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 For those of you who missed it last night, the Mets/Phillies game ended with a wee bit of controversy. The Mets were down one run in the 9th inning with one out and a man (Marlon Anderson) on first base. Shawn Green came up to bat and hit a slow roller to Jimmy Rollins (shortstop) who then flipped it to Tag Iguchi to turn the double play.....and this is where the shit hit the fan. Iguchi came across the bag to the third base side of second base, which second basemen do on most slow rollers for double plays, to take the flip and throw it to first base. All of a sudden Anderson comes barreling into Iguchi, hitting him in the thighs and rendering his throw to first base useless. The second base umpire (CB Bucknor) ruled interference on the play which made not only Anderson out....but also Green, thus ending the game with the Mets losing.
I've spent quite a few minutes this morning checking out the video and pictures of what happened and I think, I think, I've made a decision on how I feel about the play. Being a former middle infielder in college I was initially predisposed to side with the decision of the umpire. It's crap for a runner to slide into the upper legs of the second baseman like that and he should be called out for it. I wouldn't have a problem if it was a regular slide (which it wasn't) and Anderson hit him around the ankles, that much is fair game......
Then I started to watch the video a bit more just to be sure. I noticed that Anderson's foot actually touched second base with his right foot as he slid, and usually that is the indicator whether a player is in/out of the baseline, so he was still in good standing there. Next, the actions of his arms (pushing Iguchi's legs) were a bit much, but....I've seen worse out of Shelly Duncan and Alex Rodriguez, with nothing called. At this point I wasn't sure who was at fault, so like any good NBA ref I had to give it a 'no call' and just let the situation play itself out with a runner on first with two outs and a tie ballgame. So, to sum it up....the slide was clean and the call was incorrect. (Feel free to add your opinion in the comments section.)
Anderson could have made this all a moot point by just sliding regularly because the ball was hit so softly that it was extremely doubtful that Iguchi could have made the turn and get Green. So, in one hand I can see why the Mets would be upset with the call, but in the other hand I wonder what the heck Anderson was doing.
If the Phillies come back to pass the Mets in the standings I can see New Yorkers whining and complaining about this call all Winter.
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13 Comments
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2008 Cubs Preview
His arms are extended in a manner to push Iguchi, plus he slid way too far toward the inside of the bag for me.
If a guy is camping-out on the bag or on the outside portion, then take him out, but the inside of the bag should be a safety zone for the fielder.
I was always taught to get to the inside, that way it's harder for the runner to take out your legs.
The infielder is at a distinct disadvantage in this play, so I think a little protection for him goes a long way. The rule doesn't say the only criterion for calling interference is that the runner can touch the bag, so saying his foot was on the bag doesn't mean much to me. These guys are six feet tall. If their toes touch the bag, but the hands punch a guy in the balls six feet away, is that okay?
I always feel like taking out the infielder has to at least look like it is part of a slide, and Anderson never looked like he was going to do anything other than take out Iguchi.
Anderson's foot touches the bag (you can see it in that pic and on video), so you can't say he slid too far on the inside. There is no safety zone in those parts, especially at that point in the game. There is no such thing as a 'safety zone' when making the turn.
You are correct about going to the inside though. Most players slide with their right legs on the bottom, which is why the pics above seem awkward, which is easier when on the outfield side of the bag.
When I would slide to bust up a double play and they were on the inside, I would always swipe the bag with my right hand/arm. That's how most are taught. Otherwise he's toast because I'm rolling right through him to bust it up.
By the way, for as good as A-Rod is, he pulls a lot of bush-league crap. The thing with the Blue Jays and the slide you are referring to are a couple examples.
I know somethings are part of the game, but being a bag of douche isn't one of them.
Erin...I thought Anderson's slide looked more like a slide than A-Rod's and that was a non-call, although if I were Pedroia I'd be pretty pissed.
I hear what you are saying about how it has to look like a slide but everyone in the ballpark knows that the fielder is getting taken out on the turn.
In baseball you don't have to avoid contact, just look at plays at the plate with the catcher. There is supposed to be contact, otherwise it would be an automatic out whenever contact is made.
I just spent a few minutes studying the picture of Iguchi and Anderson....and nope Iguchi is not wearing a skirt! Let um play.
Hank-
getting tackled isn't playing baseball...it's not...never has been
breaking up a double play is one thing...tackling a guy is another
If he had tried to tackle him he would have wrapped his arms around him. YOU HAVE TO WRAP YOUR ARMS DEION!! sorry, went back to yesteryear when neon deion played for my boys.
Hey Hank,
People who wear skirts aren't, by nature, weak individuals.
Welcome to the 20th century.
Thanks,
Erin
And by that, of course, I meant that Hank is quite far behind. I know we're in the 21st century now.
just an expression...kinda like calling him sally.
clearly not a tackle, he is within 3 feet of the bag, the ump made a bad call.
Felt like I was back in tackling practice Jack..all 98 pounds of me!
you gotta be kidding me! shocker Jack calls this a clean slide, when the guy bullrushed the bag and didn't "slide" until he fell into Iguchi... it's clearly intentional, and different from the ARod slide because you can see Arod was using what's commonly referred to as a "pop up slide", he just took Pedroia out because of the roid rage :)