I can't believe no one has asked this. In Game One, NLCS, Beltran's great throw easily beat Ellis to the plate. Molina made a great block but there really wasn't a tag.
Does the actual definition of "tag" mean this was a good call Or were the Dodgers hosed simply because the ball beat the runner?
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I saw that, too, but look at it like a phantom touch of second base on a double play turn. The ball was there plenty early, Molina absorbed the contact and held the ball, so Out is the correct call. The Dodgers never complained, and the announcers didn't make anything of it, so I think most would agree that it was the correct call.
One of the other websites I belong to shows a picture at contact where the runner's elbow does make contact with the mitt. This is reportedly off of some twitter account photo. I don't know the validity of the photo as photo-shop is great. However, I would note that none of the talking heads last night or today brought it up.
While I understand a Dodger's fan might be upset with that event. Cardinals fans could as easily be upset at the number of balls called strikes that the K-Zone show are definitely balls. Matt Adams has had one called a strike in just about every at bat that is not even close. Today, he showed his displeasure and the announcers noted it. One responded, "Well it wasn't a strike."
Ron Darling brought it up and he was right - the runner was not tagged.
I'm not arguing the call, I'm just wondering what the real rule is.
BTW, love Beltran and can't stand Carl Crawford. Did you see HIS throw in Game 2? Laughable.
He had to have applied the tag. Ellis came in to knock the ball out of the glove of...yadi..no way!
I said the same thing that you did, I didn't see the tag, camera angles show a possible tag on elbow. One article says it was a good call, if he called him safe, the entire stadium would have run him out the door!
I am not a fan of the new rule for video replay, in some cases you have to give the umpire an opportunity to do his job quickly, trying to decide if the call was safe or not, will hold up the game and possibly could have a more negative affect on the game.
I'm not arguing the call, I'm just wondering what the real rule is.
The rule is a runner must be tagged with the ball, or by the hand or the glove securely holding the ball. I saw one replay that pretty clearly showed that, by rule, the runner was not tagged.
It took me forever but I found the picture I referred to earlier:
This is the first I've seen of this play. All other things being equal, AND from this one frame, it certainly looks like the mitt is contacting the arm. I didn't see the game, haven't seen tv highlights or anything, if HP is on first base line, looking at this, I would have an out no question. In real time, I would think it would be even easier to call an out, after seeing Molina hold on to the ball.
I got a tag there....
A tag is touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove. the photo above shows enough contact to me...
Couple that with runner trying not to touch the plate, but to initiate a impact/contact so hard as to make the catcher lose control of the ball, says out to me if the ball is controlled...and that's the way I have always called that play...
I have a tag every time. It better be so obvious in real time to ever think a tag did not occur. Such as, the runner hits F2 in the back while F2 is facing the backstop and the glove is toward the 1B side of HP. Otherwise, I have a tag every time if I ever had to call a play like this and not EJ the runner.
I have a tag every time. It better be so obvious in real time to ever think a tag did not occur. Such as, the runner hits F2 in the back while F2 is facing the backstop and the glove is toward the 1B side of HP. Otherwise, I have a tag every time if I ever had to call a play like this and not EJ the runner.
I agree - if you are not 100% sure a tag did NOT occur, he's out. If the PU had clearly seen a missed (non) tag, I am sure he would have made no call. There is undoubtedly a camera with the perfect angle to prove he got it right.
Live, you get the best angle you can and make the call. When it goes to I, then they have to see a no tag if he has been called out. You have to see proof that the call was wrong, if you can't, you stick with it.
