Great play .... position?

[Thunderheads]

I'm only posting this because I noticed the Gibson went foul ....one of a couple times he did this last night ....

http://mlb.mlb.com/v...589412&c_id=mlb

Here's the second time...which I guess makes more sense. Now, I'm not saying what is right or wrong, but I'm posting because it's discussed quite a bit ...

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19922635&topic_id=25589412&c_id=mlb

[mstaylor]

The first one he started fair and realized it was going to be ugly with everything coming at once, foul was the smart place to go. The second time he had to go foul, the F3 pushed him that way.

[Mr Umpire]

I think F4 caused him to go foul. He read it as a possible pressure play and didn't want to be in between with F4 behind him and he wouldn't know where F4 was depending on how the play developed. I don't think he read it as an ugly play b/c he was going foul before the ball even left F3's hand. I think he saw it as a pressure play from F4.

And, this may be something taught where F3 went farther than normal and F1 was covering. Don't know but he didn't wait to see if the throw was good or not. Also, he may have chosen it b/c he knew F1 and BR may get to the base at the same time and it may be difficult to tell which foot belongs to which player from fair territory.

Carpenter got lucky not to be stepped on. At this level, they know and understand how to play. The amateur level, I see this becoming an issue b/c some look for a way to hurt the other team to try and win. I think too many would have taken the opportunity to try to step on F1's hand and claim an accident b/c he was over the base in their way.

The second one is an obvious choice. It was definitely a pressure play and one I would definitely go foul on in a 2 man system. He had no other choice.

[mstaylor]

Watch the video again, he starts fair and suddenly changed direction.

Edited to add:

Stop frame it, at .05 seconds he is going fair, at .06 he turns and goes foul.

[Thunderheads]

Watch the video again, he starts fair and suddenly changed direction.

I noticed that.......

[Mr Umpire]

Watch the video again, he starts fair and suddenly changed direction.

Yes, but he started foul before F3 ever let go of the ball. No matter what, it was a split second decision and it worked out for him on this play. If it happens again with a slight variation, it may not. In cases like this, each play is different and a different angle may be needed to see the play than usual.

[mstaylor]

Actually he changed direction as the F3 was releasing the ball. Again, stop frame .04 to .06. I think he read ugly and went foul.

[Umpy]

Here's one I was wondering about watching the first play, if Carpenter dropped the ball when he was diving across first like that, and the runner realized he he had time to take second, would the runner still have to touch first if Carpenter was laying across the entire bag forcing the runner to jump over him?

[Mr Umpire]

Here's one I was wondering about watching the first play, if Carpenter dropped the ball when he was diving across first like that, and the runner realized he he had time to take second, would the runner still have to touch first if Carpenter was laying across the entire bag forcing the runner to jump over him?

Depends on timing of the play but I think in this case, no. It should be OBS called and no appeal upheld.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Here's one I was wondering about watching the first play, if Carpenter dropped the ball when he was diving across first like that, and the runner realized he he had time to take second, would the runner still have to touch first if Carpenter was laying across the entire bag forcing the runner to jump over him?

Depends on timing of the play but I think in this case, no. It should be OBS called and no appeal upheld.

I now cannot wait to have this call in a future game.

[Mr Umpire]

Here's one I was wondering about watching the first play, if Carpenter dropped the ball when he was diving across first like that, and the runner realized he he had time to take second, would the runner still have to touch first if Carpenter was laying across the entire bag forcing the runner to jump over him?

Depends on timing of the play but I think in this case, no. It should be OBS called and no appeal upheld.

I now cannot wait to have this call in a future game.

I know. Having to explain to a DC how a fielder prevented his team from getting an appeal will be fun. I haven't had to make it but I don't look forward to a DC who pushes it too far and just won't understand why.

[mstaylor]

If you have obstruction, then no he doesn't have to touch first. I have made this call and it really wasn't a problem. I'm not sayingh he went away happy but it didn't lead to an ejection.