Illegally batted ball?

[BretMan]

Maybe. A little hard for me to tell from the video. And the guy that was standing three feet behind the plate who has responsibility for this call probably had an even worse view!

Watching the pitch would take your eyes away from the spot the foot was touching and the batter is probably blocking your view anyway.

I just thought it was cool that a team won a game 1-0 on a suicide squeeze, cooler yet than it was the Tribe and even cooler that they swept Boston. I couldn't watch the game yesterday, so was watching the STO replay this morning while getting ready for work. Had to stop brushing my teeth and walk to the living room when Cabrerra came to bat!

[JRutledge]

The last angle was the best angle to see this. It looks pretty obvious that he was out of the box, but the PU would not be able to see that very well based on his angle and the catcher blocking the view.

Peace

[MrUmpire]

Illegally batted ball?

Apparently not. I checked the box score.

[bob jenkins]

Very rarely called (or expected to be called) in MLB.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Very rarely called (or expected to be called) in MLB.

And no argument by Francona.

[MikeStrybel]

Does the PBUC manual describe every mechanic needed to handle every possible play? How about the CCA? Red book?

6.06a It's in the rules because administrators want to prevent batters from gaining an illegal advantage. It's a tough call to make. At the MLB level the pitches and players are incredibly fast, making this call truly difficult. That's why when it is enforced the call makes SportsCenter...when it's not enforced it also makes SportsCenter too.

Life goes on.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Illegally batted ball?

Apparently not. I checked the box score.

Prescriptivist.

[Simply The Best]

Man, PU blew the snot out of this call. He has a clear view of B's foot out of the box but he's looking up the line. The mechanic here is simple, once B has made contact, a quick glance down (don't have to dip your head) to check feet and the right call is made.

Pitiful.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best

Man, PU blew the snot out of this call. He has a clear view of B's foot out of the box but he's looking up the line. The mechanic here is simple, once B has made contact, a quick glance down (don't have to dip your head) to check feet and the right call is made.

Pitiful.

You have to be out of your f@*#ing mind to call that an illegally batted ball.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

You have to be out of your f@*#ing mind to call that an illegally batted ball.

Exactly. The inside line of the box is obliterated -- the PU is supposed to be able to tell if the back of the heel is out of the box or not based on that quick look?

Quick glance down? Prove that the foot was ON THE GROUND and completely out of the box at the INSTANT contact with the ball was made. You simply can't do that.

If you go looking for this crap, you're failing at your #1 job -- tracking the pitch.

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best
Man, PU blew the snot out of this call. He has a clear view of B's foot out of the box but he's looking up the line. The mechanic here is simple, once B has made contact, a quick glance down (don't have to dip your head) to check feet and the right call is made.

Pitiful.

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

You have to be out of your f@*#ing mind to call that an illegally batted ball.

Please, the swearing is unnecessary. Hold deep your frustrations.

Simple call. I am looking at the exact moment (clip) that B contacts the ball. The PU is looking up the line and/or at the ball. Never once did he look at the feet of the batter.

If he had been checking foot position as the proper mechanic immediately after the ball is contacted, he would have clearly seen that B's left foot is behind the point of home plate. The inside line of the box is clearly in view as is the where the intersection of the inside and back lines would meet.

OUT.

PU blew it not so much that he missed a clearly illegally batted ball but that, imo, he freaked when he saw it was a squeeze. Hence, up the line goes his attention and away goes the proper call.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Prescriptivist.

In this instance, guilty as charged.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by BretMan

I just thought it was cool that a team won a game 1-0 on a suicide squeeze, cooler yet than it was the Tribe and even cooler that they swept Boston.

Not to mention the horrible base running by Boston to end the game.