Dodgers turn first 2-5-6-3 triple play in history but Padres cry foul over umpire’s actions

yahoo sports ^ | 4-15-12 | Kevin Kaduk

[rawhide]

Before Sunday, it had been 130 years since anyone turned a similar type of bizarre triple play that the Los Angeles Dodgers turned against the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning of a 5-4 win.

But with the logistics involved and the help from the home plate umpire that the Dodgers received, it'll probably take another 130 years for anyone to do it again.

For those keeping score at home, that's a 2-5-6-3 triple play that went around all four bases, the first 2-5-6-3 triple play that featured a putout at third, second and first.

http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/feat/MLB_Highlights/28961982

[OrangeHoof]

Certainly a strange looking play. I think the fact that the batter bailed out would have made the runners think it either hit the batter or was a foul ball.

Reminds me of Game 4 of the 1980 NLCS when pitcher Vern Ruhle trapped a short bloop and the Phillies didn’t know whether to run or not so they moved halfway off the bases. Ruhle, of the Astros, threw to first to double off that runner and, after a small delay, the first baseman threw down to second to double off that runner for a triple play while the Phillies were beginning to argue with the umpires.

The NL president was in attendance and he decided that two of the Phillies were out but the runner on second could stay. Here’s the audio of that moment:

http://www.astrosdaily.com/audio/80gm4a.mp3

[OrangeHoof]

If a foul ball is untouched by a fielder or object and then rolls fair before it passes first or third base and the fielder touches the ball in fair territory, it is a fair ball. I’ve seen it happen before.

The fair-foul scenario is more common because it is usually in the fielder’s best interest to touch the ball when it is foul and thus no play because runners are advancing. In this case, however, the fielder’s advantage was a fair ball because the force was in order and nobody was running.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

2 (catcher) to 5 (third baseman) to 6 (shortstop covering second) to 3 (first baseman)

[Ransomed]

The ump that was right there stuck BOTH his hands up in the air, then actually raised BOTH of them higher. Harold Reynolds on MLB network had them freeze it. Unless he was fending off a bee, I would have thought dead ball. It was an umpire assist, which is bound to happen sometimes I guess. I think even Vin Scully said it was a no play signal from the ump.

Freegards

[JPG]

You reminded me of the ump who called a runner stealing second “safe” while at the same time giving the ‘out’ sign. The runner complained, “but, but, you called me safe.” “Son, you heard me call you safe but 50,000 people saw me punch you out....you are out.”

[JohnBrowdie]

I never said any of that. and I needn’t explain anything to you. either you get it, or you don’t.

either way, it’s just not my problem.

[Defiant]

In addition, once a ball has been called foul by an ump, that is it. This ump called it foul. The ump is supposed to wait to make that foul call. the call he made is one you make when the ball is fouled off someone's foot and then rolls fair. If the ump makes an incorrect call, it is like an inadvertent whistle in football, the play is dead and you go by the ump's call. Can you imagine if you had an ump calling foul on a ball off a player's foot, and the runners advanced to the next base every time anyway, just to be safe? The umps would go ape over the delay that caused.

A foul call means foul. If the ump was wrong, nothing you can do about it. The runners have to be able to rely on the ump. Here, what seems to have happened is that the ump realized it wasn't foul and then wanted to pretend that he hadn't called it foul because then he looks like he made a mistake. But instead, he made a bigger one, by giving a team a triple play.

[onedoug]

I saw it. It was great. The Padres were caught dumbfounded.

[Defiant]

To add clarity to what I said, when it is not yet clear what will happen to the ball, the ump is to make no call, fair or foul, but to wait and only call "foul" when it could not possible be fair, for example if it is picked up in foul territory by a fielder. Once they make that call, that is it. Same with a fly ball down the line, if the ump yells "foul" on a ball down the right field line that goes into the corner, you don't have to run it out on the possibility that another ump with a better view will overturn the call. It is foul, even if it was actually fair. The play is over at that point.

There are plays that can be overturned if another ump had priority on the call, or the ump with priority asks for help. An "out" call can be made safe, a checked swing can be called a swing, etc. But a foul call is not one of those calls that can be changed. Either he made the call or he didn't. If he made the call, the play is over.

[onedoug]

But that the umps had a conference after the play and all decided to let it stand.

[onedoug]

This was it. You’ve got to see it.

[Defiant]

The ump who made the call was the home plate ump. He is the boss for the game. (They alternate every day). I have no idea what he said to the others. It looked like he called foul, then pointed and said "it's in play. Oops. Play it." Meanwhile, the runners were pointing at him, noting that he had called it foul. He didn't need to say anything, the hand gesture says "foul" and "stop play". At that point, the ball is dead until it is placed back in play, when the ump points at the pitcher on the mound and says "play".

The other umps could not overrule his call, but they may have had a discussion about it, and decided it was better to pretend that he didn't call it foul than to take back a triple play. Or he may have claimed he didn't call it foul, and the others could not do anything about it. There is a very strong ethic to stick together, even if one of you has made a mistake. They know they all make mistakes sometimes, and if you obsess over ever missed strike or out, you will not make it. Make the call and move on. Just try not to make too many bad ones, and keep it consistent. Make enough bad ones, and they will get rid of you eventually.

[copaliscrossing]

Because I’m cubicle bound I cannot see the video. The strangest part of this is the SS covering 2nd base and receiving a throw from the 3rd baseman. I guess the “bunt” must have been towards 1st base to draw the SS to 2nd base with the 2nd baseman covering 1st?

Highly unusual.

[onedoug]

Or too, as Vinney suggested, to see if anyone had a different view of it.

But, as you say, Blue at the plate ultimately makes the call. And incidently, Padres manager Bud Black was ejected for arguing his counter-perspective too strongly.

[oh8eleven]

You reminded me of the ump who called a runner stealing second “safe” while at the same time giving the ‘out’ sign.
How about the ump last year (Matt Joyce?) who called a runner safe when he was CLEARLY out and robbed the pitcher of a perfect game.

[Vigilanteman]

Yes, audio would be an issue. If the ump did, indeed, yell "foul" then there are grounds for appeal. However, the body language of the runners makes me believe that they just assumed the call based on the capitulation body language of the batter.

Still, you've got to give the Dodger catcher credit for recognizing the rare opportunity which the play afforded and milking it for all it was worth.

[Vigilanteman]

this is why you ALWAYS run out a foul ball.

Apparently, there are two exceptions to that rule:

1. If you are at the beginning level and your coach hasn't taught you to do it yet.
   
2. If you've already made it to the top as a MLB player and such fundamentals are beneath your dignity.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I suggest everyone has misinterpreted the umpire's hands-up gesture. The replay shows he appeared surprised by the pitch's location--essentially at the batter's throat--and both backed up and threw his hands up defensively. It was purely reactive and was not a call at all, even though the runners assumed it was because his hands were coincidentally in the "foul ball" or "time is out" position. After a second or two at the most, he noticed the ball's location in fair territory and pointed "Fair ball!" emphatically.

The runners should have run instantly when they saw the ball not in the air but on the ground and should have ignored the home plate umpire. There are base umpires who will tell them to stop and return to their original base on a foul ball. That those umpires did not do so is all we need to know: all four umpires agreed it was a fair ball.

[Defiant]

At what age were you when you stopped playing in Little League?