Pirates

Expert Analysis

Was Thomas Saggese Obstructed? Breaking Down the Cardinals–Pirates Collision and MLB’s Type 2 Obstruction Rule

Topics: Obstruction

The Cardinals and Pirates played at PNC on April 9, 2025. In the top of the eighth, the Cards had Thomas Saggese on second base and Masyn Winn on first and two outs when Willson Contreras hit a fly ball in the area of home plate. Pirates’ catcher Joey Bart and first baseman Endy Rodríguez…

October 22, 2025 Obstruction
Expert Analysis

Nationals’ 2025 Catch/No Catch Trap Plays: Triple Play and Rare 7-3 Putout Spark Debate

Topics: Rules Controversy

The Washington Nationals have been involved in two catch/no catch trap plays during the 2025 season that have created interesting situations. The Mets and Nationals played at Nationals Park on April 25, 2025 when an unusual triple play took place. It was the second triple play of the season, joining the Rockies’ trifecta on April…

August 30, 2025 Rules Controversy
Expert Analysis

You Make the Call! Is this O’Neil Cruz Slide Legal?

Topics: You Make The Call
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September 27, 2022 You Make The Call
Expert Analysis

MLB Hitter Smacks HR But Misses 1B…Umps Didn’t See It But…

Topics: Appeal, Base, Batter Runner, Replay Review

Missing a base on a home run is a rarity on any level of baseball, especially in the major and minor leagues. According to data at retrosheet.com, it appears the last home run in the major leagues to be lost due to a player failing to touch a base happened on June 17, 1983, when…

June 9, 2021 Appeal Base Batter Runner Replay Review
Expert Analysis

Javier Baez Confuses Pirates When He Runs From 1B to Home

Topics: Baseball Myths, Batter Runner, force out, Time Play

Rule 5.08 (a) says that no run can score when the batter-runner makes the third out before he touches first base, or if the inning ends in a force. The Pirates hosted the Cubs on Thursday afternoon. In the top of the third, Javier Baez was batting with Willson Contreras on second base and two…

May 28, 2021 Baseball Myths Batter Runner force out Time Play
Expert Analysis

Obstruction! If you don’t have the ball, get out of the way!

Topics: Base Awards, Baseline, Obstruction, Placing Runners, Video - Fielder, Video - Runner
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December 12, 2019 Base Awards Baseline Obstruction Placing Runners Video - Fielder Video - Runner
Expert Analysis

Batter Taps Rolling Ball with Bat Called Out

Topics: Baseline, Batted Ball, Batter, Batter Interference, Batter's Box, Fair Territory, Latest News

      Normally, when you think of batter-runner interference, you think of the batter-runner who runs out of the 45-foot long, 3-foot wide runner’s box the last 45-feet and interferes with the fielder taking the throw. But batter-runner interference can occur long before the batter-runner reaches the box. Once the ball is batted into…

June 19, 2018 Baseline Batted Ball Batter Batter Interference Batter's Box Fair Territory Latest News
Expert Analysis

Rizzo’s Controversial Slide at Home

Topics: Baseline, Catcher, Ejection, Home Plate Collision, Manager Ejection, Rules Controversy, Runner Interference, Runners

For the second consecutive year, the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo was involved in a controversial slide at the plate. Following is the report from MLB.com. In the eighth inning of the Cubs’ 7-0 win over the Pirates on Monday afternoon at PNC Park, a replay-review ruling on Anthony Rizzo’s hard slide into catcher Elias Diaz stood, resulting in…

May 29, 2018 Baseline Catcher Ejection Home Plate Collision Manager Ejection Rules Controversy Runner Interference Runners