Great call at plate by Jeff Nelson

[SanDiegoSteve]

I don't have the link for it, but it was the play they will be showing on Sports Center and all the other highlight shows. Look for it. Jeff Nelson was nominated as one of the game MVPs on the post game show, the first time an umpire has had that honor. The call was that good.

Maybe one of the linkmasters here can get the video up.

[Paul L]

Play was two Padre runners, one about ten feet behind the other, coming into home as the throw came into Giants catcher Benji Molina. First runner slides, Benji dives and lays the glove with the ball next to the plate, first runner's foot misses the glove by about two inches and grazes the 3BL side of the plate, Benji is rolling over on his back as second runner leaps over Benji and his teammate, and gets tagged in midair. Runner #1 tries to retag home, Molina tags him before he can, but he's already safe. PU Nelson is about three feet away, down 1BL, with bodies sprawling all around him, looking down on the plate, and dramatically calls runner 2 out, points to runner 1, then to the plate, and signals safe. A call of beauty.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Play was two Padre runners, one about ten feet behind the other, coming into home as the throw came into Giants catcher Benji Molina. First runner slides, Benji dives and lays the glove with the ball next to the plate, first runner's foot misses the glove by about two inches and grazes the 3BL side of the plate, Benji is rolling over on his back as second runner leaps over Benji and his teammate, and gets tagged in midair. Runner #1 tries to retag home, Molina tags him before he can, but he's already safe. PU Nelson is about three feet away, down 1BL, with bodies sprawling all around him, looking down on the plate, and dramatically calls runner 2 out, points to runner 1, then to the plate, and signals safe. A call of beauty.

Not to quibble, but the first runner, Adrian Gonzales (although already safe), retouched the plate before being tagged and Nelson pointed to the plate (to indicate he touched the plate the first time through) after he gave him the safe sign. Yes, a true call of beauty.

If admiring a great call is sniffing, then pass me the jock!

[mbyron]

Since you requested it:

[mbyron]

Here's the video:
Double call by Nelson

[ozzy6900]

Thanks for the video mbyron!

Great positioning - great call!

[johnSandlin]

It was an outstanding call by Nelson. Almost same type of call John Hirschbeck had a few years back in the first round of the playoffs involving the NY Mets.

[johnnyg08]

it was great to watch how he slowed the play down in his mind and just watched it all play itself out.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

it was great to watch how he slowed the play down in his mind and just watched...was the trail runner allowed to leap over the catcher because the F2 was laying on the ground?

This is Major League Baseball. Why WOULDN'T the trail runner be allowed to leap over the catcher? He would be just as allowed to run right through him.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Wow!

[scarolinablue]

Awesome play, great call.

Now, about that smock he's wearing...

[johnnyg08]

That is just a FED thing isn't it? Too many dang rule sets. Check that...wasn't a dive.

[Umpmazza]

Originally Posted by scarolinablue

Awesome play, great call.

Now, about that smock he's wearing...

are you talking about his wind breaker jacket?...

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

That is just a FED thing isn't it? Too many dang rule sets.

8-4-2b-2:

Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the
slide must be legal. (2-32-1, 2) Jumping, hurdling, and leaping are all
legal attempts to avoid a fielder as long as the fielder is lying on the
ground. Diving over a fielder is illegal.

Legal play in FED

-Josh

[johnnyg08]

thx jd