Lousy call, lousy game, lousy system: A lousy Braves’ exit
This was a warm and fuzzy moment. The rest of the night stunk. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Why to hate baseball’s newly minted play-in game: Because you can be, as the Braves were over the course of six months, the demonstrably better team and still give a performance that fuses the three-error Brooks Conrad game of October 2010 and the Epic Collapse of September 2011. Because you can go home having sipped from the postseason cup for all of 189 minutes. Because you can put yourself in position to be rooked by those darn replacement umps.
Wait. These aren’t replacements? These are the real umpires? Is this a real sport?
Had Andrelton Simmons’ pop that dropped been allowed to stand, the Braves would have had the bases loaded and one out. When you’re trailing by three runs in the eighth inning, that’s rather different than having men on second and third with two out, which is what they wound up having. But not before the game was halted for 19 minutes as the field was cleared of the cups and bottles that had been flung, with somewhat greater accuracy than the Braves’ infielders displayed this night, by incensed patrons.
Pete Kozma, the St. Louis shortstop, was positioning himself to catch Simmons’ meek fly when he stopped running and chose to leave it to left fielder Matt Holliday. And here we note the incongruity: A shortstop deferred to an outfielder on what left-field umpire Sam Holbrook adjudged an infield fly. It was a horrible call, indefensible at the moment and more ludicrous after further video review, but this is baseball and replay can be applied only to home runs. (The Braves registered an official protest. Summarily denied.)
And thus, in its first manifestation, was baseball’s play-in game rendered a bigger joke that it appeared on paper. A team that won 94 games is gone; a team that won 88 gets to go home and play twice against the National League’s No. 1 seed. One bad performance. One lousy bit of umpiring. Season over.
“You’ve got to judge a team over the 162-game season,” said Braves’ manager Fredi Gonzalez, classy in bizarre defeat. “Anyone can have one bad call [go against them] or one bad game.”
His team was guilty on the latter charge. The team that made the fewest errors among National League teams offered up three in the span of four innings, leading to four unearned runs. Each was on a throw, each by an infielder. First Chipper Jones, playing his last game. Then Dan Uggla. Then the aforementioned Simmons, a rookie shortstop at the center of nearly everything Friday night.
The errors turned a two-run lead — and Chipper, speaking before the game, had suggested the game’s first run could be the determinant — into a 6-2 deficit after 6 1/2 innings. By then the unbeatable Kris Medlen was gone, having yielded only three hits and two earned runs but about to become a loser as a starting pitcher for the first time since 2010. That left the Braves in comeback mode, and there were moments when they appeared capable of climbing the mountain. But Chipper swung at the first pitch and grounded out in the seventh with two men in scoring position, and Michael Bourn struck out with the bases loaded to close the infamous eighth, and Uggla, representing the tying run, ended the season by grounding to second.
Said Gonzalez: “We didn’t score runs, and we didn’t handle the baseball.”
Said Chipper: “You give a good team extra outs and it ends up lightning.”
To his credit, the man who will play no more faulted himself above all. “Ultimately when we look back on this loss we have to look ourselves in the mirror,” Chipper said. “We put ourselves behind 6-2. Three errors cost us the ballgame, and mine [a fourth-inning throwaway of a cinch double play] was probably the biggest. I’m not willing to say a call cost us the ballgame.”
Because he always been a stand-up guy, you wanted it to end better. Still, in his final at-bat the great Chipper Jones managed to block out the deafening ovation and the applause from the Cardinals’ dugout — he tipped his helmet to the crowd and pointed to the visiting team — and the flashes from camera-phones and remind us why he was so great. He worked the count to 3-2 against the heat-bringing Jason Motte, and finally he put bat on ball (breaking said bat) and legged out an infield hit. Down to his and his team’s final strike, he got a hit.
We’re lucky that, as time does its work, we’ll have our memories of Chipper Jones to keep us warm. And maybe someday we can get past the strange doings on a lousy night in October 2012, when a good team played badly and got unlucky to boot, and thanks to this silly professional “system” it was eliminated. At least in the College World Series they play double elimination.
By Mark Bradley
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516 comments Add your comment
Farid @ D.C.
