Marty Foster's call at 3rd base today

[Dave Reed]

Forget about Hirshbeck's assessment of Jeter. Read this quote:

"You have to make sure that you have a tag," Hirschbeck said. "It used to be if the ball beat you, you were out. It isn't that way anymore. It's not a reason to call someone out. You have to have a clean tag."

Times change, and the notion of the "expected call" has already passed its expiration date, at least at the higher levels.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by Dave Reed

Times change, and the notion of the "expected call" has already passed its expiration date, at least at the higher levels.

At least in the press.

[Dave Reed]

Originally Posted by Ump153

At least in the press.

You callin' the crew chief a liar?

Seriously, Hirschbeck didn't take the convenient way out. He didn't back his crew member. There's no way to pass that off as feeding the press a line that he didn't really mean.

[Ump153]

"Jeter admitted that the Yankees have benefited from similar calls in the past, but he said he had never actually heard an umpire admitting to ruling a player out because the ball beat him.

"It bothers you if it's you, but if it works in your favor, you don't really mind it that much," Jeter said. "It happens. I just have never been told that before. It wasn't an argument, it was just that I didn't understand it."

So he wants it both ways. Rat.

Jeter knows how it's called. He admitted it. But when Marty talked to him as a pro, Jeter decided to take it like a Rat. Marty's mistake was to assume that Jeter could handle the truth.

It'll be a cold day before Jeter gets that call on defense again from any umpire.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Ump153

It'll be a cold day before Jeter gets that call on defense again from any umpire.

This is the most telling quote in this whole thread....

JJ

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Only because it was mis-called.

Spoken like a true coach.

Originally Posted by Fan10

I wonder which assessment of Jeter's character is the more accurate.

Mine, of course. You take John Hirschbeck's appeasement of the press over an honest assessment? Even Hirschbeck admitted that "it used to be called that way." Well, I'm from that old school, and sorry if I don't call a runner who is out by 15 feet safe because a fielder didn't want to get his hand injured by a sliding runner.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Spoken like a true coach.

One thing many of you fail to grasp is that the coach can be on either side of the argument. It could be my runner. It could be my fielder. I have to consider what call should be made from both perspectives. And my choice is call it properly.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

One thing many of you fail to grasp is that the coach can be on either side of the argument. It could be my runner. It could be my fielder. I have to consider what call should be made from both perspectives. And my choice is call it properly.

And properly, since Alexander Cartwright's day, has been to call the runner out.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

And properly, since Alexander Cartwright's day, has been to call the runner out.

OK, then let me rephrase it.

Not properly. Conveniently maybe, but not properly.

This isn't horseshoes or hand grenades. Close enough doesn't count.

The rule says you have to tag the runner before he touches the base. Require it and call it.

As pointed out by the crew chief at the game - the old days are gone - require the tag.