agreeing to a point

[johnSandlin]

Sal,

I agree with most of what you said, except for one thing which is very important thing. We are forgetting that were runners already on base when this play happened.

You had a runner on 1st, who attempted to score once the runner saw that the ball was heading down the right field line after it was knocked out of the 1st baseman's glove.

With that being said, West could not trail the play right out of the gate, because of having plate coverage responsibilities for the runner trying to score from 1st base.

So, I think the umpires covered it right from start to finish with what they had to work with, but this is just my opinion.

[DownTownTonyBrown]

I would say this was an unusual play for this level of baseball.

I would also say the first base ump, U1, hosed it. If he had not had his butt saved by the plate ump, things would have been a mess. It is also very arguable that U1 couldn't have done a much better job.

We are all taught that to be absolutely stationary is the best situation for making a call. From U1's stationary position he was partially blocked from seeing the tag attempt and from seeing the runner's swipe at the pitcher's glove.

What call would U1 have made if the ball hadn't come out? Safe still? He didn't see the tag. Perhaps his call still would have been SAFE!

But in my opinion, once he saw the ball come out, he should have known that something unusual had happened and he should have held his call. Of course it was too late to adjust positions and see the 'unusual' as it occurred. I think I would have been adjusting once I saw that F3 was not going to get the ball - there's going to be a tag now. I need to adjust my position to see that tag. That's tough to do if you've already pinned yourself on one knee directly behind the visual interference of F3.

It is not often that we see this type of unsporting play at the major league level. That type of crap is commonly seen in the "recreational" leagues and occasionally in high school contests. NCAA, possibly?

In the end, the team of umpires made everything work out well. And it fit in so well with the discussions we had been having on this forum. It was very good to see the umpires meet and get it right.

From OBR Rule 9 General Instruction to the Umpire:
"If sure you got the play correctly, do not be stampeded by players' appeals to "ask the other man." If not sure, ask one of your associates. Do not carry this to extremes, be alert and get your own plays. But remember! The first requisite is to get decisions correctly. If in doubt don't hesitate to consult your associate. Umpire dignity is important but never as important as "being right."

Your comment John about the runner from 1st trying to score is also what I would consider part of the unusual. I don't believe the PU would have been expecting the runner to proceed past 2nd with a ball that was hit and fielded by F1. As PU, I would have followed the play at least part way to first. After the events at first and if the play was not killed due to interference, now I would have been worried about coverage at home.

[Kaliix]

With the ball being a slow roller between the pitcher and first, I don't imagine the home plate umpire is worrying about plate coverage in that situation. There is plenty of time to retreat to home for a possible play should one develop.

I disagree with the notion that U1 should have known something unusual had happened. Players drop balls all the time, even from their gloves. Runners don't have to avoid the fielder at that level(in that instance anyway) and can run right through them, possibly dislodging the ball. U1 called what he saw (or in this case didn't see) attempted tag and ball on the ground. Signal safe. When U1 gets screened, there's not much to do but call what you saw and hope your partners can help out on the call with a better angle.