Intially I thought it was a blown call but after examining the replay the ball has jumped up which is consistent with a bounce off the ground. The catcher blew it by not tagging even if he thought he caught it he should have known that the umpire couldn't know that for sure.
The point is not whether it hit the ground or not, the point is that he signaled OUT. He tried to say that was his third strike motion, but that didnt match what happened when Molina struck out in the fourth inning of the same game. Monina struck out, the ball bounced. The ump put the arm straight out, and then waited until AJ tagged Molina. When, and ONLY THEN, did he make the "out" signal. Unfortunately for the Angels, the umpire made the out call before any tag was made and then when AJ ran, he second-guessed himself. It doesn't really matter if it hit the ground or not (which I think it hit the top of the glove, but), its the call that was made. Did Escobar proceed to give up a hit?? Yup, but after he stood out on the mound for about 8 minutes while the discussion was going on. He was filthy before that incident and then he got cold.
If that game stays tied (and remember the Angels were up 1-0 games and had only given up a 1st inning unearned run), they are up 2-0 and coming home. Nothing is to say they would have scored, but nothing is to say they wouldnt either. Games should be decided on the field and unfortunately, although it finally was decided on the field with the next hitter, the Angels were given a HUGE setback.
Game 4 was the absolutely worst gme I've seen umpired in my life! Check swing to AJ was a judgement call, so you cant really get on them that much for that one, but that was a HUGE call. The catcher's interference was MONUMENTAL as it turned a bases loaded, one out situation into the end of the inning. Podsednick was out on the pickoff. The guy who stole 2nd base was out by more than a foot. The pitch that was 1 inch away from the CENTER of the plate and called a ball. The jumping grab/tag by Erstad at first was inconclusive, but close. The umps blew 4 calls and had 2 close ones that went the Sox way.
The phantom tag play on AJ in game 5 was not "cheating" as someone on this board idiotically said. It was a brain fart by Escobar. Why did it take three umps 3 minutes to figure out they were wrong?? The home plate ump should have had that figured out in 10 seconds.
The Angels didn't hit the ball, plain and simple. They have no one to blame but themselves for that. Too many first pitch swings allowed the four complete games. A more patient lineup would have gotten into that bullpen, which could have been good or bad. The rainout in NY hurt us tremendously, but Fox had to keep the schedule like it was to raise the revenues.
No one has a crystal ball to see what would have happened if they had gone extra innings in game 2. Unfortunately we didnt get to see it.
There will be NO asterick on the Sox win. They won, they played well. I wont be rooting for them, but who cares.....Go Angels in 2006