So, how many times are we umpires going to have to explain rule 7.06 to people over the next few days?

Come on, you've got to let the players decide the game...plus you can't call that in the WORLD SERIES! ;)

Amazing game, amazing call, amazing ending!

Joe Torre, Jim Joyce, John Hirschbeck, and Dana Demuth on the call.

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Have to say, from a spectator's perspective, I was most impressed with how calmly and authoritatively the two umpires handled this. A model of professionalism.

+1

It seemed like a textbook call, but Joyce and Dumuth sold it immediately. They left no room for doubt and did a good job of defusing a potential mess. Great work.

No, it WAS a textbook call.

No doubt about it, no matter how many people complain that Middlebrooks couldn't do anything about it. I had to laugh with someone (might've been Salty) who thought Craig went out of the baseline when he got up and started for home. Make a good throw, Salty, and none of this would've taken place.

I'm not disputing the obstruction call except if you watch, the base runner never touched the plate. Nevertheless he was called safe, which of course is the correct call until the missed base is appealed by the defense.

Realistically, how does the defense appeal such a play (final play of the game) when the umpires leave the field so quickly?

gotta love how Torre literally pulled out the book to demonstrate...:)

The next baseball game at any level I officiate will be my first. But I assume this would be like the McCann-Gomez brouhaha in Atlanta. McCann obstructed, Gomez was awarded home but never touched the plate. Run scored anyway.

One is an odd number.

I'm perfectly fine with that. (For kids' games.)

AG and others....

If last night's play was obstruction during the regular season, then it was obstruction in the World Series. Great call by Jim Joyce and great communication between DeMuth and Joyce on the enforcement of the play.

Playoffs or no playoffs....we are paid to do a job and this umpiring crew has definitely being doing their job.

No, players don't decide the game when the rules are violated. You make that call whenever it happens. It doesn't matter if it's the world series or not. The rule was violated, and there you are.

Two burning questions:

a) Shouldn't Demuth have called "time" as soon as the tag was applied, then given the award?

b) what if Craig stays at third? Any award?

Gentlemen, APG was kidding.

a) I think that if a play is being made on the obstructed runner then the umpire calling the obstruction (Jim Joyce) should kill the play and make the award.

b) I think that the contact only happened after he made a move towards home so I say OBS regardless, even if he turned around and returned to third IF in the judgement of Joyce the reason he didn't advance was due to the OBS.