Close Call Sports objectively tracks and analyzes close and controversial calls in sport, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game. Developed from The Left Field Corner's MLB Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (UEFL), baseball's number one source for umpire ejections, video instant replay reviews and their corresponding calls, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game.
1B Umpire Mark Carlson ejected Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle (Replay Review decision that affirmed HP Umpire Bill Welke's bona fide slide rule violation no-call on force play at home plate; QOCN) in the top of the 8th inning of the Cubs-Pirates game. With none out and the bases loaded, Cubs batter Chris Gimenez hit a 1-0 fastball from Pirates pitcher Kyle Crick on the ground to shortstop Sean Rodriguez, who threw to catcher Elias Diaz to force out Cubs baserunner R3 Anthony Rizzo, as Diaz attempted to throw to first base, resulting in a throwing error that allowed Cubs baserunners R2 Javier Baez and R1 Kyle Schwarber to score as batter-runner Gimenez advanced to second base. Upon Replay Review as the result of a challenge by Pirates Manager Hurdle, HP Umpire Welke's ruling that Cubs runner R3 Rizzo did not violate the slide interference rule was affirmed (call stands). Replays indicate baserunner Rizzo, by virtue of changing his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with catcher Diaz, did not engage in a bona fide slide, the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Cubs were leading, 5-0. The Cubs ultimately won the contest, 7-0.
This is Mark Carlson (6)'s first ejection of 2018.
Mark Carlson now has -1 points in the UEFL Standings (-1 Prev + 2 MLB - 2 Incorrect-Crewmate = -1).
Crew Chief Mark Carlson now has -2 points in Crew Division (-2 Previous + 0 Incorrect Call = -2). Related: MLB Ejection 153 - Mike Everitt (3; Joe Girardi) (8/27/17; another QOCN bona fide slide Replay). Related: Video Analysis of New Bona Fide Slide FPSR Rule 6.01(j) (3/1/16; primer on this rule).
*Official Baseball Rule 6.01(j) governs slide rule interference and requires a runner to engage in a bona fide slide when sliding to bases on double play attempts. This includes home plate. The four criteria with which to determine whether a runner has engaged in a bona fide slide are (as pertains to Rizzo, green highlighting indicates he has satisfied the criterion, while red indicates a violation): (1) begins his slide (i.e., makes contact with the ground) before reaching the base [YES]; (2) is able and attempts to reach the base with his hand or foot[YES]; (3) is able and attempts to remain on the base (except home plate) after completion of the slide [YES; N/A]; (4) slides within reach of the base without changing his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder [NO].
Gil's Call: Replay Review clearly erred here.
Gil's Call: In order to adjudicate this play, one must see the entirety of the replay that begins when Rizzo first commenced his run toward home plate—shortly after the shortstop fields the ball. This requires rewinding the tape to far in advance of the clip provided by the Cubs' deficient broadcast. Replays conclusively indicate that Rizzo's pathway to home plate placed him parallel to, and on the foul side of, the third base foul line. When Rizzo began his slide, he vaulted into fair territory and toward the catcher, clearly changing his pathway for the purpose of initiating contact with a fielder. This is textbook slide rule interference and a very concerning missed call by the Replay Official. UIC Welke is 1BL extended for the force, which is fine, and why he might have not seen this in real-time. This needs to be picked up on Replay Review and indicates perhaps that more training is needed or, if baseball wants this slide to stay in the game legally, it requires a revision to the rule. One or the other: under present Rule 6.01(j), this is interference. At the college level, the force play slide rule (NCAA 8-4) makes this really simple ("On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground before the base and in a direct line between the two bases"). Because Rizzo didn't slide directly to the base (the rule also requires his body to fit within the confines of the baseline, which it clearly does not), he and batter Gimenez would be out for FPSR interference under the NCAA code (other runners return to bases of origin). Related Post: NCAA CWS - Force Play Slide Rule Negates LSU Run (6/27/17).
Iso: Rizzo's pathway begins in foul territory.
At the high school level, in addition to the requirement that, "on a force play, [a runner] slide in a direct line between bases" (NFHS 8-4-2-b), a plate umpire additionally may wish to consider whether a slide such as Rizzo's qualifies as malicious contact due to intentional excessive force and/or intent to injure, in the runner's attempt to break up a double play. Offensive malicious contact, by rule, is automatically interference. Though I don't believe the contact herein is malicious, it is reckless and/or negligent, and should be called interference, placing out both the runner (out on the force) and batter (out on interference) and requiring the remaining runners return to their bases of origin. Conclusion: Because Rizzo failed to satisfy the fourth criterion of the Bona Fide Slide Rule, he committed interference with intent to break up a double play—at all levels, this should be called (either bona fide slide rule interference [pro], or FPSR interference [NCAA/NFHS]). The penalty for bona fide slide interference at the professional level is as follows (per Rule 6.01(j)):
If the umpire determines that the runner violated this Rule 6.01(j), the umpire shall declare both the runner and batter-runner out. Note, however, that if the runner has already been put out then the runner on whom the defense was attempting to make a play shall be declared out.
*IMPORTANT: This is not a violation of the home plate collision rule for one simple reason: "This Rule 6.01(i)(2) [the home plate collision rule] shall not apply to force plays at home plate."
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