Thursday, April 4, 2013

Close Plays Find Baseball's Opening Series Finale

Close plays permeated MLB on Thursday, as two notable tag plays and a passing out call resulted in three manager-umpire discussions, resulting in two upheld calls, one overturned and zero ejections.

Rays batter Evan Longoria was called out for passing runner Ben Zobrist in the bottom of the 9th inning of the Orioles-Rays game. With none out and two on, Longoria hit a first pitch fastball to deep center field, driving in R2 Sean Rodriguez and sending R1 Zobrist to third as Longoria himself cruised into second base with an apparent double. Unfortunately for the Rays, 1B Umpire James Hoye ruled Longoria out under the auspices of Rule 7.08(h)—passing a preceding runner before such runner is out—resulting in the official scoring of a single, Longoria out advancing to second. Zobrist retained third base.

Though Rays Manager Joe Maddon argued a pass situation had not occurred, it was to no avail, as the call was upheld after Hoye consulted crew chief and 2B Umpire John Hirschbeck. What is your QOC?
Longoria ruled out for passing a preceding runner, Zobrist

Meanwhile in Cincinnati, HP Umpire CB Bucknor's timed safe call on Angels runner Albert Pujols' slide past Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan made MLB's "Must C" list, as replays indicate that even though the ball beat Pujols quite handily, Hanigan failed to tag Pujols; as his momentum pushed Pujols to retouch the point of home plate prior to Hanigan's attempted retag, Bucknor gave a timed safe tag, a mechanic that is correct by rule and instruction.
Bucknor shows patience in formulating an excellent safe call at the plate

Finally, in Atlanta, 1B Umpire Scott Barry reversed his initial safe call after conferring with crewmates after a high throw by Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons pulled first baseman Freddie Freeman off the bag, who replays demonstrate successfully tagged Phillies baserunner Erik Kratz as he ran by.