If the situation was reversed then Red Sox nation would be calling for that umpire's head.

Of course they would be. The Angels fans are probably doing the same thing, although they are not nearly the size of Red Sox Nation or as vocally inclined. Think of it like UK versus Vandy in basketball....

I hate to admit it, but Willits was out. I was on the road at the time and listening to coverage on the radio. Both announcers, don't remember who, agreed that Willits was safe because Varitek dropped the ball. Both were saying that the tag was made and then the ball dropped out of Varitek's glove when he fell. When I looked at the replay, Varitek made the tag and then fell. The ball then came out. He didn't juggle it. It was an out.

The umpire didn't really see the ball come loose, but so what. The out was made at the point of the tag. The subsequent impact of the glove on the ground caused the ball to be dropped. And incidentally Dave Campbell is an idiot and always has been. He must have compromising pictures of Berman to still have a job. Requirements for a "tag" are different than the requirements of a "catch" (in which you have to show that you can have voluntary release of the secured ball).

If the situation was reversed then Red Sox nation would be calling for that umpire's head.

 

 

And they would be wrong.

And they would be wrong.

 

:thumb:

The runner was out. No soup for you, Mr. Willits.

The best argument I've heard is using the example of a collision at the plate. Why does the umpire wait to see if the catcher holds on to the ball before making the call. Runner hits catcher, catcher falls backwards, glove hits the ground, ball then comes out. Runner is alwasy called safe. Why is that different then this?

The best argument I've heard is using the example of a collision at the plate. Why does the umpire wait to see if the catcher holds on to the ball before making the call. Runner hits catcher, catcher falls backwards, glove hits the ground, ball then comes out. Runner is alwasy called safe. Why is that different then this?

 

 

First, because the runner is the one that initiates the contact and could force the ball out. Secondly, in a collision at the plate there's usually dust and bodies flying everywhere and the ball has the potential to be knocked loose but still trapped or pinned beneath the catcher's body and not controlled after contact. In this case the ball was held out away from the body and it was clear that Tek held it after contact and didn't lose it until well after the tag had been made when he stumbled and then contacted the ground.

He was clearly out in the slow-motion replay. The umpire made a great call, while in a pressure-packed situation. They teach you in little league that you have to find a way to bunt the ball on a squeeze play, even if you have to throw your bat at the ball. Why aren't we hearing more about this? It wasn't that difficult of a pitch to bunt!!!

I think this play was like the whole double play thing. He made the tag and then lost the ball well afterwards. The right call was made. If you are turning a DP and you lose the ball on the transfer it is still an out at 2nd. Thats kinda how I see this play.

First, because the runner is the one that initiates the contact and could force the ball out. Secondly, in a collision at the plate there's usually dust and bodies flying everywhere and the ball has the potential to be knocked loose but still trapped or pinned beneath the catcher's body and not controlled after contact. In this case the ball was held out away from the body and it was clear that Tek held it after contact and didn't lose it until well after the tag had been made when he stumbled and then contacted the ground.

I don't buy the dust argument when talking about MLB. When is the last time you saw a MLB field that was dusty? What I am talking about is runner hits catcher as catcher applies tag, catcher falls back, glove hits the ground ball comes out and the runner is called safe. The runner didn't knock the ball loose the ground did. No different then this situation.

I don't buy the dust argument when talking about MLB. When is the last time you saw a MLB field that was dusty? What I am talking about is runner hits catcher as catcher applies tag, catcher falls back, glove hits the ground ball comes out and the runner is called safe. The runner didn't knock the ball loose the ground did. No different then this situation.

 

 

Except that the runner is running full blast into the catcher who usually has his glove and ball up against his body to absorb the blow. When it happens at that speed it is very hard for the umpire, who is usually at least partly screened by one player or the other, to see when the ball begins to come loose. Therefore he usually asks the catcher to show him the ball after the tag. On a play where the defensive player catches the ball and makes a sweep tag how often does the umpire wait and ask for the ball before calling the out? Unless their is some kind of major contact which causes the ump not to be able to tell whether the defensive player held on the out call is made immediately--which is what happened to Willits. There are too many body parts flying around on a collision to see when the ball begins to come loose, especially when the umpire also has to make sure whether or not the runner touched the base--thus the delay in one situation and not the other.