# Umpires give a free out, free win to WhiteSox
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [October 13, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013 "2005-10-13T03:06:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/1 "2005-10-13T03:06:26Z")
I’m sure this will be all over the news, but in the bottom of the ninth, the Angels strike out AJ Pierzynski for the third out. The catcher catches the ball cleanly. The umpire signals a strike out. The Angels start to leave the field. AJ runs to first.
WTF??? you ask. And so do the Angels.
Oh, the ball hit the dirt sez the Umpire. Replays show it did not. His own signal was that it was an out.
Of course the pinch runner steals second and of course the next batter gets a hit and scores the run and the WhiteSox win.
If the WhiteSox win the series, it’s all because the WhiteSox were given a free out and a free win. It’s a great moment in complete ass-headed bad umpiring and game-fixing by the umpires.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/2 "2005-10-13T03:07:11Z")
Beat you by 2 minutes, but you gave all the info.
Fuck the umps!!!
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### Author:  [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/3 "2005-10-13T03:11:45Z")
if I were a chicago fan I’d be embarrassed. It disturbs me how they’re cheering the win. How can anyone stomach winning like that, I just don’t understand it.
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### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/4 "2005-10-13T03:13:16Z")
ChiSox fans got nothing against a little game-fixing, you know.
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### Author:  [@litost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/litost)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/5 "2005-10-13T03:23:11Z")
Can someone explain what happened?
I always thought if you strike and miss a third time, you’re out.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/6 "2005-10-13T03:27:14Z")
That’s the way it’s supposed to work. Homeplate ump signalled strike three. Runner heads to first anyway. Ruled safe at first. WTF???
Somebody fixed this game.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/7 "2005-10-13T03:29:31Z")
> [@litost](#):
>
> Can someone explain what happened?
>
> I always thought if you strike and miss a third time, you’re out.
No, the ball must be caught cleanly by the catcher for the third strike. If it’s not, the catcher must tag the runner or throw to first for the out.
Despite my location, I am not a Sox fan. This was a complete horseshit call.
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### Author:  [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/8 "2005-10-13T03:29:31Z")
> [@litost](#):
>
> Can someone explain what happened?
>
> I always thought if you strike and miss a third time, you’re out.
If the ball is not caught cleanly the player can run. The pitcher is credited with a strikeout and the catcher gets an error, but the guy is on first base. In most cases it is the result of a passed ball or a swing at a wild pitch, but in this case it seems to be that the ball was not handled cleanly or it hit the dirt first, which puts it into play.
Except that it apparently didn’t happen. Oh well. I couldn’t care less if I tried.
/ Pirates fan
// my team has won the World Series in the last 100 years
/// ha ha ha
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/9 "2005-10-13T03:29:52Z")
> [@cricetus](#):
>
> ChiSox fans got nothing against a little game-fixing, you know.
And this is God’s way of reminding us of the Black Sox. If Selig had any balls at all (read: no) he would, under the circumstances stand up and say “Hey, we all know under the rules the game was over.” But that ain’t happening.
Anyone notice the Brewers finished without a losing record the first time in 13 years? Anyone notice it was the first year a Selig didn’t have any control over the team? Connect the dots.
**litost** , under the rules (cited soon I presume) if the third strike hits the ground before being caught, it’s a live play. The batter can advance if he beats out the throw to first.
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### Author:  [@litost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/litost)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/10 "2005-10-13T03:29:55Z")
Well, what was the deal about the ball hitting the dirt?
Isn’t it immaterial if the batter swung and missed?
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/11 "2005-10-13T03:30:47Z")
> [@litost](#):
>
> Well, what was the deal about the ball hitting the dirt?
>
> Isn’t it immaterial if the batter swung and missed?
