WTF Was McCarver Talking About

[Spence]

R1. Long flyball to CF. CF runs after it, reaches for it, misses it. Ball bounces into the stands for a groundrule double. R1 returns to 3rd.

McCarver kept saying the Reds were lucky that the CF did not "touch the ball" before it went into the stands.

I am not an umpire but I do try to stay up on the rules. Is there some rule I'm missing that would have allowed R1 to score had it been determined that the CF touched the ball?

[UmpJM]

Spence,

No.

JM

[MikeStrybel]

Tim McCarver may have been an excellent athlete but he has a legacy of commentary misspeak. I will have to dig a bit but I once received an email with a link to McCarver and Joe Morgan blunders. It was pretty entertaining for those of us who understand the rules and terminology.

[biggravy]

Great ball player, now a total effing idiot. When he does commentary I watch games on mute.

[Stu Clary]

WTF is McCarver EVER talking about? Also: NOT a great ballplayer...but he turned being Steve Carlton's personal catcher into a lucrative career.

[Blue37]

Perhaps he meant it was good that the ball did not deflect into the stands off of the player. Only thing I can figure.

[ODJ]

CSN SportsNet wrap up had same comment. Stupid after stupid.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by Blue37

Perhaps he meant it was good that the ball did not deflect into the stands off of the player. Only thing I can figure.

That's the only possibility. Deflected and over the fence without touching ground.

[APG]

Originally Posted by yawetag

That's the only possibility. Deflected and over the fence without touching ground.

Most likely, especially since we've seen it happen this year. A very poorly phrased sentence from him...but then again he is McCarver and an announcer so not a shock. It's the same or worse on other sports.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Blue37

Perhaps he meant it was good that the ball did not deflect into the stands off of the player. Only thing I can figure.

He can't have meant that, as he described the defense as "lucky" that F8 didn't touch the ball.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by mbyron

He can't have meant that, as he described the defense as "lucky" that F8 didn't touch the ball.

What we meant is "Tim was confusing another rule with what actually happened. Tim was thinking in his head of the rule we mentioned, but including it in a situation where the ball actually bounces inside the park first."

In other words, Tim doesn't know anything about the finer rules of baseball and was trying to sound smart.

[MikeStrybel]

The link with Morgan's and McCarver's blunders is no longer viable. I found this: The I Hate Tim McCarver Home Page

and

”The McCarver Drinking Game
Here’s how to play:
Get a bottle of your favorite booze and a shot glass and…
1: Drink every time Tim uses a multi-syllable word incorrectly.
2: Drink every time Tim states the obvious like it is a profound insight.
3: Drink every time Tim calls the play wrong.
4: Drink every time Tim gets a player’s name wrong.
5: Drink every time one of Tim’s inane comments is met with stoney silence by the other broadcasters in the booth.
My guarantee is you’ll be drunk by the bottom of the 1st inning!"

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by yawetag

In other words, Tim doesn't know anything about the finer rules of baseball and was trying to sound smart.

And with that, I have no dispute whatever.

[greymule]

You guys are too hard on McCarver. He meant simply that by not touching the ball, the outfielder (and the Reds) avoided being charged with an error.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by greymule

You guys are too hard on McCarver. He meant simply that by not touching the ball, the outfielder (and the Reds) avoided being charged with an error.

Maybe we are hard on him, but that's wrong, too.