Oh boy, is this instant replay stuff a ton of fun in the first few days of spring training! Today's adventure involves a would-be inside the park home run and a close play at the plate prompting Angel manager Mike Scioscia to call for replay review.Take a look at the play HERE.
There's a couple of things I want to point out about this one. Not to keep harping that the umpires get most of 'em right, it's just that it's not an accident. If you read my previous post about the old saying, "ties go to the runner," you know that this is half true. Ties indeed go to the batter or any runner forced to the next base, but when the runner is advancing at his own risk, ties go to the defense. Read that post for the full explanation, but in regards to today's play, if it's not clear the runner got to the plate first, he's out. Just like that great play Jeter made to nail Giambi at the plate so many years ago in the playoffs, it's not a tough call for the umpire although it appears crazy-close. Look at it again, you can't say the runner got there first, so he is still out.
The second thing I want to point out has to do with the question in the header, "what's not wrong with this picture?" Although the announcer sums up the play after the review with a statement about home plate umpire so-and-so calling the runner out, that was actually the first base umpire making the call at the plate, that's the part that's not wrong. This is one of those misdirections that goes on routinely when umpires rotate to gain outfield coverage but nobody notices; and not that you have to, it's just today's lesson as part of the "baseball-rules!" curriculum. In this situation, with the second base umpire going to the outfield to judge a diving attempt at a catch, the third base ump rotated to second, the home plate ump rotated to third for a possible play there and the first base umpire, after making sure the batter-runner touched first, rotated home for the unlikely but in this case, certain-to-happen close play at the plate. And once again, the unbiased guy right on top of the play, stopped and set to get a good look, got the play right. Trust me, soon enough, instant replay will show a wrong call and that won't be an accident either; there will be a good enough reason for it.
Oh yeah, that question about Don Mattingly - Did you know he was the last left-handed major leaguer to play second base? Say what? Yes it's true! The story behind that is an interesting side note to one of the most controversial games in MLB history and can be found in my book "The Rules Abide." It's on sale HERE at the spring training special price of $2.99 for the eBook. Why the heck was Donnie ballgame playing second? Share this to test those die hard Yankee fans out there!
That's just great officiating!
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