Eddings' Obstruction Call

[David B]

Originally Posted by UMP25

No one objected? Where were you when the Tampa fielder and their manager were screaming at Eddings? Believe me, there was plenty of objecting.

That's not objecting, that's just coaches doing their job. We ignore coaches, we eject players. I was talking about from his other umpires.

Thanks
David

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by David B

Good job of baseball by the runner. Umpire had to make the call based on obstruction. The replay I saw on ESPN didn't show everything, but the fielder was in his way so obstruction.

The manager said he did it intentionally, "DUH" that's what he's supposed to do.

Thansk
David

Well, you might want to change your tune. Both Eddings and MLB admitted the call was incorrect:

MLB official reveals obstruction call incorrect
By Mark Gonzales, 9:35 p.m.

BOSTON -- It turns out Tampa Bay had a legitimate gripe about Sunday's obstruction call against third baseman Willy Aybar that helped the the White Sox to a 5-4 victory.

Mike Port, Major League Baseball's vice president of umpiring, Thursday told the St. Petersburg Times that it was "a missed call" that led to the Sox's A.J. Pierzynski reaching third base and eventually scoring the winning run.

Port said umpire Doug Eddings believed he saw Pierzynski "impeded more than he was" by Aybar, who was chasing Pierzynski in a rundown.

"Looking back at that occurrence, for the first and last time, it was a missed call," Port said told the Times. "And it was not because Doug Eddings, an umpire with 10 years experience, and 10 before that in the minor leagues, didn't know the application of the rule, but just that in the moment in applying the rule, he saw something he thought was more than it turned out to be."

Eddings was "the first to admit" he missed the call and told MLB officials after reviewing replays, Port told the Times.

[David B]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Well, you might want to change your tune. Both Eddings and MLB admitted the call was incorrect:

Not really, I didn't say the call was correct, but just that in real time I can see how he made the call.

IMO he should have asked his partner if he saw anything differently, and he might have, but they didn't offer any help so he had to go with what he saw.

Still, that was a great piece of baserunning, and he "flopped" as Bob said and got the call.

Hey, happens in the NBA all the time.

In retrospect, there are many calls that could be changed if we could do them over again.

But, I am glad to hear that MLB admitted the call was wrong, that helps us umpires to know how to handle that type of call if it happens again.

Do you have a link to the story from MLB perspective I would like to read the reason for his change of heart, since this play does happen quite a bit.

Was it because the BR intentionally stuck his arm out or what?

Just curious.

Thanks
David

[UMP25]

FYI, Eddings did go to his partners for help to see what they saw on the play. The crew huddled for about a minute or so and let the call stand.