04/25/24
July 06, 2011
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
Qatar heat could change World Cup game format, says engineer. Or maybe not: "This possibility has not been discussed. In any case, this would require a change in the Laws of the Game..." according to a FIFA spokesman.
posted by billsaysthis at 02:34 PM on July 06, 2011
"This possibility has not been discussed. In any case, this would require a change in the Laws of the Game..." according to a FIFA spokesman.
...who rubbed his index finger, middle finger and thumb together, winked, and then put out his hand, palm up.
posted by grum@work at 04:03 PM on July 06, 2011
MAKE NO MISTAKE, JOHN FARRELL THINKS THE UMP BLEW THE GAME-ENDING CALL
posted by justgary at 05:22 PM on July 06, 2011
It's a little inconsistent on his part: if the ump had gotten the strike 3 call on Encarnacion right, the game would already have been over.
posted by yerfatma at 05:58 PM on July 06, 2011
That's one hell of a slide by the runner - I'd be pissed about the call too.
posted by cixelsyd at 06:24 PM on July 06, 2011
If Varitek doesn't drop the ball, the ump is going to call him out every time. The ball reached home plate WAY ahead of the runner, and the catcher blocked the plate. In those cases, the umpire simply makes the "easy" call and says out.
It's the wrong call in this case, but it's right more often than not.
if the ump had gotten the strike 3 call on Encarnacion right, the game would already have been over.
You can't compare a mistake on a ball/strike call to a play at the plate. The magnitude of the call is ten-fold on a play at the plate, unless it's a ball-four call with the bases loaded in a tie game in the bottom of the 9th.
posted by grum@work at 10:17 PM on July 06, 2011
Disagree with those who say the call on Encarnacion was incorrect. It is not too clear on the replay, but in the view that looks up the third base line, it appears that Encarnacion's left foot hooks around Varitek's block but slides along the ground parallel to, but not touching, the back side of the plate (that is, the corner that forms the beginning of the first base line). The foot then moves onto the plate, but only after the tag has been applied. Despite Farrell's complaint, the umpire was in the perfect spot to see the entire play, having an unobstructed view of the plate. By the way, that is the spot that I was taught to use on plays at the plate.
posted by Howard_T at 11:05 PM on July 06, 2011
You can't compare a mistake on a ball/strike call to a play at the plate. The magnitude of the call is ten-fold on a play at the plate
Ok, how about that the Red Sox lost their All-Star caliber after the 4th inning though he'd given up no hits? All I'm saying is things even out.
posted by yerfatma at 08:30 AM on July 07, 2011
Texas Rangers first baseman Mike Napoli bet against the Dallas Mavericks and had to pay up during Tuesday's game: "Someone else got to pick his walk-up music Tuesday night. Among the selections: 'Man, I Feel Like A Woman' and 'Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?'" He went 0 for 4.