Read above.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/12 "2005-10-13T03:35:01Z")
I was rooting for the White Sox, but yeah, that sucked. That has to be one of the worst blown calls in postseason history. After it happened I was hoping that the Crede would make an out so if the Sox won in extra innings at least it would be clean. Now I hope that if the Sox win the LCS it’s by more than one game.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/13 "2005-10-13T03:36:41Z")
And to cite the appropriate rules:
> [@](#):
>
> 6.05
> A batter is out when… (b) A third strike is legally caught by the catcher; “Legally caught” means in the catcher’s glove before the ball touches the ground. It is not legal if the ball lodges in his clothing or paraphernalia; or if it touches the umpire and is caught by the catcher on the rebound. If a foul tip first strikes the catcher’s glove and then goes on through and is caught by both hands against his body or protector, before the ball touches the ground, it is a strike, and if third strike, batter is out. If smothered against his body or protector, it is a catch provided the ball struck the catcher’s glove or hand first.
>
> 6.09
> The batter becomes a runner when (b) The third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out; When a batter becomes a base runner on a third strike not caught by the catcher and starts for the dugout, or his position, and then realizes his situation and attempts then to reach first base, he is not out unless he or first base is tagged before he reaches first base. If, however, he actually reaches the dugout or dugout steps, he may not then attempt to go to first base and shall be out.
That’s why you see catchers tagging runners or throw to first when they drop a third strike.
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### Author:  [@Marathon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marathon)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/14 "2005-10-13T03:41:41Z")
> [@Colibri](#):
>
> I was rooting for the White Sox, but yeah, that sucked. That has to be one of the worst blown calls in postseason history. After it happened I was hoping that the Crede would make an out so if the Sox won in extra innings at least it would be clean. Now I hope that if the Sox win the LCS it’s by more than one game.
Exactly. As soon as Crede hit the ball, I said, “Oh no.” I’ve always been a Sox fan but hell, this is just cringeworthy.
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### Author:  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/15 "2005-10-13T03:41:54Z")
> [@duffer](#):
>
> And this is God’s way of reminding us of the Black Sox. If Selig had any balls at all (read: no) he would, under the circumstances stand up and say “Hey, we all know under the rules the game was over.” But that ain’t happening.
[nitpick]
Actually, if the out had been given, the game wouldn’t have been over. It was tied 1-1, so they would have been going to the 10th inning.
[/nitpick]
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### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/16 "2005-10-13T03:42:00Z")
> [@duffer](#):
>
> If Selig had any balls at all (read: no) he would, under the circumstances stand up and say “Hey, we all know under the rules the game was over.” But that ain’t happening.
Well, if you want to get all technical, the game wasn’t over but into extra innings.
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### Author:  [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/17 "2005-10-13T03:42:19Z")
They just finished a press conference with the ump, and he said that he thought that Josh Paul trapped the ball. He signaled that the pitch was a strike, not that the batter was out. And by the way, how else should the Sox fans react after Crede cranked the winning double off the wall?
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/18 "2005-10-13T03:44:04Z")
> [@litost](#):
>
> Well, what was the deal about the ball hitting the dirt?
>
> Isn’t it immaterial if the batter swung and missed?
From the rules:
> [@](#):
>
> 6.05
> A batter is out when . . . (b) A third strike is legally caught by the catcher; “Legally caught” means in the catcher’s glove before the ball touches the ground. . . . (c) A third strike is not caught by the catcher when first base is occupied before two are out; . . . (j) After a third strike or after he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged before he touches first base;
>
> 6.09
> The batter becomes a runner when . . . (b) The third strike called by the umpire is not caught, providing (1) first base is unoccupied, or (2) first base is occupied with two out; When a batter becomes a base runner on a third strike not caught by the catcher and starts for the dugout, or his position, and then realizes his situation and attempts then to reach first base, he is not out unless he or first base is tagged before he reaches first base. If, however, he actually reaches the dugout or dugout steps, he may not then attempt to go to first base and shall be out.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/19 "2005-10-13T03:45:45Z")
Damn, \*\*pulykamell \*\* beat me to the plate. 🙂
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### Author:  [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/umpires-give-a-free-out-free-win-to-whitesox/326013/20 "2005-10-13T03:47:01Z")
Forgot it was tied. Forgive me, I’m still brewing a rant for tomorrow. (And it will be more substantive than the last few) 🙂 My heart isn’t in it tonight. Thanks for the correction.
But Selig is still a douchebag. I think we can all agree on that one. Anyway, back to the rant, sorry for the interruption.
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