Controversial call costs Marlins in loss

[RockaFowler]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/marlins/controversial-call-costs-marlins-in-loss-844511.html

The way the Marlins saw it - the way the video replay showed - they should've been in the clubhouse celebrating another win in their final at-bat Thursday night.

Instead, they lost 5-4 to the Phillies in 11 innings.

But the Marlins won't say they lost because of Carlos Ruiz' home run in the 10th inning off Will Ohman. They say they lost because of what looked like a blown call by third-base umpire Bob Davidson in the bottom of the ninth.

It appeared that Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth when he hit a hard shot down the left-field line with Hanley Ramirez at second.

"I have the highest respect for the umpires and I know they're doing their best out there, but that was one of the worst calls I've ever seen in my 30 years of professional baseball,' Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "That was bad. That ball was a fair ball by 6 inches. He never even was looking at that play.'

Although replays showed the ball was fair - it bounced on the chalk and inside the bag - Davidson called it foul and Sanchez wound up striking out.

"The ball never landed in foul territory. Dreadful,' Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said.

Davidson said he watched the replay after the game and stood by his call.

"I was right on top of it and it was wide of the bag, that's all. I had it foul," he said. "In my opinion, where it goes over the bag, you can't tell. After a bounce, it came an inch or two on the fair side, but ... it was very close. But I'm right there. I know what I saw."

[joeybee12]

1. What an ass this ump is...even after the replay he still stands by his nauseating call...

...the year of shitty umping...2010.

[Renew Deal]

2. That was a foul ball

It was foul on the first bounce and came back. It also looks like it did something after the second bounce. It was a good call.

[Renew Deal]

3. Video here

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100805&content_id=13080100&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[RockaFowler]

4. WRONG

[Renew Deal]

5. Was the first bounce fair or foul?

And can you see where the ball was over the bag?

[Iggo]

6. All bounces were fair until halfway up the line bewteen 3rd and the foul pole.

Which I think was the 2nd or 3rd bounce PAST 3rd base.

Harold Reynolds is on crack.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=10663381&c_id=mlb

[Renew Deal]

7. Thanks for posting that video.

I think they're both wrong to some degree. The ball never bounced that far in fair territory until after it passed the bag. It was a much closer call.

I don't get what you're saying about halfway up the line. If the ball touches foul off the bat and comes back fair, isn't it a foul ball? Also, there's still not a video straight down the line. I think the umpires call is fine. That second hop was pretty nasty and I think the ump might be right.

[RockaFowler]

8. Here's the explanation

If a ball bounces foul before the bag, but bounces over the bag and lands fair - it is a fair ball.

[Renew Deal]

9. Crazy!

I think that ball zigzagged. Foul, fair, maybe over the bag, then fair again. It's not as easy a call as the Marlins manager made it out to be.

[joeybee12]

10. Well, the ump is being an ass...saying he only needed to see where it landed foul...

...no, because of the rules, he blew it because he needed to keep his eye on the ball...lazy jackass.

[Onceuponalife]

11. Looks like the correct call.

He DOESN'T need to keep his eye on it AFTER it passes the bag. I've looked at this over and over. It was barely foul on the last time it bounced before passing the bag. The ball was spinning and then by the time it bounced again AFTER passing the bag it was back to being fair but by then it's too late. It only matters where it is as it is passing the bag. The ump had the best view out of everyone and none of us had his view. Besides, this has no effect on the Marlin's chances of getting to the playoffs, which is zero. Fin fans gots to chill.

[joeybee12]

12. I disagree...maybe it was a tough call...but he needs to follow the rules...

...he blew it.

[Onceuponalife]

17. What do you mean, follow the rules?

The rules are the ump makes the call and his call stands. Again why are people getting upset in a meaningless game for the Marlins?

[hughee99]

14. I don't see how it can be correct.

The ball was fair before the base AND fair after the base, but not fair when it went over the base? So the ball bounced to the left (foul) before the base, made a right turn in mid air and came back into play after the base (so now it should be on a trajectory to continue back to toward the field of play), and then makes another bounce to the left to go foul further down the line? Is this the magic bullet?

It's a tough call to try to figure it out in the air if it was fair or foul, but watching the replay, I'm not sure how anyone can argue that it was unless they're just deferring to the umpire's judgment. As we all know, that's questionable at best.

[El Supremo]

13. You'll have to show me the rules on that one.

And i just read them again. If a ball lands foul before third (or first) base it is a foul ball no matter where it goes from there.

It looks to me that the ball hit foul on both bounces before third base.

Correct call.

[hughee99]

15. Yes, it is all about the location of the ball at the time it crosses the bag

as long as the ball is "bounding". A line drive would depend on where the ball actually lands, but a ground ball depends on it's location at the time it crosses the bag.

A FAIR BALL is a batted ball that settles on fair ground between home and first base, or between home and third base, or that is on or over fair territory when bounding to the outfield past first or third base, or that touches first, second or third base, or that first falls on fair territory on or beyond first base or third base, or that, while on or over fair territory touches the person of an umpire or player, or that, while over fair territory, passes out of the playing field in flight.
A fair fly shall be judged according to the relative position of the ball and the foul line, including the foul pole, and not as to whether the fielder is on fair or foul territory at the time he touches the ball.
Rule 2.00 (Fair Ball) Comment: If a fly ball lands in the infield between home and first base, or home and third base, and then bounces to foul territory without touching a player or umpire and before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball; or if the ball settles on foul territory or is touched by a player on foul territory, it is a foul ball. If a fly ball lands on or beyond first or third base and then bounces to foul territory, it is a fair hit.
Clubs, increasingly, are erecting tall foul poles at the fence line with a wire netting extending along the side of the pole on fair territory above the fence to enable the umpires more accurately to judge fair and foul balls.

FAIR TERRITORY is that part of the playing field within, and including the first base and third base lines, from home base to the bottom of the playing field fence and perpendicularly upwards. All foul lines are in fair territory.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/definition_terms_2.jsp

[trumad]

16. Correct...

And I'm amazed that it's even being debated... Every little leaguer in America knows the rule and this UMP is simply being a douche for not admitting he was wrong.

[Onceuponalife]

18. Dude, I know you're a Marlin's fan so I'll cut you some slack...

but it's a judgment call. You can disagree with his call but there is no way you can be certain he was wrong. None of us can.

[trumad]

19. Dude---I'm talking about the rule...

Most calls made by refs are judgment calls...nu dud...

But that judgment call was proven wrong....