Joe Maddon reacted to Marty Foster's strike three call to end the Rays-Rangers game Monday night with veiled gusto,
tweeting, "That can't happen in a major league game." Just what can't? This:
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| PFX Plot: Nathan vs. Zobrist, HP Umpire Marty Foster presiding |
With two out and one on in the top of the 9th inning of a 5-4 ballgame, batter Ben Zobrist took a 3-2 pitch from Rangers pitcher Joe Nathan for a called third strike to end the game. Replays indicate the pitch was located outside. Pitch f/x confirms this, the strike three call corresponding to a px value of -1.394 and a pz value of 1.601. Though Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski fielded the ball nearly in the dirt, PFX indicates the pitch did indeed cross home plate while still hollow-of-the-knee high, though it was over 5.5 inches off the outside corner.
Perhaps Foster's call is karma-style justice for Maddon's earlier tweet on Monday, in which he
wrote, "We had a minor accident on the bus to the park today. It was like two base runners trying to pass each other on the base path."
On
Thursday, April 4, 1B Umpire James Hoye ruled Rays batter-runner Evan Longoria out for passing preceding runner Zobrist, through replays suggest the call may have been made in error.
Wrap:
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers, 4/8/13
Animated GIF:
The final pitch to Zobrist in Arlington, ruled strike three by HP Umpire Marty Foster
Video:
Nathan earns his 300th career save on pitch Maddon, Zobrist—and Nathan— believed was ball four
