Red Sox/Yankees-checked swing.

[Gee]

I agree with your discription and your resulting conclusion. The way I remember it was that when Manny finished his turn he was facing third base with his hands very close to his hips while holding the bat in a vertical position.

What confused me was when Joe West animated the checked swing by holding his hands back and not breaking the plane which Manny clearly did.

I think it was the right call but for the wrong reason. That's a good example of why umpires shouldn't try to explain their calls. G.