In the eighth inning of the Braves/Cardinals wild-card playoff game, the Braves had runners on first and second with one out.  Andrelton Simmons hit a fly ball to shallow left field, which was ruled an infield fly by umpire Sam Holbrook.  Here’s a video of the play if you haven’t seen it yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Z5MIaISrU

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez put the game under protest, the results of which will be discovered soon.  The Braves felt that the primary two criteria for an infield fly were not met, which are:

An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule.

When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare “Infield Fly” for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare “Infield Fly, if Fair.”

The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul.

If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly.
Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly) Comment: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder – not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire’s judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately.

When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05(l). The infield fly rule takes precedence.

So what do you think?  Blown call?  Should MLB allow the game to be replayed from that point, as the protest is asking for?

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As the tempreratures continue to skyrocket this summer, apparently so are Umpire’s tempers. Four different managers got thrown out last night and also a bench coach. The Chicago Cubs Mike Quade, San Fransisco Giants Bruce Bochy, Cincinatti Reds Dusty Baker and Washington Nationals Davey Johnson were all tossed is seperate incicents that spanned three different games. Quade didn’t take very long to get the night going as he got hiimself an early shower after just the third batter of the game. Aramis Ramirez struck out and proceeded to argue with home plate umpire Bill Miller when Quade came out and defended his third baseman.

Bochy waited till extra innings before deciding his time at the ballpark that night had gone on long enough. He got sent packing in the bottom of the 10th by second base umpire Dan Bellino for arguing a crucial call at 2nd base. The Astros ended up winning in the very next inning much to Bochy’s chagrine.

The game between the Reds and Nationals was the most intruiging of the night. In a game that went 14 innnings and was decided by a Joey Votto walk-off homerun, both managers were thrown out and then Nationals bench coach Pat Corrales was also tossed. All 3 were ejected by a different umpire. Johnson was ejected in the 7th by thirds base ump. Joe West, Baker in the bottom of the 12th by second base ump. Chad Fairchild and Corrales in the 9th by home plate ump. Sam Holbrook.

It was a crazy night of ejections that doesn’t happen very often for baseball but in a way probably felt good for the umpires as a whole if for nothing else just to have a little fun in the heat.

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Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt tossed Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and starting third baseman Danny Valencia for arguing balls and strikes in the bottom of the 8th inning against the Baltimore Orioles. There was 1 out and nobody on when Valencia struck out swinging. Gardenire immediately ran out and defended his third baseman for a previous strike that neither player nor manager agreed with. The Twins went on to lose 4-1 for their 72nd loss of the year putting them 17 games below .500. The Orioles aren’t doing any better as the win was just their 44th this year and they “improved” to 19 games below .500. Neither team is in the playoff race so these ejections will not garner much news. It was the 60th ejection of Ron Gardenhire’s career.

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Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland and Pittsburgh Pirates skipper Clint Hurdle were both ejected for sepearate incidents yesterday. The reasons for each manager getting tossed were similar but the respective play each skipper was arguing against proved to be more dire for Hurdle’s team. Leyland got tossed in the bottom of the 6th inning for arguing a call at third base where Tigers third baseman Wilson Betemit appeared to have slid in safely at third. However the third base umpire Alan Porter called him out. Replays later showed Betemit was safe and Porter was wrong but regardless the Tigers ended up winning the game due in large part to a 7 run third inning.

Hurdle has more reason to be upset as the call that got him eventually thrown out likely cost his team a shot at the win. In the bottom of the 9th down one, pinch runner Josh Harrison was called out on a close play at 2nd that would have given the Pirates a great chance to tie the game up considering Neil Walker doubled right after the call. Hurdle, obviusly furious was eventually tossed by second base umpire Brian Knight. It was his 4th ejection of the season and 2nd in the past 3 days.

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There were 3 more ejections wednesday night and all of them from Chicago based teams. White Sox pitcher Brian Bruney was ejected in the top of the 7th inning in a game that was already a blowout. In the middle of a thrashing by the New York Yankees, Bruney tried to argue a safe call at first base made by first base umpire Marvin Hudson and then proceeded to get thrown out. I didn’t see the play but either way it wasn’t a very important call and there was no reason Bruney should have gotten himself thrown out other than he was just frustrated from a tough night.

The Chicago Cubs actually ended up on the winning end of a 1-0 game tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates thanks to Starlin Castro’s 4th homer of the year. However they finished the game without the presence of their manager Mike Quade or any help from right fielder Tyler Colvin. Home plate umpire Bob Davidson had a busy day as he first tossed Colvin out quickly for arguing a third strike call and then decided he would throw out the manager as well, when Quade came out to defend his player. Quade actually had his back turned to the umpire and was walking back to the dugout when he was tossed and a confused looking Quade had no choice but to turn around and argue some more.