October 5th, 2012
11:39 pm
Dear Braves fans,
What a crappy way to end your wonderful season. It was a fun fight between my Nationals and your Braves right up to the final days of the season. To have your season end like that, in a process where one game has equal value to the prior 162, is just wrong.
Keep your head high. This was MLB’s fault, not yours.
BIG MIKE
October 5th, 2012
11:40 pm
jj
What did they do with all those frisbees?
rockmart
October 5th, 2012
11:41 pm
John Remelius – Please site one time an infield fly was called that far in the outfield. Another clue the umps new the blew the call was Gonzalez was allowed to go off way too vigorously and long with out being ejected. If that were a call he and the others on the crew were confident in, he’s gone.
For those saying it appeared the SS bailed because of the umps call, he doesn’t look at the ump, he turns to look to see if Holiday caught it. Neither Holiday or the SS react like there had been a call. They all reacted like they just opened the door for the Braves to get back in it.
No doubt Braves made way too many mistakes, but quit trying to fit that play into the letter of the infield fly rule. That never gets called that deep. A player would be a fool to intentionally muff a fly that far in the outfield. That’s why the rule is in place.
captguitarman
October 5th, 2012
11:44 pm
It is awful for any sport that a game of such importance can be decided by not only a game changer bad call, but one lacking any logic, reason, or just plain old fashioned common sense whatsoever. This was not a good night forthe Braves or for baseball. The protest was denied because 1) It would have really screwed up the post season schedule if allowed to stand (you can’t help but wonder who was calling whom from the comissioner’s office, when all that was going on) — and 2) The call was wrongly deemed a judgment call, and it was not. It was a clear violation of the rules.
The infielder had to make an effort to get it, and he had clearly not settled under it, and more importantly the call was not made immediately when the ball was hit, as the rules require – the ball was two feet off the ground before the ump called it. The Braves runners saw it for what it was (as did everyone in the stadium except the one guy paid to know what it was) and were waiting to tag up. The ball was hit halfway into left field.
This would be a no brainer if a reversal would not have caused so play off brain damage. The LF ump, no doubt wanting to show his own self-importance to the proceedings despite his diminished (and unnecessary role) on the left field line, was looking for his chance to “make a call” and boy did he ever. It will go down as one of the worst and dumbest calls in play off history. Just blatant stupidity.
Having said all of that, was it a game changer? I love the Braves, but no, it was not. They left enough men on base to win 23 to 6, which is very normal for them, and which has been their Achiles heel all year. Even if that nincompoop ump had called the play right, we all know that the chances of runs scoring, even with bases loaded and one out, were less than the chances of the next Brave batter hitting into a double play. They were fun to watch, and they did well, and Chipper had a great year, but St. Louis totally out played them. But hey could have over come that if they could hit with runners in scoring position. Why the can’t is an inexplicable myster. We won’t even talk about the errors because that gets into “choke” territory. Too bad.
captguitarman
October 5th, 2012
11:44 pm
It is awful for any sport that a game of such importance can be decided by not only a game changer bad call, but one lacking any logic, reason, or just plain old fashioned common sense whatsoever. This was not a good night forthe Braves or for baseball. The protest was denied because 1) It would have really screwed up the post season schedule if allowed to stand (you can’t help but wonder who was calling whom from the comissioner’s office, when all that was going on) — and 2) The call was wrongly deemed a judgment call, and it was not. It was a clear violation of the rules.
The infielder had to make an effort to get it, and he had clearly not settled under it, and more importantly the call was not made immediately when the ball was hit, as the rules require – the ball was two feet off the ground before the ump called it. The Braves runners saw it for what it was (as did everyone in the stadium except the one guy paid to know what it was) and were waiting to tag up. The ball was hit halfway into left field.
This would be a no brainer if a reversal would not have caused so play off brain damage. The LF ump, no doubt wanting to show his own self-importance to the proceedings despite his diminished (and unnecessary role) on the left field line, was looking for his chance to “make a call” and boy did he ever. It will go down as one of the worst and dumbest calls in play off history. Just blatant stupidity.
Having said all of that, was it a game changer? I love the Braves, but no, it was not. They left enough men on base to win 23 to 6, which is very normal for them, and which has been their Achiles heel all year. Even if that nincompoop ump had called the play right, we all know that the chances of runs scoring, even with bases loaded and one out, were less than the chances of the next Brave batter hitting into a double play. They were fun to watch, and they did well, and Chipper had a great year, but St. Louis totally out played them. But hey could have over come that if they could hit with runners in scoring position. Why the can’t is an inexplicable myster. We won’t even talk about the errors because that gets into “choke” territory. Too bad.
