enraged, the White Sox's A.J. Pierzinski casually rounds third, and then fireworks go off.
Upping the ante was another "balk-off" that same year, an extra-inning affair between the Mets and Braves. This one also comes with 2 out, and a pumped Jason Heyward actually has to wave Diory Hernandez in from third base. Hernandez gets the congratulations and Mets fans can only watch in anguish.
Just a week ago, the Toledo Mud Hens, a minor league affiliate of the Tigers, also lost on a walk-off balk.
And here's Thursday's loss for the Tigers again with Ryan Raburn's moment of realization and Asdurbal Cabrera coming home at a pace barely faster than a leisurely walk, while wearing a big smile on his face.
That may be about the closest we'll get to the point-and-laugh method, which would just be an epic moment of trolling.
