My Letter to the Umpiring Head-Mike Port

[jasonxctf]

this topic is not to re-hash calls from the first game of the year. However, as many of you know, I took the liberty of writing Mike Port the head of umpires for MLB about the blown calls in the game. I was quite impressed by his follow up and contact to discuss the calls. In any case, here are their final determinations...

 

You were one of a couple of fans who inquired about plays in the game of March 31. Please note that due to manpower, and an increase in the number of plays we look at as the season goes on we are not always able to respond to inquiries in this fashion. It is just that given that your inquiry comes at the beginning of the season, we are able to get back to you.

 

We appreciate your interest and concern.

 

Another point. The plays you inquired about were reviewed by one of our umpire supervisors who umpired close to 2,000 games at the Major League level. Sometimes such review leads to suspicion of umpire favoritism. However, like all in this department, supervisors work with active umpires to assist them in getting their calls correct. Sometimes this leads to correction and constructive criticism; but the correct call is what we all aspire to. Nonetheless, it is a fact of life that umpires do miss calls and pitches. It is just that, given their ability at the Major League level, their "misses" are held to an unbelievable minimum, given the number of calls they deal with.

 

Here is the supervisor's analysis:

 

1. Play in the second inning involving Orlando Cabrera. Unfortunately did not see play or get video.

 

2. Top of the 7th inning. Pierzynski grounds to shortstop who throws to 1B. Throw pulls first baseman off the bag. Umpire calls runner "out". Viewed at multiple camera angels.

 

The momentum of the first baseman toward right field most definitely forced the first baseman to pull his foot off the bag. However, his foot was on the base at the time of the catch, and then, by momentum, his foot followed his body and came off of the base. Oft-times, fans see the foot off of the base and assume the timing was such that the foot was not in contact with the base as the catch was made. Having been on the field and having experienced this play many times, I can appreciate what the umpire saw from his angle and understand why he called the runner out. Certainly the play relates to where the first baseman is positioned only at the time of the catch, which is where the ball met leather. I have reviewed this play from different angles, in slow motion, and still frames and believe the umpire was correct in his judgment.

 

3.Top of the 8th inning. Cabrera grounds to shortstop who throws home to try to prevent Crede from scoring. Even seen from several angles and with slow motion views, it is still difficult to evaluate that the tag was applied. An inconclusive call given available video which it must be (at least) allowed could have been "missed". Nonetheless, a tough play for an umpire as it is difficult for one to get into a more desirable position in order to view this particular type of play (the throw coming in from the infield).

 

4. Top of the 8th inning. (Next play). Jim Thome grounds to second baseman who throws to shortstop to try to turn double play. Slide by Cabrera is called interference.

 

The premise of the interpretation is to judge the intent of the runner; in this case (from video) what the runner's intentions appeared to be as he slid into second base with arms outstretched to their limits and "grabbing" at the shortstop, and making contact with his body. The interpretation of this play in the Major League Umpire Manual is as follows:

 

"If in the judgment of the umpire, a runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a fielder attempting to catch a thrown ball with the obvious intent to deprive the defense of an opportunity to make a double play, the umpire shall declare the runner out for interference and shall also declare the batter-runner out for the interference of his teammate."

 

Also,

 

"A runner who, in the judgment of the umpire, contacts or attempts to make contact with a fielder with a slide or roll block that is not a bonafide effort to reach and stay on the base, may be called out for the interference and, when appropriate, a double play may be called."

 

From the video-the runner did not meet the requirements to be ruled legal in his actions. Thus, the double play was called.

 

Hopefully, the above will be helpful in responding to your questions. We understand how a great many of Baseball's rules can be misread or misinterpreted as our rules are (sometimes) not written with the greatest clarity. For this reason, Major League umpires are also provided with a manual that goes into greater detail as to how some rules are to be applied.

 

With best regards, and thanks again for your interest.

 

Mike Port

[Controlled Chaos]

http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?sh...0&start=150

[The Critic]

http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?sh...0&start=150

I'm glad this was posted in its own thread. I doubt I'd have seen it if it was buried in a 12-or-13 page general thread about opinions on umpiring.

It's good to see that Port responded, and while I disagree on the first disputed call, I can also appreciate his point of view (slanted though it's bound to be) defending the calls on the field.

Umpiring is always easier at home with the benefit of replays and slow and stop motion. It was just frustrating to have that many calls go against the Sox in such a short period of time.