Strange(False)Ending in MInnesota 3A semi-final

[paulsonj72]

A strange(apparent) ending to a semi-final game in the Minnesaota 3A tournament. Video comes from the ABC station in MInneapolis.

VIDEO: Strange Ending In Eden Prairie vs Bemidji Baseball State Semifinal | KSTP TV - Minneapolis and St. Paul

The team that had this happen too did get 2 runs in the top of the 8th and did win the game.

Thoughts on the whole situation?

[cookie]

"...During the celebration, Eden Prairie coach Mike Halloran motioned to first base, seeming to indicate a desire for the called strike to be appealed to the first-base umpire.

The umpires conferred and after a lengthy discussion, the call was reversed...

Two thoughts:

(1) Called strikes cannot be appealed. Wasn't that a called Strike?

(2) Wasn't that a "Safe" signal for the uncaught 3rd strike? It it were, then the signal "Out" should have been made immediately upon F2 tagging the BR. Because it wasn't, a sh$$tstorm developed.

[mbyron]

[mbyron]

My thoughts:

1. The PU's mechanics, as far as we can see them, are textbook. Points with the slot hand to indicate the swing and signals no catch. The only thing we can't see in the video is the out call.

2. Given the PU's mechanics to that point, I would be surprised if he neglected to signal the out, but it's possible. But the tag was so obvious, perhaps he simply thought it was an obvious out.

3. The conference was completely unnecessary: there was nothing to discuss. No call to reverse, nothing controversial in what actually happened at the plate, and nothing confusing from the PU. Somebody on that crew stuck his nose where it didn't belong.

4. You can't reverse a call of a swinging strike. There's probably an exception that proves the rule, but even Doug Eddings says he didn't rule a swing.

5. As soon as somebody in that conference said something like "Well Joe, you signaled safe, so they must have thought you said it was a base on balls," I'm replying that it was a strike, the game is over, and that's the end of it. During the game, I don't care if (shocker!) a coach fails to understand my mechanics (mechanics are supposed to communicate, so I do care overall whether there's a systematic issue).

Very puzzling. We have some MN guys on here, maybe they'll have some inside poop.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Methinks that the BU with the sunglasses was not happy for not being assigned the Plate for this game because I am blind in one and and can't see out of the other eye and I knew that the PU signaled that the Batter swung and that the PU signaled an out (ripping the batter out) when F2 tagged the Batter/Runner out.

MTD, Sr.

[waltjp]

Agree with MB. Everything looks pretty cut and dry. Mechanics were solid and there isn't any hesitation. I'd be curious to know how/why the PU even stood around long enough for this to become an issue. Game over, let's go home.