Sure it was an incorrect call. But to say it was a bad call or an incompetent call is simply not true. Especially from the HP ump’s perspective, the ball looked very much as if it had been tramped. Of that I am certain - because even with an unobstructed frontal view, it was very, very close. YMMV.
Again, the call itself wasn’t the problem. I agree it was close, and had the umpire said “no catch” the catcher would have just tagged the batter. No problem.
The problem was incompetent umpiring. The umpire made a gesture that looked like an “out” sign, and didn’t make any gesture or say anything indicating a “no catch.” In no circumstance, had the umpire competently called the play, would the batter have reached first. The catcher would have easily tagged him or thrown to first.
Just to get some perspective on this, can anyone recall a similar umpiring call ever taking place? How often do umpires rule that the ball has touched the ground when the catcher acts like it hasn’t. Even I have seen plenty of tags at home plate after a swung at sinker and I don’t recall any batter even getting out of the box before being tagged.
I’m a Red Sox fan and don’t have any stake in the game. When they zoomed in on the replay I clearly saw the ball take a sudden change in direction when it hit the ground. It was just a fraction of a second before it was caught. The catcher would have no way of knowing this as it would feel just like he caught it cleanly. But, the umpire looked like he called an out (in addition to the strike) and that sucks.
Ay least for once it wasn’t the Red Sox having a questionable call at a crucial time.
I’m with Dan Blather. I saw the ball bounce up just before its motion stopped. I thought the call was correct. Rather than get hysterical about a borderline call that didn’t go their way, the Angels could have rendered the whole matter moot by retiring the next batter.
All of the “the umpire called him out and never called no catch” stuff is great and all, but how do you explain AJ taking a full step towards his dugout, glancing at the ump, then running towards first? These players do this crap all the time, the very instant a pitch goes through the zone, they start acting like its a strike, or a ball, or whatever and have to stop half way through whatever their doing when the REAL call takes place. The pitcher is half way to the 1st base line, the catcher is standing up, the batter is walking to first, then they all find out what the call is, and act appropriately.
If the catcher had just waited another half second before throwing the ball away and running into the dugout, we wouldn’t have been talking about this at all. Maybe the catcher didn’t hear the call because he was 15 feet away from the ump a tenth of a second after the ball hit is mitt. Hell, he was already at the dugout when AJ made it to first, he couldn’t get off the field faster if you held a gun to his head…
From the rules:
“The batter becomes a runner when (b) The third strike called by the umpire is not caught. . .”
OK, question: So, the batter becomes a runner when the third strike called by the umpire is not caught.
Is there anything in the rules about how the “strike three” call and the “yer out” call must be different and distinct?
If the “yer out” call is made, is it binding? That is. . .if he then realizes that the catcher dropped the ball, is is tough shit for the hitter?
In the case last night, couldn’t they have huddled and realized “oh, I did make the ‘out’ call”?
For instance, in football, you know that if the whistle doesn’t blow, the ball is still live even if it didn’t look like a fumble to you.
The ball didn’t “change direction.” That’s complete horseshit.
I agree with the “bad umpiring” posts. We accept close, even bad, calls… but the half-assed way he handled this really jobbed the Halos. He seemd to let AJ tell him what the call was, then was too stubborn to change his mind. He was confused and should have gotten help, or erred on the side of caution.
But fuck it. It’s over now, and the Angels have to do what they can. I, for one, enjoy the fact that if the WhiteSox win in seven games and go on to win the World Series, it’ll be tainted by a bad call. I’ll always say they “bought the umps”, just to wind people up.
Come on, we’ve witnessed what will be one of the most famous plays in history, a modern day Merkle’s Boner. These are the sort of incidents that put much of the charm in the game. Let’s enjoy the moment, safe in the knowledge that we can chew this one over for the rest of our lives.
Bad calls are a part of sports; always have been, always will be. Players will often try to force a bad call, be it a phantom tag or trying to fool the umpire into thinking a trapped ball was actually caught. It’s a part of the game, and players need to take advantage of it. No player or team is ever going to say, “Alright, bad call, do over.” You accept lady luck when she looks your way, and give her the finger when she looks the other way.
So is bitching about the umpiring.
I completely disagree. If the ball did bounce, how come there isn’t the slightest speck of dirt kicked up?
But my main problem is that everyone in the world thought he was out, and the ump sure as hell looked like he called “strike three” and “yer out,” then changed his mind just after the ball was rolled back to the pitcher’s mound. It put the Angels at an unfair disadvantage.
You can’t disagree with the part that said the Angels could have rendered the whole point moot by retiring the next batter.
I saw what I saw, you saw what you saw. They’re different things, and now we get to discuss this for ages. Isn’t baseball great?
Of course. And that’s what I was hoping would happen. To win because of a horrible umping call is, well…dem’s the breaks I guess. I simply don’t want any team winning in this kind of fashion.
And I think we saw the same thing–I know what you’re talking about. There is a part in the video where it looks like the ball may have jumped up or something. There’s a huge frame skip, but it simply looks to me like the ball settling in the glove. Lack of dust or dirt confirms that to me. If it did hit the ground, there should have been some dirt kicked up. Regardless, ump should have been clearer and quicker with the call.
The odd thing is, I live in Sox country, and I loathe the Sox. But, so far, not a single White Sox fan has attempted to convince me the ball did actually bounce. Everybody–at least all of my friends and acquaintances–admit the inning should have been over. Some are a little bit ashamed of the win, but will it any way they can get it.
I must admit, I was really impressed by Sciocia’s poise after the incident and during the press conference. Most managers would have been out for blood by then.
There was dirt kicked up behind Paul’s glove as he caught the ball. It was clear on the replay from above. The ball hit the ground, the ump was hesitant but NEVER called an out. Remember, all game long he was pissing off batters about how demonstrative he was in signalling strikeouts. Which he clearly did NOT do in this case. Paul ran off so fast as someone said because that’s what catchers do. it’s like the “move the glove into the strike zone after I catch the ball” game.
A smart catcher would have tagged the batter. Or at the very least, when he saw the ump following the batter down the line, made an effort or signalled the pitcher to grab the ball and TRY to make the out.
Angels lose, and if it’s the umps fault, it’s theirs too.
There was no dirt, no change of direction. I saw the replay a hundred times on TV. You people are completely full of shit.
Missed calls happen. It’s a part of the game. Most times they are of little or no effect. This one wasn’t.
But your allegation of game fixing is totally unfounded.
Asked and answered. GET THE FUCK OVER IT. I wasn’t seriously saying the game was fixed.