Plate Umpire Interference
Plate umpire interference was called in back-to-back games on June 24-25, 2024 at Petco Park where the Nationals and Padres played. Both times the Nationals lost stolen bases which were critical because the Nats lost the June 24th game 7-6 in 10-innings and the following night they were defeated 9-7. Ruleball Comments Plate umpire interference is…
Mookie Betts Falls into Netting
The Padres and Dodgers played at Dodgers Stadium on April 12, 2024. Luis Campusano led off the top of the seventh and hit a foul fly ball in shallow left field beyond the third base dugout. Dodgers’ shortstop Mookie Betts made a leaping catch that carried him into the netting. Ruleball Comments A fielder running…
Runner’s Base Status Changes from Second to Third
The Braves hosted the Padres in the second game of a double header on May 20, 2024. In the top of the eighth, Pierce Johnson was on the mound for the Braves facing the Padres’ Jake Cronenworth with a 3-2 count. Luis Arráez was on second and Jurickson Profar was on first with two outs….
Manager Takes Away a Run from His Team
The Reds and Padres played at Petco Park on April 30, 2024 when Padres manager Mike Shildt took away a run from his team, an unlikely scenario since managers do what they can to manufacture runs for their team. But thanks to the multi-layered catcher’s interference rule, in a certain situation managers have the option…
2023 Game and Inning Ending Plays
I’m sure you remember Kool and the Gang’s popular hit, “Celebrate Good Times Come On.” Over the years baseball players have prematurely celebrated victories because of their ignorance of the rules. In this column I am covering six game-ending situations that players and coaches should be aware of. Unless noted, the Pro, NCAA, and NFHS rules…
You Make the Call!
There are three different scenarios in this report and I am challenging you to make the call for each one which may not necessarily concur with my opinion. Play No. 1 The Brewers and Mets played at Citi Field on June 28, 2023. In the top of the eighth, the Brewers had runners on first…
Catcher Overturned for Illegally Blocking the Plate
The Giants hosted the Padres on June 21, 2023. In the bottom of the fifth, Yu Darvish gave up a two-out single to Joc Pederson. Padres’ right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. fired home to apparently nail Blake Sabol for third out of the inning after plate umpire Quinn Wolcott called Sabol out. But the Giants…
Tatis Jr. Apparently Fails to Retouch First Base
The Padres and Rockies played at Coors Field on June 11, 2023. In the top of the third inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. was on first base when Rockies’ pitcher Dinelson Lamet attempted to pick him off. The throw got by first baseman Elehuris Montero. Tatis went back to the base standing, and it appeared that…
Runner and Umpire Collide
The Padres hosted the Cubs on June 4, 2023. In the bottom of the third inning the Padres had Fernando Tatis Jr. on second base and Jake Cronenworth on first and two outs when Ha-Seong-Kim hit a ground ball to Dansby Swanson. The Cubs shortstop tossed to second baseman Nico Hoerner for the inning-ending force…
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