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From the NY Post:
"'Procedurally, I didn't handle it 100 percent right,' McClelland told The Post in an exclusive interview in the umpires' room in The Stadium. "But I'm sure it hit the pole."
When asked if McClelland saw if the ball hit a fan's glove and not the foul pole, the veteran ump was adamant that he saw the ball hit the pole. Television replays showed that it hit a fan's glove and dropped on to the field."
Also in the article, McClelland confirms he "overruled" Hernandez before conferring with him, and after signalling "homerun" spoke with the other umpires.
Did he get the call right? Well, yes and no. He ruled a homerun on his mistaken belief the ball hit the pole.
This time, no big deal. But next time? What happens the next time when he ignores 9.02(c) in his attempt to "get the call right" but this time his mistaken belief results in the wrong call?
This "get the call right at any expense" movement by Alderson may create warm and fuzzies in the short term. But a major sh#t house is just a call away.
Instead of defending his actions, McClelland should be doing a lot of soul searching today and thanking his guardian angel that his mistake didn't matter, this time.
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GB
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