Comments on: Damon's Steal: instant history

By: James

James — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:14:04 +0000

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By: custom printed sweatshirt

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By: Golf Headlines

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By: Ron

Ron — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:37:11 +0000

I vote for Corey for new commmissioner of baseball.

By: Corey Kendall

Corey Kendall — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:20:53 +0000

“THE MLB SHOULD INVESTIGATE . PHILLIES SHOULD FILE A COPMLAINT AND HAVE THE GAME RESULT CANCELLED OR DISMISSED OR REVERSE THE VICTORY AND MLB SHOULD SUSPEND THE UMPIRES FOR LIFE ! IT’S NOT ONLY UNFAIR IT’S CRIMINAL TOO.”
Gabriel, PIPE DOWN ALREADY! You think this is going to happen??? GET REAL. It’s NOT a “Criminal” offense, OK?? STOP overreacting already!!! They’re not cancelling the game, not reversing, not dismissing, not NOTHING. The game is FINAL. OK?? Deal with it! They’re NOT going to suspend the umpire for life either. Get over it!
I’m tired of all these “casual” fans out there who don’t watch or care about baseball, yet think they should have instant replay or investigate EVERY crucial play in the game. Umpires make mistakes. We ALL make mistakes in life. Get over it & move on. Instant replay for HRs only & that’s it. OK?

By: Ron

Ron — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:07:48 +0000

Or is it possible that most of the people advocating instant replay don’t really know the rules in the first place, or can’t be bothered to make the effort to actually umpire a game one time in their life.
So the overreact to every situation and demand a dummy-proof solutION?

By: Ron

Ron — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:02:45 +0000

Pilothawkeye,
I’ve been umpiring baseball and softball for 30 years. From kids leagues to minor league ball in the UK.
I get lots of plays like this. You’re right. Never tip the play. But once the defense abandons the attempt, some call has to be made safe (for the play at hand). Appeals can overrule any play. That’s why they’re appeals.
Right call by the umpire. I’m still wondering where all the instant replay advocates are? How about admittiing that the umpire made the exact right call WITHOUT INSTANT REPLAY. Especially considering that play wouldn’t have been reviewable in the first place.

By: Pilothawkeye

Pilothawkeye — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:49:15 +0000

I am in agreement with your clarification (Post #32). In softball, a rule change was made a few years ago that does allow for appeals to be made while the ball is dead. In fact in softball, one no longer has to throw to the base in question. All the pitcher has to do is to tell the umpire what they think happened. I do not believe such a rule change occurred in baseball, thus making an appeal a live play.
I am speaking as a softball umpire. Just curious Ron, are you a baseball umpire?

By: Pilothawkeye

Pilothawkeye — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:44:48 +0000

Are you an umpire? If so, is it baseball or softball? Reason why I ask is that I have been a softball umpire for over 30 years, and what we were taught in this situation is that not doing anything tips off the defense that something is wrong. One does wait a few seconds to see what happens, and if no one says anything, you make the safe call. I cannot speak for how baseball umps are instructed how to act in this situation.

By: Ron

Ron — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:34:26 +0000

As I said, Howard was safe and the umpire made the right call. An appeal is not a live play. An entirely different situation. The Yankees could have appealed the play afterwards, and would have been right.
But the umpire still made the right call.
If a runner tags at 3rd on a fly ball and there is a play at the plate, the home plate umpire will make the call (safe or out).
After the fact, it can be appealed at 3B to see if the runner left early. Perfectly legitmate. But the homeplate umpire rules on the play at hand.
Howard missed the plate. The umpire did know it, that’s why he hesitated on making a call. If he hadn’t seen Howard miss the plate, he would have ruled him safe immediately.
WAHT WORLD DO SOME OF YOU COME FROM. TRY COMMON SENSE.
The Yankees abandoned the defensive play on Howard, so the umpire CORRECTLY ruled safe. If the Yankees appeal AFTER THE FACT, that is a different situation. On the PLAY, Howard was ruled safe. Correct call.

By: Ditto

Ditto — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:07:11 +0000

JOHN IS WRON! MARK MY WORDS!!!

By: shely

shely — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:32:16 +0000

You are right on! The ump had no business calling him safe until the play is over and the next pitch is made. Look in the rule book, the play was continuing. Howard should have gone back and touched home plate or the catcher can go and tag him out, as long as the same play is continuing.

By: Cru11

Cru11 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:18:46 +0000

LMFAO!!! Priceless!

By: GBS

GBS — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:12:54 +0000

Proper umpire mechanics would be not to make a call at all, indicating to both the runner and fielder that the play is unresolved and still live. The ump shouldn’t call the runner safe if he isn’t.

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:05:02 +0000

What Damon did was heads up baseball and all the more special because it was the World Series.
Put me down as one who agrees that McCarver needs to be put out to pasture. He sounds like he knows what he’s talking about, but he doesn’t really have any useful baseball insight and the more he insists that his position is right, the more off base he is. Of course they plunked A-Rod intentionally and the umpires were wrong to issue a warning at that point. Pitchers need to understand that there are two sides to the coin and that there are risks to that kind of behavior. If the umpires are going to issue a warning on the first instance of a player being hit, than the star player is always going to get hit in the top of the first because the other team can’t retaliate. And McCarver’s statement is that spring training is when players are hit deliberately???? What game is he watching and has he never seen Pedro Martinez pitch before!!??

