Quote:
Originally posted by copeaus
Dakota,
My point is that A-Rod swatted as hundreds/thousands of other runners have swatted at home plate over the years,
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I disagree. I've watched a lot of baseball over the years and I've never seen any runner attempting to score take a girlie swat at the catcher's glove in the flamboyant fashion that A-Rod did.
You have described this as`a "chuck." I'm not sure what that is, but it doesn't sound like an open-handed, top-to-down, swat.
Now, if you're saying a "chuck" is a punch that occurs that could be interpreted as *either* an attempt to jar the ball loose -or- simply the normal pumping motion common to running; I could see how an umpire might allow this. Runners can pump their arms pretty hard while running. That pumping motion is nearly identical to a punching motion. The forward pumping of one fist into the fielder's glove could very well be coincidental, even if it jars the ball loose. The umpire will probably give the runner the benefit of the doubt on such a play.
But that is certainly NOT the case with the play involving A-Rod. His swat was clearly NOT part of any natural running motion.
It was interference - no question about it.
David Emerling
Memphis, TN