Anaheim Angels robbed in Chicago
[Originally posted: Wednesday, 12 October, 2005]
It was a swing - our catcher caught it - Doug Eddings called him out. And somewhere along the line, because the guy ran to first base, he altered the call. [see video]
-Mike Scioscia after ALCS Game 2
The ALCS game 2 was spoiled for the Anaheim Angels when the home plate umpire Doug Eddings missed a critical call behind the plate. With the game tied 1-1 with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Angel's pitcher Kelvim Escobar caught White Sox A. J. Pierzynski swinging and missing at strike three. After the third strike, Angel's catcher Josh Paul rolled the ball toward the mound and ran off the field with the rest of the Angels players. At this, Pierzynski turned and ran to first base where he was called safe. Umpire Doug Eddings, believing the cather trapped the ball instead catching it outright, called the third strike but did not call him out. When the catcher does not catch the third strike cleanly, the batter is free to run to first, where if he makes it before the ball is thrown to first, he is ruled safe. This is a rare situation where three strikes does not mean you're out. [video of controversial play]
Instant replay shows that Angel's catcher seemed to catch the ball near the dirt cleanly and the umpire just missed the call. After this play, the White Sox brought in Jose Ozuna to run for Pierzynski. The next batter, Joe Crede, after Ozuna stole second base, hit a double off the left field wall bringing in the winning run. With the White Sox home crowd exploding in mayhem at the win, shocked Angels players walked off the field, stunned.
Was umpire Doug Eddings consistet in his signs? Replays from third strike calls earlier in the game seem consistent with his third strike call in the 9th inning. He first motions 'no foul tip' by extending his right arm straight out, palm down, then he motions the third strike by a clenched fist. What the camera didn't capture was any verbal mention of out. If his actions are consistent, how are we do distinguish between a called third strike that ends in an out and one that does not?
What is clear from this unfortunate episode is this: all this could have been rendered moot if backup catcher Josh Paul had played it safe and tagged the batter out just to be sure. It seems clear that Paul thought he caught the third strike but the umpire did not. Of course there a ton of emotion surrounding the game, maybe more with the game tied 1-1 in the 9th. However, a just-to-be-sure easy tag of the batter and the game would have ended John Kruk makes the argument that the fault may be as much with umpire as with backup catcher Josh Paul.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia showed a ton of class at the press conference right after the game. In a situation like this, it would be completely understandable for a manager to come unhingded but Scioscia was a consumate professional. Scioscia showed incrediable composure while talking with the press. After answering a question about the call, Scioscia paused briefly and before taking another question turned the focus of his comments from the botched call to his team's play during the game. In a moment he stopped and changed from bitching about a call that cannot be changd to focusing on what can, motivating his team to get ready for game 3. Scioscia said:
"There's a lot of focus on that play but we did not play at a high enough level tonight to win the ball game, that's the bottom line. ...we just didn't get it done tonight offensively."
Another interesting comment that came from the press conference with Scioscia was his response to a question about whether he thought that instant replay should be used in baseball. He said:
No, I am not in favor of replay at all. ...There might be some replay that come in on a homerun - fair or foul or fan interference, something like that. But as far as plays around the bases or at home plate or pitches like that, I don't think replay is anything that we should bring into the game.
See Also: Wizbang!
Comments