This is just bad ....

[jmpnjmy]

All i am saying is that Legal or not it is crap.

+1

[AZump78]

As an aside: anyone else notice Gibby's SUPER quick timing on the play?

Can't help but wonder if that was a factor in the call he made.

[Thunderheads]

As an aside: anyone else notice Gibby's SUPER quick timing on the play?

Can't help but wonder if that was a factor in the call he made.

SUPER quick?

[Rich Ives]

It was not a roll block. He was not past the base when he started the slide. The only retaliation was the salute Pagan gave the dugout. The pro players understand the way their version of the game is played. Many here apparently do not.

he saluted his own dugout

He saluted the first base dugout. That's the visitors dugout. The Giants use the 3rd base dugout.

[Thunderheads]

It was not a roll block. He was not past the base when he started the slide. The only retaliation was the salute Pagan gave the dugout. The pro players understand the way their version of the game is played. Many here apparently do not.

he saluted his own dugout

He saluted the first base dugout. That's the visitors dugout. The Giants use the 3rd base dugout.

no he didn't.......

stop at :19 .......

http://www.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25414525&c_id=mlb

[JaxRolo]

I don't think there is any way to grab Intentional Interference here folks nor is this bushleague baseball. Ill address both.

1) A lot of people are quoting 6.05(m). Sure thats the correct rule citation, however, I don't see how we can apply this rule to this play. There are three elements to consider when judging interference. i) Was the runner out of range to touch the base by either hand or foot? ii) Did the runner intentionally and deliberately alter his direction of running in order to create contact on the pivot man? iii) Did the runner do any interfering action, i.e. grabbing, holding, etc

The answer to each of these questions is no. The runner ran a straight line, even going as far to make contact with the base. There were certainly no handsy grabby nonsense by him either. From a strict rules perspective, he merely over slid the bag, which caused legal contact with the fielder.

The second part; is this bushleague baseball: Absolutely not. We need to put our heads in a professional perspective that these are big boys, they can handle the contact, and understand why it happened. Simply put, this is baseball as how it should be played. If Scutaro was on the 1st base side (To the right) of 2nd base and the runner crashed him, dare I say, this post would not even exist and my fingers would have been saved typing this out.

My two cents...enjoy the playoffs!

Also...big shout out to UMP24...Im pretty sure he'd get nailed for plagiarism, but thats okay.

Seriously?

[johnnyg08]

Bobby,

Look ....

(2) The roll block is illegal. The runner must not leave the ground and contact the fielder. If, however, he hits the ground first he is allowed to crash into the pivot man provided he does so at the base

He crashes Scutaro AFTER the base ...

The roll block is illegal, but this is not a roll block.

[Jocko]

I am not rotting

Sure smells that way! :wave:

[Umpete]

I think the slide is clean, but if it were not the playoffs, Holliday would be getting one high and hard.

I have a feeling before this series is over, Holliday will get plunked.

[Jocko]

I think the slide is clean, but if it were not the playoffs, Holliday would be getting one high and hard.

I have a feeling before this series is over, Holliday will get plunked.

no doubt. We're likely to see Holliday get earholed, then whatever F1 threw it gets plunnked. Benches clear. This could get very ugly.

[cyclonehokiece]

I think the slide is clean, but if it were not the playoffs, Holliday would be getting one high and hard.

I have a feeling before this series is over, Holliday will get plunked.

no doubt. We're likely to see Holliday get earholed, then whatever F1 threw it gets plunnked. Benches clear. This could get very ugly.

I wouldn't be shocked if warnings are issued before some of the games in this series.

[Richvee]

(3) The runner may slide through and beyond the base toward left field and be unable to reach the base provided that he does not do so in order to contact the fielder who has retreated to this position off the base to complete the play. In that event, the previous guideline is in effect and the runner must be able to reach the base with some part of his body.

GUIDELINES:

In sliding to a base, the runner should be able to reach the base with his hand or foot. A runner who, in the judgment of the umpire, contacts or attempts to make contact with a fielder with a slide or roll block that is not a bona fide effort to reach and stay on the base may be called out for interference and, when appropriate, a double play may be called. Any definite change in direction by the runner to contact the fielder would be considered interference.

I believe he's guilty on the bolded parts here.

1. He slid through the base for no other reason than to contact the fielder as stated in 3.

2. I don't see how you can call that A "BONA FIDE EFFORT TO REACH AND STAY ON THE BASE"

Tough call. Surely a judgement call. But it sure looked like a intentionally late slide with no other purpose than to take out the fielder standing behind the bag.

