There was a bad call in the Astros Phillies game Monday night:
The situation: With no outs and a runner on first base, Astros centerfielder Michael Bourn directed a sacrifice bunt down the first-base line.
Ryan Howard fielded the ball and appeared to tag out Bourn. Gibson called Bourn safe.
Even if Howard missed the tag, Bourn clearly took a step out of the base line to avoid the tag and then took two more strides before curling back into first base.
Gibson’s call indicated that not only did Howard miss the tag but Bourn’s run was legal.
Not according to Rule 7.08 of Major League Baseball that states: “Any runner is out when – (a) (1) He runs more than three feet away from his baseline to avoid being tagged unless his action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball.”
The base line runs seem to leave a lot of room for subjectivity. Maybe MLB should draw six-foot wide lanes, so the umpire can tell where the runner is, and if the runner steps outside the lane, he’s called out.
This is actually another area where replay might help, since the lanes could be superimposed on the field during the play back.
Really??? Phillies fans are complaining about following the rules?
First of all, how far one gets from the line is pretty subjective. Second of all, they are notorious for stealing signs and were caught earlier in the year. I didn’t see this guy complaining about that rule violation.
Come on now, you’re comparing stealing signs with an umpire missing a call?
read “HIS” baseline. Not a direct line between bases, but a line between the runner and the bag “as he is being tagged.”
The rule is meant to prevent someone from running away from the bag, not sidestepping the tag.
Zeppelin: “comparing” isn’t the right word. I’m saying that people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. It’s hypocritical to complain over following the rules to a T when they benefit you, but violating them openly and notoriously when it is convenient.