Mariotti: Just call it another strike against baseball

Chicago Suntimes Online ^ | 10/14/2005 | Jay Mariotti

[Eagles Talon IV]

I missed the Arod to Giambi play but it just proves my point. It's funny that the players seem to whine a whole lot less then the media.

[Night Hides Not]

EVERY catcher worth his salt tags the batter after a third strike anywhere NEAR the dirt. This is taught to every kid, adolescent, college, and pro-catcher

I played catcher from sixth grade through JV in HS...you are absolutely correct.

Speaking from experience, whoever invented the "cup" deserves the Nobel Prize. My wife and three kids would second that nomination.

[Eagles Talon IV]

I missed the Arod to Giambi play but it just proves my point. It's funny that the players seem to whine a whole lot less then the media.

[nikos1121]

The umpire said that he goes by the expressions or movements of the batter, if you can believe that. I mean, how could he even tell from where he stands if the ball was caught or not?

[Condor51]

****EVERY catcher worth his salt tags the batter after a third strike anywhere NEAR the dirt. This is taught to every kid, adolescent, college, and pro-catcher.***

Thank YOU, that seems to be overlooked in this brouhaha.

I was taught that in 1960 (or was it '59?) when I first put on "the tools of ignorance".

[Doohickey]

Can I still be bitter about the blown interference call against Bennie Barnes in Super Bowl XIII?

[frogjerk]

So, the bad call (the ball clearly hit the webbing of the mitt and rolled into the pocket - watch the replays, no dirt flew up as it would have if the ball had hit the ground first) was bad enough.

I saw the replay over and over. The webbing of the catcher's mitt was face down into the ground, a partial trapping of the ball. As one poster said, why not tag the batter for good measure. This was the catcher's mistake.

[1rudeboy]

On a somewhat related note, the day MLB institutes instant-reply will be the day I forswear baseball forever.

[Not A Snowbird]

Through the years this sort of thing has happened in all sports. The NE Pats were handed the conference championship a few years ago because a Brady fumble was called a forward pass. In the end it all evens out and this kind of story is a waste of news print.

Not to mention the infamous "tuck rule" that went against the Raiders a couple of years ago.

The players will kick this to the curb where it belongs and play game 3 tonight. It's the media that won't let it go.

[A message]

The NE Pats were handed the conference championship a few years ago because a Brady fumble

The Pats got a break but were handed NOTHING. It still took a Vinatieri field goal of 40+ yards in a snow storm to tie the game and it required the Raiders to showcase their non defense in OT to allow Vinatieri the game winning field goal.

Same here, sure AJ and the Sox got a break with the call but it still took Escobar to serve up the the big hit to Crede win the game for the Sox.

Sports are all full of woulda, shoulda, could haves and the great teams battle through the bad bounces and questionable calls to still win.

Regardless of the umps call, the Angels had more than their fair share of opportunities to win the game.

[nikos1121]

I agree.

Actually, Mike Scoscia, (God, how do you spell his name?) was very classy with his reponse. He said his team didn't play well enough to win anyway.

The game was still in play with the next batter hitting a home run after Osuma stole second. If Osuma doesn't steal the game is still tied.

[nikos1121]

And how about the runner? I see plenty of major league players rarely running to first on a drop third strike. The worst is Cory Patterson of the wayward Cubs.

[slowhand520]

Great point! I think the human aspect (only umps no replay) of baseball is what keeps it pure. You win some you lose some.

[slowhand520]

Manny Ramirez or Sheffield might be better at that. Those guys, weather it be a ground out, DP or a drop third strike are basically already in the dugout before the ball is thrown to first.

[frogjerk]

And how about the runner? I see plenty of major league players rarely running to first on a drop third strike. The worst is Cory Patterson of the wayward Cubs.

Correct. If you ran to first base on every close call it may get you a couple extra runs a season. And a couple of extra runs a season can be the difference between getting into the playoffs or not.

[nikos1121]

I don't know if it is inconclusive. I mean, would you bet $10,000 that it didn't bounce up?

Let's say the umpire couldn't tell from his position, you would think after conferring for 4 minutes the other umpires would have reversed it. They didn't.

White Sox to win in 6 games...

[Eagles Talon IV]

Listen pal, I'm not a Pat's fan but I'm not blind either. Why do you think Brady trotted off the field as soon as he saw the ball was recovered by the defense? Anyone who watches the replay sees clearly that he was NOT bringing the ball back in a tuck.

[nikos1121]

I've stopped reading this idiot Mariotti. He's mediocre at best. The best thing would be if he were to move to Boston and let him write the same articles about the Red Sox. They'd lynch him.

INcidentally, can you imagine what Red Sox fans would do if this same call went against the REd Sox in game three against the White Sox?

[PMCarey]

Just because the umpire calls the third strike and an out does not mean the batter cannot advance to first on an error by the catcher.

You're right on the third strike, but if the umpire calls you out, then you're out and you can't advance. It sure looked to me like the umpire made two distinct the motions: the first to call the third strike, the second to call him out.