Posted on 10/18/2007 10:33:49 PM PDT by Red Steel
CLEVELAND -- Manny Ramirez didn't throw up his arms and admire the baseball he launched in the third inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday night, but the Red Sox slugger still managed to become the center of controversy once again.
With two outs and David Ortiz on first base, Ramirez sent the first offering he faced from Indians left-hander C.C. Sabathia rocketing deep to right-center field. Believing the blast to be a home run, Ramirez trotted out of the batter's box and toward first base, while Ortiz sprinted around the bases.
The baseball came crashing down on top of the wall, appearing to bounce off the yellow line that sits atop the fence, according to television replays. Ortiz scored on the play to put Boston ahead, 2-1, but Ramirez remained at first, confused that he was only being rewarded a long base hit.
Ramirez turned to first-base umpire Dana DeMuth and asked for a timeout, and then began pointing toward the wall and walking into the outfield. Ramirez then begged for an appeal to right-field umpire Paul Emmel, who jogged in to hear Ramirez's argument, as Boston manager Terry Francona emerged from the visitors' dugout.
The ground rules for Jacobs Field indicate that a "fair batted ball that travels over the yellow line on top of the outfield wall" is a home run. Considering that Ramirez's shot appeared to ricochet off the yellow line, the umpires made the correct call. Still, the men in blue convened and talked the matter over, while Ramirez and Francona stood close by.
After a few minutes, the umpires held up the ruling that Ramirez had only achieved an RBI single, resulting in an eruption of cheers from the raucous crowd at The Jake. Francona remained on the field, arguing with the umpires, but the decision stood.
Ramirez stirred up some controversy during Game 4 on Tuesday night, when he belted the third consecutive homer for the Red Sox in the sixth inning. After connecting with the pitch from Cleveland reliever Jensen Lewis, Ramirez threw both hands in the air and watched the ball sail over the wall for a solo homer -- his record 24th career shot in postseason play.
On Wednesday's off-day, Ramirez engaged in a rare interview with a pack of reporters, who were quick to ask Boston's left fielder about his antics. Ramirez smiled and shrugged off his actions, saying that he wasn't trying to show anyone up by watching his home run.
"Man, I'm just happy to do something special like that," Ramirez said. "I'm not trying to show up anybody out there. I'm just trying to go have fun. If somebody strikes me out and shows me up, that's part of the game. I love it."
I wonder if Ramirez was upset with himself for letting down his teammates, by not hustling on that play. He had no way of knowing for sure where the ball would hit, how about hustling for an extra base?
I’m a Mariners fan who dislikes the Red Sox almost as much as I dislike the Yankees. I’m rooting for the Indians to win the whole thing.
Having said that, it was clearly a homerun. I don’t want coaches questioning balls and strikes. But it seems like a good idea that each coach should be allowed to challenge a call, twice per game using instant replay.
The technology is there to make baseball a better, fairer game.
The Colorado Rockies base runner (can’t think of his name), clearly didn’t tage home, but the Padres and there fans clearly weren’t as whiny about that.
That being said Colorado will be a tough one for the sox.
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