[JaxRolo]

(3) The runner may slide through and beyond the base toward left field and be unable to reach the base provided that he does not do so in order to contact the fielder who has retreated to this position off the base to complete the play. In that event, the previous guideline is in effect and the runner must be able to reach the base with some part of his body.

GUIDELINES:

In sliding to a base, the runner should be able to reach the base with his hand or foot. A runner who, in the judgment of the umpire, contacts or attempts to make contact with a fielder with a slide or roll block that is not a bona fide effort to reach and stay on the base may be called out for interference and, when appropriate, a double play may be called. Any definite change in direction by the runner to contact the fielder would be considered interference.

I believe he's guilty on the bolded parts here.

1. He slid through the base for no other reason than to contact the fielder as stated in 3.

2. I don't see how you can call that A "BONA FIDE EFFORT TO REACH AND STAY ON THE BASE"

Tough call. Surely a judgement call. But it sure looked like a intentionally late slide with no other purpose than to take out the fielder standing behind the bag.

No Doubt!!!

[Umpire in Chief]

It was not a roll block. He was not past the base when he started the slide. The only retaliation was the salute Pagan gave the dugout. The pro players understand the way their version of the game is played.

I love having Rich here and we often do not agree, but I agree here. I have not been able to convince myself that this was illegal - and I've tried.

Poor sportsmanship, too aggressive, bad overall decision Absolutely

[noumpere]

I believe he's guilty on the bolded parts here.

1. He slid through the base for no other reason than to contact the fielder as stated in 3.

2. I don't see how you can call that A "BONA FIDE EFFORT TO REACH AND STAY ON THE BASE"

Quite possibly true but i dont think its really called that way in practice

[Jocko]

For the record, I hate that they play like this, but it's MLB. They play hard and often dirty. Was it rotten? Yes. Horsesh*t? Sure. Part of the game? 100%. Thats why I expect some chin music in the near future. Because that's part of the game too.

I have a good no-call by U2. Sucks, but thats the way it is. Hope noone sharpens their spikes. This has the makings of a riot.

[Richvee]

I believe he's guilty on the bolded parts here.

1. He slid through the base for no other reason than to contact the fielder as stated in 3.

2. I don't see how you can call that A "BONA FIDE EFFORT TO REACH AND STAY ON THE BASE"

Quite possibly true but i dont think its really called that way in practice

You're right. It's probably not. But since my level of umpiring is high school on down, I'm just going by the written rule here. There's no doubt any level of ball I do, I'm calling the interference. And probably an EJ for MC

[noumpere]

You're right. It's probably not. But since my level of umpiring is high school on down, I'm just going by the written rule here.

You know enough to know the written word doesnt always mean what it says especially in baseball and OBR.

There's no doubt any level of ball I do, I'm calling the interference. And probably an EJ for MC

I have a hard time seeing how this was intent to injure so I dont see how you get MC out of this at the HS or college level.

[Richvee]

True about the written word.

Re. MC. I don't know. I've got a 100% illegal slide in FED with no other intention than to take out the F4. I'd be interested to know what others think about MC here had it been FED.

[Jocko]

In Fed, it's illegal to overslide. I'd definitely have the BR out, and I'd EJ R1 for MC.

[Richvee]

In Fed, it's illegal to overslide. I'd definitely have the BR out, and I'd EJ R1 for MC.

Glad I'm not alone on FED MC here. :rock

[Maineac]

For the record, I hate that they play like this, but it's MLB. They play hard and often dirty. Was it rotten? Yes. Horsesh*t? Sure. Part of the game? 100%. Thats why I expect some chin music in the near future. Because that's part of the game too.

I have a good no-call by U2. Sucks, but thats the way it is. Hope noone sharpens their spikes. This has the makings of a riot.

SF will get a chance for their pound of flesh, THEN the warnings will come.

[JaxRolo]

In Fed, it's illegal to overslide. I'd definitely have the BR out, and I'd EJ R1 for MC.

Glad I'm not alone on FED MC here.

I also agree !!!! :notworthy:

[mstaylor]

I understand that this is not illegal in MLB. The fact remains he did not touch the ground until the very trail edge of the bag or behind it. He was going after the SS all the way. I doubt he meant to wrap him up as much as he did. Personally I think they have stretched this rule as far as congress has stretched the interstate commerce clause. I understand breaking up the double play, many times they go so wide they need to be banged.

[basejester]

It's part of the game if the umpire allows it. It's not part of the game if he doesn't.

(m) A preceding runner shall, in the umpire’s judgment, intentionally interfere with a

fielder who is attempting to catch a thrown ball or to throw a ball in an attempt to

complete any play:

That rule gives the umpire the authority to make an interference call based on his judgement, this play has evidence that would support that, and I think MLB should back him if he did call it.