Xander Bogaerts Commits Shift Violation After Giants Challenge

[Lindsay]

Giants batter Patrick Bailey's 9th inning groundout in San Diego was nullified when Replay Review overturned umpires to call a defensive shift violation on Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts, ruling the infielder failed to begin play within the dirt boundary. San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler successfully challenged the play, resulting in a penalty ball added to the count, but if you watched the Padres broadcast, you likely were left with quite a few questions about this call.

In addition to bigger bases and a pitch clock, MLB instituted defensive shift limits for 2023, making it illegal for less than two infielders to occupy each side of the infield, as well as prohibiting infielders from starting play on the outfield grass.

Kapler thus challenged that Bogaerts began with his heels on the outfield grass, which is a violation of the shift rule (by about two inches, but a violation nonetheless).

The confusion came from San Diego TV starting its replays too late, after Padres pitcher Josh Hader had already engaged the rubber and began his motion to come home.

Although MLB's website lists the requirement as, "The four infielders must be within the boundary of the infield when the pitcher is on the rubber," instructional videos from the league itself along with in-game graphics from San Francisco's broadcast use the phrase "when pitcher begins delivery."

Regardless of which standard one uses, however, replays conclusively indicate Bogaerts' heels were on the outfield grass and outside the boundary of the infield when the pitcher began delivery or motion to the plate, which is an infield shift violation.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Replay calls Bogaerts for Shift Violation in Giants-Padres game

View the full article

[Jimurray]

1 hour ago, Lindsay said:

Giants batter Patrick Bailey's 9th inning groundout in San Diego was nullified when Replay Review overturned umpires to call a defensive shift violation on Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts, ruling the infielder failed to begin play within the dirt boundary. San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler successfully challenged the play, resulting in a penalty ball added to the count, but if you watched the Padres broadcast, you likely were left with quite a few questions about this call.

 

In addition to bigger bases and a pitch clock, MLB instituted defensive shift limits for 2023, making it illegal for less than two infielders to occupy each side of the infield, as well as prohibiting infielders from starting play on the outfield grass.

 

Kapler thus challenged that Bogaerts began with his heels on the outfield grass, which is a violation of the shift rule (by about two inches, but a violation nonetheless).

 

The confusion came from San Diego TV starting its replays too late, after Padres pitcher Josh Hader had already engaged the rubber and began his motion to come home.

 

Although MLB's website lists the requirement as, "The four infielders must be within the boundary of the infield when the pitcher is on the rubber," instructional videos from the league itself along with in-game graphics from San Francisco's broadcast use the phrase "when pitcher begins delivery."

 

Regardless of which standard one uses, however, replays conclusively indicate Bogaerts' heels were on the outfield grass and outside the boundary of the infield when the pitcher began delivery or motion to the plate, which is an infield shift violation.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Replay calls Bogaerts for Shift Violation in Giants-Padres game

View the full article

And MLB headed off someone trying to get a home field advantage by making the 95' distance radially from the rubber mandatory this year.

[MadMax]

What MLB does with & within OBR is their own business. 

Calls, violations, and penalties like this further reinforce we (the baseball public) need a separate rules set. Official Professional Baseball Rules… and then Baseball Rules for Amateurs (BRA) … or Baseball Rules for Dummies (BRD)… 

 

[The Man in Blue]

Preach @MadMax!  I believe the ONLY ruleset that should be used for HS and below is NFHS.  Is it perfect?  No, but it is the only ruleset that is expressly written for the under-18 game.

Even looking at softball organizations, I don't believe your "big alphabets" (USA and USSSA) should be used for youth games. 

 

As for this call ... don't like it.  But, as was said, it's MLB's business.

[beerguy55]

12 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

As for this call ... don't like it.  But, as was said, it's MLB's business.

I don't mind it.   There's a line and if they don't go by the line then the appearance of impropriety can come in to play.  (see the strike zone on any given night)

With replay review you don't have much choice but to have strict adherance.

The three point line is assessed in a similar fashion is it not?

The football only needs to touch the plane of the end zone.  The puck needs to be completely over the goal line.  You can be offside by a millimeter.  Your toenail touching the line in tennis or volleyball results in an invalid serve.

[ErichKeane]

On 9/5/2023 at 7:30 AM, MadMax said:

What MLB does with & within OBR is their own business. 

Calls, violations, and penalties like this further reinforce we (the baseball public) need a separate rules set. Official Professional Baseball Rules… and then Baseball Rules for Amateurs (BRA) … or Baseball Rules for Dummies (BRD)… 

 

Yeah, its weird around here to explain to folks attending the tournaments that "we do the MLB rules ... but from like 2017.  So no pitch clocks, smaller bases, you can shift, you don't have to give me a list of pitchers in advance..."