J.L.
October 5th, 2012
11:45 pm
How come nobody mentions the bizarre “time out” called in the second inning that resulted in a second chance…..and home run??
3d
October 5th, 2012
11:47 pm
Just another example of pro sports turning people off. One and done after 162 games???
Lousy system to determine who advances.
Still, the Braves had their chances. 12 men left on base and 3 errors. Not gonna get it
They haven’t had a clutch player since David Justice left. Fact
DC Brave
October 5th, 2012
11:48 pm
1) Not the right call in any setting. To quote Charles Barkley: “Turble”
2) The semantic back and forth about “ordinary” is pointless because that word will mean different things to different people, including umpires (easy out doesnt mean ordinary effort). It comes down to why that rule is in place — to protect the offense from the defense converting a no-brainer into two or three outs. Look where Uggla is when the ball drops. He’s about 40% down the line because he clearly thinks there is a higher probability of him getting thrown out at third if it drops than doubled off second if the SS or LF catches it. If it were a real IFF–a play requiring “ordinary effort”–Uggla would be standing on second base. Just one of many — Would Matheny have argued if the call had NOT been made, for example–compelling arguments against the call.
2) The umps / Torre press conference was apparently conducted from the Turner Field “Spin Room.” I get more sincere self-reflection out of the campaign spokes-people than I did out of Joe “Company Man” Torre and Charlie Relliford. Though Torre’s initial refusal to answer whether it was a good or bad call was telling. To quote Charles Barkley again: “Turble”
4) I actually dont know if the call is or isnt the reason we lost the game. None of us do, but would have nice to see McCann hit with the bases loaded, a situation in which he typically thrives. Nonetheless, clearly the Bravos didnt play their best game on defense and the bizarre two decade’s long slump with runners in scoring position in the post-season–going back to Ron Gant and Sid Bream unable to drive in anyone with the bases loaded and no one out in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. Blame Lonnie all you want, but he was on third with no one out and the four and five hole hitters coming up–seems to have only grown more intense. Hard to win when you give a decent team an additional half-inning’s worth of outs. You would probably need the other team to give you an out or two and then you hit a grand-slam or something . . .
3) I am not pro-mob rule on most days, but something about seeing a Braves crowd show some real passion was actually heart-warming. Glad no one got hurt and we probably shouldnt go down that road again, but all in all, nice to some fire in the belly of Turner Field again. Maybe it will inspire the team to do the same. If it happens in Philly or NY or Boston, folks would just say that it shows how much those fans love their teams . . .
4) Tough day for Hoss, but a tougher one for Braves fans and the franchise. Sure, its probably time for Hoss to ride off into the sunset, but you dont get to watch a HoF-er play for 19 years in one city much anymore. Thanks, Chipper. Happy huntin’.
DC Brave
October 5th, 2012
11:49 pm
Not so good with the numbering
Florida Guy
October 5th, 2012
11:52 pm
Hey, not so Shur-holtz, dont apologize for a “few” atlanta fans as you put it. It was far more than a few. MORE IMPORTANTLY, your lack of backbone statement is the very reason the braves lack a sense of urgency in the post season. Stupid statements like yours show the lack of emotion that is prevailing in that clubhouse. Instead of being outraged at this ridiculous call, you bash the fans. Perhaps your time here is done, since you haven’t been able to get it done for a long time. Way to go Atlanta for showing some emotion!!!! And don’t apologize for me you moron. I don’t need for you to speak for me. That call, and the way it was handled shows why the NFL is light years ahead of baseball. Because the NFL actually cares about getting it right, which is something that you apparently aren’t concerned about as you bash your customers. Again, M-O-R-O-N
Steve
October 5th, 2012
11:52 pm
Biff, Freddi called for a safety sqeeze and Simmons did exactly as he was supposed to. Freddi admitted to it in an interview with the announcers mid-game. Blame Freddi, not Simmons.
As far as the Braves future chances, I think they will be better than people think. Yes, we lose Chipper and maybe Bourn, but not a whole lot else.
