Smittyisms

jkumpire · #1 (**permalink**) Wed Jul 18, 2007, 07:42pm

I was at that Sox-Indians game today, Section 153, Row Z, seat 9. That's about 20-25 rows from the field, on the 3B foul line, about half way up the line.

The guy from Chicago beat the throw to 3B, no matter what angle the TV monitor showed you on STO. It was an easy call for Tim Chetah, the 3B umpire to make. He stole the base on F1, Martinez would not have thrown him out if he had a cannon instead of an arm. I had him safe from my angle, and I had a great one to watch the play. The foot was on the back of the bag before Blake got the ball there. It was not a bad throw at all, but the expected call would be safe.

BretMan · #2 (**permalink**) Wed Jul 18, 2007, 08:38pm

That's not how it looked on the STO multiple replays, slow mo's and tight zooms.

They also showed Eric Wedge's perplexed and agitated reaction in the dugout. My impression was that the call didn't meet his expectations.

But, hey, you were there (lucky dog!), I wasn't, and as the spectators always let us know the view from the stands is always the best view in the house!

jkumpire · #3 (**permalink**) Wed Jul 18, 2007, 08:44pm

Sadly, STO had no camera view of the play from a 90 deg angle to the throw, and the 3B ump would block out the camera from the LF foul pole/line.

I had almost the same view as the Indians dugout would have seen it from, and Wedge was down 4 runs at the time, he wouldn't like anything but out in that case. To my eye it weas an easy safe call, the ball did not beat R2 to the bag by any margin for a tag to get down. I amy look at a game replay tonight or tomorrow to see what STO showed.