12/21/24
September 06, 2010
Coach Interference Costs Rangers in Loss: An umpire ruled that Texas Rangers third base coach Dave Anderson touched runner Michael Young during a ninth inning rally Sunday, causing Young to be called out on interference and giving the Minnesota Twins a 6-5 win. MLB video.
Already I'm reading about how the umpire should have held the call because of the playoff implications -- don't know of any rule which suspends the rulebook in such cases.
My question: what in the hell was the third-base coach doing with his arms extended? Presumably it's to give the "stop" sign, but he wouldn't have given it from two feet away.
posted by jjzucal at 08:18 PM on September 06, 2010
An umpire ruled that Texas Rangers third base coach Dave Anderson touched runner Michael Young during a ninth inning rally Sunday, causing Young to be called out on interference and giving the Minnesota Twins a 6-5 win.
Want to know how rarely this rule is called?
When Mark McGwire hit HR #62 in 1998, he stepped over first base during his home run trot. He realized that he's missed the bag AFTER the first base coach grabs his jersey (as part of the hug) and then points back to the bag (which McGwire then touches).
posted by grum@work at 12:03 AM on September 07, 2010
don't know of any rule which suspends the rulebook in such cases
Agree, but the problem is that the rule the umpires were enforcing is not in the rule book. They didn't know what the rule is. You would hope that with playoff implications, the umpiring crew would at least understand the rules. Just another in a series of bad calls this year. Maybe they should make them all go back to umpiring school.
posted by graymatters at 12:30 AM on September 07, 2010
Now, being a Twins fan probably automatically voids anything I have to say on this, but from what I read, it's really rule 7.09(g), not (h) that deals with a player touching the 3rde base coach.
7.09 (g) In the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists him in returning to or leaving third base or first base.
The umpire most certainly was of the judgement that the two touched, and from his angle it looked like it helped Young get back to third. Hard to say definitively, as just stepping outside the box to create a visual blockade would help a runner stop quicker and return to third. The coach had no business being where he was, and most certainly should not have had his hands where they were. In the video you can see where he realizes this and quickly pulls his hands back. Too late.
This was about the only break the Twins have gotten of late, lots of injuries, and even though they went 8-2 over the last 10 games, Chicago sweeps Boston to keep pace.
posted by dviking at 01:58 AM on September 07, 2010
The umpire most certainly was of the judgement that the two touched, and from his angle it looked like it helped Young get back to third.
Even being a Ranger fan (quickly losing hope for the season), I would be less upset if that is what the umpires really believed. But their comments indicated the belief that a mere touching (regardless if it assisted the runner) means an automatic out. It is supposed to be a judgment call, and wrong judgment calls are made all the time; it's part of the game. But this was a case of the umpires not knowing the rules.
posted by graymatters at 10:43 AM on September 07, 2010
The Rangers are still 13 games above .500 and have a seven-game lead in the West. Their magic number is 20.
This is hardly the time to lose hope.
posted by rcade at 11:17 AM on September 07, 2010
the Rangers are a lock to make the playoffs, however, they need to start winning if they want to secure home field for round one. Right now, the Twins would host Tampa, with the Rangers going to NY.
As to this situation, while the umpire's comments are troubling, I do think the coach erred in his actions. He stepped out of the box to get in front of Young, and that alone could have been called. Unfortunate that it ended a game.
posted by dviking at 12:35 PM on September 07, 2010
There was no real definitive angle that showed whether they touched or not. Kind of a shame that the game had to end that way, but it's far from the worst call made this year. (Or even this week.)