The death of the neighborhood play...

[tjones1]

I've got to admit... if this play happened in my game working two man, I've got him out and I'm not thinking twice about it. I'm calling him out and setting up for the play at first where I'm making my money.

[robbie]

Steve: I find it hard to believe you so strongly advocate making an incorrect call in the interest of some greater good.

I know this would never happen, but when I see these discussions, I think its so blatent that it woulkd be protestable. Its not a judgement call.

If protested, the ump would have to blatently lie in order for the protest to be overrulled.

Play it out.......
UIC (or appropriate person): What did you see?
Blue: I saw the runner straddle the base, but I felt that he was close enough to grant the out.
UIC: What rule are you applying?
Blue I cant think what he could possibly say)
Offended coach: The rule says..................
UIC: Case closed - Misapplication of rule - Protest upheld
UIC:

[kylejt]

This has been an accepted out for generations at the MLB level. He squared up on three side of the bag, if you watch the catch and release.

Personally, I hate that it's accepted, as it's trickled down to the lower levels of ball, and thrown us all under the bus for not calling it. Now someone has to ask "how close is close enough, if you're not actually going to require them to touch the bag?"

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by kylejt

This has been an accepted out for generations at the MLB level. He squared up on three side of the bag, if you watch the catch and release.

Personally, I hate that it's accepted, as it's trickled down to the lower levels of ball, and thrown us all under the bus for not calling it. Now someone has to ask "how close is close enough, if you're not actually going to require them to touch the bag?"

it WAS accepted IN THE PAST for generations.

It has NOT been accepted in recent years as replays proliferate.

As more and more emphasis is placed on "get it right" and requests for more instant replay increase you'll see less and less of the formerly acceptable calls of all types. And I think that's a good thing.

[johnnyg08]

It's a judgment call though...misapplication/interpretation wouldn't hold up.

Originally Posted by robbie

Steve: I find it hard to believe you so strongly advocate making an incorrect call in the interest of some greater good.

I know this would never happen, but when I see these discussions, I think its so blatent that it woulkd be protestable. Its not a judgement call.

If protested, the ump would have to blatently lie in order for the protest to be overrulled.

Play it out.......
UIC (or appropriate person): What did you see?
Blue: I saw the runner straddle the base, but I felt that he was close enough to grant the out.
UIC: What rule are you applying?
Blue I cant think what he could possibly say)
Offended coach: The rule says..................
UIC: Case closed - Misapplication of rule - Protest upheld
UIC:

[DG]

During pre-game show for tonight's game Cal Ripken said he does not believe in the neighborhood play, SS needs touch the bag. That is a player perspective and a SS who played quite a few games there. But it does seem true that some give it and some don't and I expect the presence of numerous replay cameras and a national audience are factors.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by DG

During pre-game show for tonight's game Cal Ripken said he does not believe in the neighborhood play, SS needs touch the bag.

Oh, like he was never the beneficiary of such a call during his career.

It's all because Layne and others don't want to be made to look bad on replay, which IMO has done more harm than good for umpires in recent days.

[DG]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Oh, like he was never the beneficiary of such a call during his career.

It's all because Layne and others don't want to be made to look bad on replay, which IMO has done more harm than good for umpires in recent days.

He may have benefitted, but since he said he did not believe in it I expect he did not expect it. Go to the truck and review the video and tell us of a case where he argued because he did not get it when he really did not come close to touching the base.

As long as ML baseball allows a runner to maliciously steam roll the catcher the argument for the neighborhood call, to protect middle infielders is weak. They are big boys too, and unlike the catcher, they can get out of the way after making the touch.

I don't think any of them want to be proven wrong on slo-mo, that is an excellent point and excellent reason not to call the neighborhood play on national TV during an ALCS.

I will admit I have made the neighborhood call and never been questioned on it. But I believe my neighborhood is a bit closer than this one. Touch the bag, sometime during the play, drag a foot, do something to make it appear you touched the bag and you have a better chance of getting the call. Straddle it, with good distance between your feet and the bag and you get what you get.

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by DG

Straddle it, with good distance between your feet and the bag and you get what you get.

Exactly, and in two man, you probably still get the out. But in 3 (if U3 is on inside), 4, or 6, its alot easier to have safe. But if you don't touch, and you don't get the call, nobody to blame but yourself.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

It's all because Layne and others don't want to be made to look bad on replay, which IMO has done more harm than good for umpires in recent days.

Does that translate to "I don't have to get the call right"?

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by tjones1

I've got to admit... if this play happened in my game working two man, I've got him out and I'm not thinking twice about it. I'm calling him out and setting up for the play at first where I'm making my money.

Two man has to sort of sacrifice this play, too much to look at and still respect the play at first.

I agree with Kevin, he's gotta touch the base at some point. If he catches as he's pivoting off the base, or already shifted off the base, fine, not splitting hairs there. But its hard to split the hairs when he never ever touched the base.

[UMP 64]

I said this before, McCarver is an IDIOT! He ALWAYS talks as though he is always right, KNOWS what pitch is about to be thrown, and knows what is going to happen before it happens. I did look up his lifetime stats, and they were better than I had expected. Lifetime .272 batting, and played 21 years. He did face a lot of big name pitchers, but he is not a Hall of Famer.
He was probably a solid catcher/player, I just don't like his guessing like he knows before something happens.
My favorite was earlier this season, he quotes" boy, this catcher is really doing a good job (catching) of keeping the pitches out of the center of the plate"????
What the H*#$ ? I thought the pitcher pitched the ball. Every one knows all ML catchers do not set up with the glove in the middle of the plate. We teach this at 10 y/o.