Does the Angel's protest have a leg to stand on?

[Dakota]

They are apparently protesting the non-call of the running lane violation by Konerko.

I would have thought this would be a judgment call, and hence not protestable, but I'm just a fan as far as MLB rules go.

Does this protest even have a chance? (I mean technically, not politically.)

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | LAA@CWS: Scioscia argues call, protests game - Video | angels.com: Multimedia

[rbmartin]

Not a chance.

[Rich Ives]

F3 didn't have a prayer to catch the ball so how was he interfered with?

Remember - the interference has to be with the fielder taking the throw.

[mbyron]

Agree, no chance for protest. Not a quality throw (one which would have retired the runner absent the interference).

[rbmartin]

It has been 26 years since last sucessful protest...don't hold your breath.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

It has been 26 years since last sucessful protest...don't hold your breath.

And it wasn't Tim McClelland's call either.

[DG]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

F3 didn't have a prayer to catch the ball so how was he interfered with?

Remember - the interference has to be with the fielder taking the throw.

Looks like he caught the ball. The fact that he had to dive off the bag to do it makess it not a quality throw and thus no RLI.

I am surprised that Mike would protest the game on a call in the first inning, that was indeed a judgment call.

[Rita C]

Not even close to being upheld.

Rita

[tmagan]

Second worst rule in baseball to the step balk. A play like that happened in San Francisco this week to the Mets, and Terry Collins is right, asking the batter-runner to stay in the baseline, with the bag in fair territory is a problem waiting to happen. A call like that helped the Angels in game five of the 2005 ALDS against the Yankees and probably cost the Yankees the series. Either have it like softball, with a separate bag in foul territory, or extend the bag into foul territory with replay available to help the umpires if the batted ball hit the first base bag.

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by tmagan

Second worst rule in baseball to the step balk. A play like that happened in San Francisco this week to the Mets, and Terry Collins is right, asking the batter-runner to stay in the baseline, with the bag in fair territory is a problem waiting to happen. A call like that helped the Angels in game five of the 2005 ALDS against the Yankees and probably cost the Yankees the series. Either have it like softball, with a separate bag in foul territory, or extend the bag into foul territory with replay available to help the umpires if the batted ball hit the first base bag.

Seriously? As it is, umpires generally expect the runner to veer into fair territory a bit before the bag.

And remember, the foul line is part of the running lane and it is entirely in fair territory. So if the left foot is on the line, there should be no great need to veer.

Rita

Plus it's 45 ft! Not too much to ask.

[DG]

Originally Posted by tmagan

Second worst rule in baseball to the step balk. A play like that happened in San Francisco this week to the Mets, and Terry Collins is right, asking the batter-runner to stay in the baseline, with the bag in fair territory is a problem waiting to happen. A call like that helped the Angels in game five of the 2005 ALDS against the Yankees and probably cost the Yankees the series. Either have it like softball, with a separate bag in foul territory, or extend the bag into foul territory with replay available to help the umpires if the batted ball hit the first base bag.

Evans says, and it is generally understood, that the BR must step outside the runners lane to step on the bag. There is a difference between running a significant distance in fair territory, vs. just the last few feet to step on the bag. Nothing wrong with this rule.

[grunewar]

No surprise here.....

Angels' protest of 8-6 loss at White Sox denied ? USATODAY.com

[jicecone]

Not surprised at the denial but, I have to ask what is it with the pretty necklace around U1 neck? Are the officials going to gold chains next?

[tmagan]

Originally Posted by jicecone

Not surprised at the denial but, I have to ask what is it with the pretty necklace around U1 neck? Are the officials going to gold chains next?

The two umpires who always wore the most jewelry were Doug Harvey and Eric Gregg.

I also remember Lee Weyer and Fred Brocklander also wearing watches, even behind the plate.

[Rita C]

Angels' protest of 8-6 loss at White Sox denied - Yahoo! Sports

I thought you all might enjoy Scioscia's whine. He still thinks the ruling was incorrect.

Rita