Draws Well that Ends Well

Photo Credit: Tormenta FC

So I was watching the Cubs game Sunday afternoon and saw something that had never happened in Cubs history. They scored two runs on balks in the same inning, which hasn't happened since at least 1920 when that kind of thing started being recorded.

For those who aren't baseball fans and are wondering what a balk is, well, in theory it's a rule to prevent pitchers from deceiving base runners. In practice, no one really knows. There are some obvious violations, but by and large, balks are called and sometimes the announcers will come back from a commercial break and show us the slightest flinch by the pitcher and tell us that was a balk. In the game Sunday, the first balk was called and then the umpires got together for about five minutes, presumably to figure out if it actually was a violation. Even they weren't sure at first.

In practice, balks are, at best, ticky-tack calls that an umpire makes. Seeing two in one game, let alone one inning, is quite rare. I have no idea if they were actually the correct call or not but the umpire called them and you just kind of have to go with what the official said. 

In completely unrelated news, Tormenta was called for two penalties inside the box on Saturday, giving the Chattanooga Red Wolves their two goals in a match that saw Tormenta also score on a penalty and Sebastian Vivas score on a brilliant header for a 2-2 draw in South Georgia's first road match of the season.

To be clear, I have no idea if the penalty calls were the right decision or not. And more importantly, it doesn't matter what I think. From the time my oldest started playing sports with referees or umpires or any kind of officiating authority, I've stressed to him the only opinion that matters is the referee. He or she may be wrong, but theirs is the only one that matters. (Presumably there's some sort of referee evaluation system that also matters, but for our purposes, the point is complaining about officiating is a waste of time, much like trying to understand the balk rule.)

We're going to skip past the first half because, well, it was boring and not a lot happened. Tormenta got on the scoreboard first when early in the second half, Aaron Walker, forced into service on the wing following injuries to regular wingers Jonathan Nyandjo, Naill Reid-Stephen and an early injury to Taylor Gray, found Gabriel Cabral at the top of the box. His shot was blocked but the official whistled it for a hand ball. Being objective, I have no idea if it was the right call, but it was called nonetheless. 

Mason Tunbridge buried the penalty kick to put the visitors ahead 1-0 in the 52nd minute.

Just eight minutes later the Red Wolves would answer when Tormenta's Gabriel Alves was called for a foul at the edge of the eighteen, giving Chattanooga their first penalty kick of the night. Despite diving the right way, Tormenta goalkeeper Austin Pack wasn't able to get a hand on Omar Hernandez's shot as the game was tied at one.

In the 77th minute, Alves would receive a throw in on the left and curl a cross into the box where Vivas was waiting about eight yards out. His header would find the net just inside the back post to give Tormenta another one goal lead.

That lead would again be short lived as in the 88th minute, Joseph Perez got turned around and, according to the referee, fouled the Chattanooga attacker inside the box. That sounded more dismissive of the referee than I intended it to. He was just a few yards away from it while I am going off the ESPN+ broadcast on a foul that happened on the far side from the cameras. I shouldn't impugn the official's decision. He was there and made the call.

Pack again dove the correct way on the penalty, but was unable to stop Matthew Bentley's shot as the game would end 2-2.

After four matches, Tormenta finds itself 1-2-1 on the year. It is much, much too early to look at the standings. Chattanooga is 0-0-3 on the year.

Tormenta turns its attention now to Portland Hearts of Pine as the expansion side comes to Statesboro Saturday night. Portland is 0-0-2 on the year in League One play. 

We should have a proper preview Friday here and, if all goes well, something fun later this week as well.

Have a great week everyone.