Baseball umpire reversals

[SWC75]

In baseball, calls are made in the middle of play that impact the rest of the play. That leads to a peculiar problem that became apparent in last night's Met's game:

This is about “Ramirez’s 2 run single”: Alfaro's two-HR, five-RBI night takes down Mets Runners on second and third, two out. A grounder to first. Alonso fields it and tosses to Brach, the pitcher, who hesitates to catch the ball and then puts his foot on the bag – a nanosecond after the runner’s big toe touched it on the side opposite the umpire, who calls him out. Brach is aware he might not have beaten the runner and turns to throw home where the guy running from second base is trying to score the second run. He stops when (A) he hears the out call and (B) sees that his catcher, Ramos, is walking off the field. The call is reversed and both runs are allowed to score. Should there be a rule that players, when a call is recovered, have to return to the last base they occupied in the event of a reversal? Or should the defensive players try to get a fourth out in case they lose an appeal?

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

In baseball, calls are made in the middle of play that impact the rest of the play. That leads to a peculiar problem that became apparent in last night's Met's game:

This is about “Ramirez’s 2 run single”: Alfaro's two-HR, five-RBI night takes down Mets Runners on second and third, two out. A grounder to first. Alonso fields it and tosses to Brach, the pitcher, who hesitates to catch the ball and then puts his foot on the bag – a nanosecond after the runner’s big toe touched it on the side opposite the umpire, who calls him out. Brach is aware he might not have beaten the runner and turns to throw home where the guy running from second base is trying to score the second run. He stops when (A) he hears the out call and (B) sees that his catcher, Ramos, is walking off the field. The call is reversed and both runs are allowed to score. Should there be a rule that players, when a call is recovered, have to return to the last base they occupied in the event of a reversal? Or should the defensive players try to get a fourth out in case they lose an appeal?

Yes. Unlike other sports, its hard, if not impossible, to go back to the original wrong call and figure out where everyone should be. Brach could have thrown home and thrown it into the stands, moving all runners up, or the runner could have been at the plate.

 

[upperdeck]

they were a little vague in how they handled it.. they implied the review booth allowed the run.

watching the overhead shot, the runner wasnt half way and Ramos walked away from home when the out was called.. I dont see how they allow the run.. balls can cross the infield while runners take 2-3 steps. Ramos could have easily gotten back for a throw. who knows if the runner misses home sliding..

 

[chugg21]

That's a brutal unintended consequence. I agree that runners should have to go back to the last bag they occupied.

 

[upperdeck]

I dont think it should be automatic. just try to use some logic. its no different than other plays where interference happens. Umpires use best guess to reset the play.

will they go to the NFL rules where the Umps are taught on close plays to call safe and let the play go? Except in baseball safe may lead to really crazy stuff where a guy who is out causes a 2nd play later that leads to other chaos.

 

[SWC75]

I dont think it should be automatic. just try to use some logic. its no different than other plays where interference happens. Umpires use best guess to reset the play.

will they go to the NFL rules where the Umps are taught on close plays to call safe and let the play go? Except in baseball safe may lead to really crazy stuff where a guy who is out causes a 2nd play later that leads to other chaos.

I worry about players being injured trying to get a fourth out in case they might need it or sliding home on a play that won't count. People forget what the real job of an umpire is: to provide authority and certainty as to what the situation is. Ideally, they are always right but somebody has to declare what happened so players know what to do next. With a review of a call that then becomes the middle of a play, you lose that.