By: Pilothawkeye

Pilothawkeye — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:54:08 +0000

“Yes, he missed the plate. But once Sabatthia threw to 2B, they abandoned the attempt to put him out. Just like if the runner abandons the basepath, he’s out”
Sorry Ron, you are wrong on this. As long as play is live, or before the next pitch (legal or otherwise) an appeal can be made. Once Ryan goes into the dugout, he cannot come out and touch the plate before the appeal is made. So, Sabatthia can throw to 2nd for a subsequent play, and THEN come back an make an appeal. Problem is that in all probability no one (not even Jorge) saw Ryan miss home plate. (Although, it is awfully tough to miss it when you are sliding over it, but again, with the advantage of ‘super-slo-mo’ we all saw that he did).

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:38:43 +0000

I don’t think the umpire did see howard miss the plate. He shouldn’t have made the safe call at all. Yes, its an appeal play, but he shouldn’t have called him safe. He did it too soon. I think the ump thought howard touched the plate.
I know McCarver has been around a long time and was a great player. But I side with those that think he’s a lousy annoucner. He’s a know it all second guessing jackass. I really want to see him manage a team…cuz I know he’d fail miserably.

By: Shely

Shely — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:49:44 +0000

You are right, the runner was a little slow, but her took second on the throw to the plate, so it was a single. I think the hitter was Harry Walker. I will guarantee that if a Yankee did the same thing, it would be talked about for at least 200 years. It may never be repeated again, and ole Enos is never going to get credit for this as it makes Pesky and the Red Sox look bad, very bad.

By: Ron

Ron — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:49:29 +0000

The umpires made the right call on Howard. Yes, he missed the plate. But once Sabatthia threw to 2B, they abandoned the attempt to put him out. Just like if the runner abandons the basepath, he’s out.
It was the exact right call. If Posada or Sabathia had tagged him (instead of making a different play) then Howard would have been out. That’s why the umpire hesitated before signaling safe. THE CORRECT CALL.
See, instant replay still doesn’t trump the knowledge and experience of a live umpire. Maybe some of you people need to read the rulebook and actually understand what is going on before you make comments about things like this.
The umpire got the call correct. Bet the instant replay advocates won’t say a word about that.

By: Ditto

Ditto — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:48:00 +0000

IT WAS A FOUL TIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: bernard farktward

bernard farktward — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:26:19 +0000

I’ve seen the grainy re-play of Slaughter scoring from first base on a single in 1946. It should have been a double but the guy who hit it was slower than Jose Molina (If that’s even possible).
Still, a great hustle play and it was a single.

By: Shely

Shely — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:08:53 +0000

Stop moaning. Damon was not out on strike 3 (it was a tipped ball) and the announcers have nothing to do with the outcome of the game. Keep in mind, that the Phillthys would have never made the playoffs if they didn’t pick up Lee mid season. So you are way ahead of the game anyway, just by being in this series. My feeling is that Joe Buck is the best at what he does along with Al Michaels. He isn’t always right either. And as far as McCarver is concerned, he forgot more baseball than you and I will e very know. As far as the umps missing the call, how about missing the play at home, calling Howard safe when he didn’t even touch the plate? It all evens out.
Shely

By: Shely

Shely — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:26 +0000

This was a smart baseball move, but hardly outstanding. It is not even a record. If he didn’t take a FREE base, then he would have been incredibly stupid. However, I am amazed that year after year, it seems that everything the Yankees do is so damned special. We get tired of it here in the vast interior of the country. First, lets give a RECORD to Enos Slaughter, who scored from first base on a single in 1946, (which was never done before or since in a W-S). Then we can talk about more plaudits for the Yankees.
By the way John, go see a doctor, I feel you are seriously ill.
Shely.

By: John

John — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:29:29 +0000

PHILLIES IN SEVEN!!! MARK MY WORDS!!!

By: Bernard Farktward

Bernard Farktward — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:37:23 +0000

Arod was drilled. Case closed. McCarver is an idiot. First base was open and they were going to walk Arod anyway. Pedro does this all the time. Why through 4 balls when you can through one purpose pitch? Timmy needs to be replaced. I hope this is his last year. He’s always pontificating AFTER a play happens, not before.

By: Pilothawkeye

Pilothawkeye — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:31:07 +0000

Yes, Ryan Howard did miss the plate, but folks, that is an APPEAL PLAY. Proper umpire mechanics is to call the runner safe, and let the defense appeal that he missed home plate. If the ump does not make a call, then that would tip off the defense that ‘something funky’ happened. Jorge does not have to go into the dugout and tag Ryan. All they have to do is when the next batter comes to the plate, the pitcher steps back off the mound, tells the ump that he thinks the runner missed home plate, throw to the catcher, who then steps on the plate. If the ump felt that Ryan did indeed miss the plate, then he makes the out call.
As far as Damon getting an ‘extra’ stike, it was a foul tip that was not held onto by the catcher. In fact, the replay shows the catcher’s fustration on having dropped the foul tip.

By: hop

hop — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:28:13 +0000

hey Gabriel when you file that compliant make sure you send in the video of Howard MISSING HOME PLATE!!! Funny how cry baby philly scum only remember the plays they want to!

By: comeonman

comeonman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:12:21 +0000

“That’s the first time we’ve had it happen to us this year, but at the same time, somebody has got to be covering third base,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “Usually it’s the catcher who tries to get down there.”
Said Feliz: “I went to cover (second) base. (Damon) saw nobody on the other side, so he took it. That’s a play, we never got anybody to say, ‘Okay, you’ve got to go there. You’ve got to go here.’ I had the bag at that time, so J-Roll (Rollins) was backing me up and nobody was on the other side.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2009/11/02/2009-11-02_pedro_feliz.html#ixzz0ViPOC1M7

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:10:14 +0000

He fouled tipped the ball. It ended up right between the catchers legs. He did not miss the ball. I thaught he missed it too, but the replay does show he hit the ball.