Neither Chicago tema has had an easy time of it this year and the umpires didn’t make it any easier tonight. The Cubs are well out of the playoff race right now and the White Sox are just hanging on to stay in there. We’ll see if this affects how either team interacts with the umpires in upcoming games.

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Yadier Molina, catcher for the St. Lois Cardinals and Kevin Youkilis, third baseman for the Boston Red Sox were both ejected last night for similar offenses. Both argued balls and strikes and both were then ejected promptly. Youkilis’ ejection isn’t getting as much attention as Molina’s but luckily neither players temper ended up costing their a team a win. Both games were very close against oppenents that are also chasing playoff spots.

Youkilis hit a solo homerun, his 16th of the year, in the 6th inning but in his very next at bat was called out on a check swing in which he and home plate umpire Gerry Davis disagreed on whether he swung or not. The star third baseman proceeded to argue his case all the way back to the dugout until Davis had heard enough and threw him out. The game was still tied at 2 at this point in the 7th inning and was a bone-headed move for a veteran whose team might have needed him later on. Luckily enough Jacoby Ellsbury bailed his teammate out with his walk-off single in the 9th.

By the time Yadier Molina was ejected the game was already tense. In a contest between the two division rivals with probably the best chance to win the NL Central it seemed only a matter of time before someone was ejected. The fireworks started in the 7th inning when Milwaukee Brewers reliever Takashi Saito hit Albert Pujols on the same left wrist that had been borken and kept him out for a good portion of the year before the All-Star break. The Cardinals were not happy but thankfully for them the x-rays came up negative and his wrist seems to be fine.

That pitch wasn’t intentional but many seem to believe the pitch in the bottom of the inning by Cardinals reliever Jason Motte was. Motte hit Brewers star Ryan Braun in the back with a 97 mile an hour heater. Molina and Motte both claimed after the game it wasn’t on purpose and that they were only trying to pitch inside and it got away from him but the Brewers weren’t thrilled with that explanation. Home plate umpire Rob Drake warned both benches but no one was ejected. It wasn’t until the top of the 10th inning when Molina finally lost his cool and threw a tirade at Drake and even bumped him in the process. The Cardinals can probably expect a suspension to come down the line from the MLB offices for making contact with an umpire.

However just like Youkilis, Molina was bailed out by a teammate in the top of the 11th inning when Lance Berkman singled to score Matt Holliday and the go ahead run. So neither all-stars ejection ended up costing his team and I guess alls well that ends well for these players.

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Los Angeles Angels ace Jered Weaver and manager Mike Scioscia were each suspended today for the altercation that occured sunday between the Angels and the Detroit Tigers. When Carlos Guillen showboated his way around the base paths after a homerun that put his team up 3-0 Weaver took offense and threw his next pitch at the head of Tiger’s catcher Alex Avila. Weaver was immdiedately tossed out of the game by umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.

Weaver was suspended for a total of 6 games, which means he will probably only miss one start. However he apparently feels this suspension is unjust because he has chosen to appeal instead of serving it. Scioscia’s suspension was for 1 game and he has chosen to serve it tonight when his team will go up against the Minnesota Twins.

Major League Baseball is making it very clear they will not tolerate any of this as Clevelend Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco was also suspended for 6 games yesterday after throwing at the head of Kansas City Royals slugger Billy Butler. Carrasco has also chosen to appeal his suspension. Joe Garagiola Jr., Major League Baseball’s senior vice president of standards and on-field operations, announced the discipline for both pitchers.

I can certainly understand the suspensions however I think there needs to be something done about the way batters can act after getting a homerun or a base hit. Listen I am all for being pumped after a clutch hit that your team needs and I have no problem with guys showing their emotions on the field whatsoever. However the way Guillen chose to show his emotions, staring at Weaver as he tossed his bat and continuing to stare all the way down the first base line, is just unnecessary. If I were Weaver I honestly cannot say I wouldn’t have done the same thing because as a big time athlete you simply can’t let others show you up like that on national television. Your oppenent has to respect you and that is what Weaver was making sure they did.

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Everyone looked at this game and said it could possibly be one of the best pitching duels this year. It certainly was one of the best matchups pitting two Cy Young candidates in Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers and Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels against each other. The game was all fans had hoped it to be and more. The two pitchers allowed only a combined 5 hits and 3 earned runs.

