MLB: Beckham tag play on DeJesus

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Apparently we see different things in the video. Prior to contact, I see then runner foot make contact with the bag.

He is then knocked off with what instructors would call playing action, not an intentional shove or even an extra hard tag.

A hard tag would no doubt be playing action. But this wasn't a hard tag - it was a cross-body block by the fielder 3 strides after he caught the thrown ball. The tag did not knock the runner off his base.

There may no be word for word description of this in the rules, but there is plenty of accepted precedence.

Other than the Hrbek play, not really.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Apparently we see different things in the video. Prior to contact, I see then runner foot make contact with the bag.

He is then knocked off with what instructors would call playing action, not an intentional shove or even an extra hard tag.

1) the tag itself did not knock DeJesus off the base. He had already gained a foothold on the base that withstood the initial tag.

2) the thing that knocked him off the bag was the body block that looked more at home in a hockey or football game than in the game of baseball. If the tag had knocked him off the base, I would agree with the out call. What's to stop all fielders from diving into runners after they're already called safe, just to get a cheap, undeserved out. This practice needs to be reevaluated, IMO.

[D Ray]

SDS - I agree with you. I was trying to divine why this would be acceptable in MLB. I was not very clear as I opened my reply. By allowing the out, it broadens the job of the fielder. The whole play smells. The defense did not execute in order to earn the out. This is not like the Hrbek play

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by D Ray

...This is not like the Hrbek play

Do you guys consider the call on the Hrbek play to have been correct?

[Jay R]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Do you guys consider the call on the Hrbek play to have been correct?

Most seem to think so. I didn't think it should have been an out. He hauled Gant's leg off the base IMHO.

[mbyron]

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Do you guys consider the call on the Hrbek play to have been correct?

At least it can be argued that Hrbek's tag knocked the runner off his base (resulting in an out). I don't think you can make the same argument with Beckham's "tag."

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

At least it can be argued that Hrbek's tag knocked the runner off his base (resulting in an out). I don't think you can make the same argument with Beckham's "tag."

I thought Hrbek pried him off with his leg.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Do you guys consider the call on the Hrbek play to have been correct?

The explanation given was that Gant's momemtum was carrying him off the bag, and the contact by Hrbek didn't have a material effect. IOW, that Gant would have likely come off the bag without the contact.

As a biased Braves fan, naturally I didn't see it that way.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by CT1

The explanation given was that Gant's momemtum was carrying him off the bag, and the contact by Hrbek didn't have a material effect. IOW, that Gant would have likely come off the bag without the contact.

As a biased Braves fan, naturally I didn't see it that way.

Momentum nothing, his leg was lifted off the bag. Lateral momentum doesn't turn into vertical momentum in that manner.