And it's one...two...three strikes you're not out?

From ESPN

This has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of...in baseball...in the last few months...concerning an umpire's call...concerning what should have been a no-duh conclusion. The ump didn't call a no catch, therefore the game should have gone into extra innings.

I don't know as I wasn;t watching the White Sox game. But if the Umpire never said anything and the ball could have been in the dirt, the catcher shoudl have tagged him just to be sure. Catchers tag players on the third strike A LOT when there is any doubt about the catch. Until I see the play, it sounds like a mental error on the catcher.

Wow that is dumb.

Yeah looks like the ump didnt make the call but made a motion that looked like astrike and the catcher rolled the ball to the mound.

Both the ump and the catch are to blame. Good job by the baserunner though!

Highlander wrote:

I don't know as I wasn;t watching the White Sox game. But if the Umpire never said anything and the ball could have been in the dirt, the catcher shoudl have tagged him just to be sure. Catchers tag players on the third strike A LOT when there is any doubt about the catch. Until I see the play, it sounds like a mental error on the catcher.

Paul should have tagged the runner. No doubt in mind about that. However, the ump called no contact and the thrid strike. Whiskey - Tango - Foxtrot? Sucks for the WSox started who pitched an outstanding 9 innings. His accomplishments been overshadowed by this whole thing.

Last time a starting pitcher went 9 innings in an ALCS was 83 and the pitcher was a WSox. Amazing stat.

As I say, I have not seen it. Once I have I'll give my opinion. HOWEVER, a called third strike does is not necessarily an out. It is still recorded in the books as a strike out but not as a put out.

But I would be shocked -- SHOCKED -- that the Man In Blue would make a controversial call in a playoff game.

I love how the AP photo says the catcher was Jose Molina. If it had been Jose Molina, I don;t think we would be having this discussion and the Angels would be up 2-0.

Just saw it. OMG. It looks like we have something new to add to this

The field umpires should have stepped in and said, "Look Moron, the ball never touched the ground. A.J. was out. We go to extra innings."

Highlander wrote:

I love how the AP photo says the catcher was Jose Molina. If it had been Jose Molina, I don;t think we would be having this discussion and the Angels would be up 2-0.

Had a nice conversation about this at work yesterday.

First, you're right, Molina would've tagged the batter as a safeguard.

Second, I think the umpire just decided to punish a greenhorn catcher for putting the ball on the ground without tagging the runner and before he 'signalled the out'. (Two motions? One motion? Fingers or Fist? Opposite hands?) It's whatever the ump says it is.

You know, dimes to dollars that if Chicago advances, everyone outside of the Windy City and their fanbase will declare that it was a fraud because of Game 2.

Rat Boy wrote:

You know, dimes to dollars that if Chicago advances, everyone outside of the Windy City and their fanbase will declare that it was a fraud because of Game 2.

Not if Chicago dominates the Angles like they did tonight. And last I saw, the Royals still have a World Series trophy autographed by Don Denkinger. It'll go down as one of baseball quirks. In a sense, I like it because it humanizes the game. I hope baseball never goes to the instant replay. Of course, I also thought Steve Bartman should have been beaten senseless, so there you go.

Highlander wrote:

Just saw it. OMG. It looks like we have something new to add to this

I'd never seen that before. Terrifying. All sports need instant replay in some form or another. In baseball, you could have it just be any play the umps want to review, plus ONE play per team (manager's choice). I know they tried something similar to that a few years back in the NFL, but I don't know whatever came of it, since I don't follow pro football much.

I know some people think the margin of error "humanizes" the game, or that it would slow things down too much, but when it comes right down to it, I want a system that lets the athletes make or break the game, not the officials. World Series have obviously turned on bad calls, and momentum is huge in general.