The big story after the game was Verlander taking a no-hit bid into the 8th inning coming within 4 outs of what would have been his 3rd career no-no. However, what has been gaining momentum on all the talking head shows on ESPN the day after is the “unwritten” rules that were broken in the game. The first being when Tigers second basemen Carlos Guillen hit what turned out to be a crucial homerun in the 7th inning but then proceeded to stare at Weaver and gloat all the way down the first base line. It was obvious Weaver was upset as Guillen finished his trot and most people seem to agree that what he did was way over the top.

Weaver apparently felt so too as he threw his next pitch at catcher Alex Avila’s head and was then immediately thrown out by home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. Weaver didn’t go quietly as he went off the mound screaming at what seemed to be umpires and Tigers alike.

Wendelstedt and his crew tried to keep the peace as tempers were flaring throughout the rest of the game particularly when Angels shortstop Erick Aybar tried to bunt his way on in the 8th inning to end Verlander’s no-hit bid and the surprised pitcher ended up throwing it away and letting Aybar reach second. Verlander stared down Aybar on his way back to the mound and later after the game called the play “bush league” for not trying to get a hit straight up.

Ok look, here’s my opinion: there are no “unwritten” rules in any sport, just the ones each league has in the rule book. It is ridiculous to expect any player on another team act accoding to how you think they should act just because your on the verge of accomplishing something. The game was still within reach at the time (it was 3-0) and Aybar’s job is to do anything he can to help his team win, not to help Verlander get a no-hitter.

In the end the Tigers held on to win and better heads prevailed thanks to Wendelstedt and his crew but they almost didn’t for the simple fact that other players did not act according to how the starting pitchers wanted them to act. Verlander and Weaver need to realize that the playoff race is heating up and whatever doesn’t get them fined or suspended is in play to help get wins.

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The game was already embaressing enough for the Cleveland Indians, being down 7-0 in the 4th inning to the Kansas City Royals but pitcher Carlos Carrasco decided to put himself in the way of individual ridicule as well. In the top of the 4th, up 3-0, with the bases loaded Melky Cabrera stepped and delivered a monster shot to right field for a grand slam and his 13th homerun of the season.

Carrasco, who gave up all 7 earned runs through only 3 and a third innings, let his temper get the better of him and threw his next pitch directly at the head of Billy Butler. The pitch misssed but umpire Scott Barry immediately stepped in and threw the obviously frustrated pitcher out of the game. Butler, who homered twice in the game including one off Carrasco, began to walk towards the mound but was cut off by catcher Lou Marson.

No further harm was done and no one else was ejected thanks to Barry’s quick reaction. The Indians went on to lose 12-0 in an unusually bad loss for a team who is in the thick of the playoff race in the AL central. Also of note was Kosuke Fukodome making his Indians debut but failing to get a hit going 0-4 with a strikeout.

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Yesterday the Pittsburgh Pirates filed a formal complaint with Major League Baseball about the incorrect call that abruptly ended the 19 inning game between them and the Atlanta Braves. Many have been wondering why the team did this and what it can accomplish. The honest answer is really nothing. They are not going to replay the inning or take a win away from the Braves, the only league I have ever seen replay any part of a game was the NBA and that was because of clock errors not officials.

Really the only thing this can possibly accomplish is getting Major League Baseball and umpire Jerry Meals to admit publicly that there was a mistake made. Well the MLB and Meals did come out and release statements saying the call was incorrect so maybe this will sooth some of the Pirates hurt feelings. Executive vice president for baseball operations Joe Torre, released spoke on behalf of the league and while he lamented the blown call he also defended the 14 year vertean umpire saying, “”Most in the game recognize that the human element always will be part of baseball and instant replay can never replace all judgment calls by umpires.”

This raises some interesting questions that i’m sure will be talked about at length on all of ESPN’s talking head shows. The question is should baseball finally give in and use instant replay for situations like this. Many say replay will only slow down an already slow-paced game. However, i say what’s a few more minutes if you get critical calls at the end of the game correct. In my opinion each manager should have one challenge through the 1st 7 innings and then through the last 2 umpires will have the ability to review any call they deem questionable.

In this way it’s a little like college football where every play is reviewed in the last 2 minutes of games by the booth and then the referees on the field may look if the booth feels it necessary. Why leave these important games in the hands of split-second judgement calls when we have all seen that sometimes these, usually fantastic umpires, judgement isn’t good enough? Hopefully baseball will be mature enough to break old habits and listen to the outcrys for something that could help the game in the long-run.

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