C- McCann? Betancourt is ready and even if he doesn’t hit he is superior defensively.
1B – Freeman – Will likely only get better.
2B – Uggla – Could he get any worse?
SS – Simmons – again, will likely get better
3B – Prado with Francisco in versus Righties
RF – Heyward
CF – Constanza, or more likely Pastornicky once he retools this offseason.
LF – Prado/Constanza
Rotation – Hudson, Medlen, Minor, Maholme with 5th spot between Jurrgens, Hanson, Delgado, or Teheran
Bullpen – no major changes
That is just what we have coming back and not adding anything. My bet is the Braves can’t afford Bourne and will likely go after an OF in free agency. They might look at a veteran 3B and put Prado in LF permanently (either way I don’t think they will trust Francisco).
Put simply, we should not be any worse talent wise. That being said, most of the teams in the East are getting better (except maybe the Phillies), so who knows what will happen.
Bravesradiofan
October 5th, 2012
11:54 pm
A Braves playoff game influenced by the inappropriate application of the infield fly rule ? That sound we all hear is the late Skip Caray doing 3500RPM in his grave …
PMC
October 5th, 2012
11:55 pm
If Holbrooks Judgment cantbe questioned then why does Joe Torre have a job?
Infield = dirt outfield= grass.
The left fielder was 2ft away. If he can’t see that’s not the infield then why is he employed?
God I wish the press had some cojones here.
T Dub
October 5th, 2012
11:59 pm
A lot of people in baseball are apologizing for the actions of the fans at the game. I APPLAUD the actions of the fans at the game. The Ted was finally filled with REAL Braves fans that actually CARE about the home team. I was not able to make it down to the game, but I LOVED seeing the reaction of the fans.
Thanks for the memories Chipper, but you picked a heckuva time to play catch with J-Hey!
Larry Miller
October 6th, 2012
12:01 am
Baseball is becoming part of Barnum & Bailey when two teams are required to work for six months for the opportunity to play ball for three hours to decide if all the effort was worth it. I’ve been a baseball fan for sixty years, but today I don’t recognize it. Baseball is where I learned about integrity and fair play, but I hope my grandchildren can learn those values in other endeavors because they no longer exist in Major League Baseball. Regrettably I’m through.
older1
October 6th, 2012
12:01 am
3 runs ,3 errors ,12 hits ,but none when they counted. Been going on since the all star break. was a bad call and the ump new it , during the delay you could see his face , like i didn’t expect these Atlanta fans to know the difference. Here’s to Joe Torre, baseball games aren’t cheap to attend. the last thing we need is to be cheated and for you to say we weren’t. Joe you were a loser when you were the Braves manager.
BIG MIKE
October 6th, 2012
12:04 am
I remember the Ron Gant fiasco. That was a decisive play as was the one tonite. In the 20 years since that embarassment to baseball, not one thing has been done to eliminate or reduce the possibility of a man in navy blue deciding the fate of a game based on his judgement or lack of it. We have massive technology now that can reduce to an anomoly the error in rules enforcement. Why isn’t baseball using this technology?
I’ll tell you why….the game is being manipulated for financial gain in the betting booth by people in secret places. There is too much money at stake. The fans and players are accustomed to the old adage “it’s part of the game” when explaining away inexplicable calls like the two aforementioned. However, millions…no hundreds of millions of dollars changed hands on those calls. Why do you think the NFL turned a blind eye to the Referee lockout even with such blatantly bad calls effecting the outcome of games, weekly…..because the out come of the game could be manipulated, massive money could be made on longshots and underdogs while explaining it all on the replacement refs.
mj
October 6th, 2012
12:04 am
I saw the play, and called infield fly before the umps did. Being an ump myself, I know he made the correct call. The rule clearly states that even if the outfielder makes the catch, if an infielder can make it in a routine manner, it is an infield fly. In this case, the shortstop was clearly under the ball, had waved his hand to make the catch. That is when the ump made the call, and it was the correct one. Perhaps before you go spouting off about a lousy call, you should familiarize yourself with the rule book. Cards win, fair and square. Get over it.
Bravesradiofan
October 6th, 2012
12:06 am
Is it great that fans threw things on the field ? Absolutely not, but some perspective please … if that call is made in Philadelphia or the Bronx, fans would have set the buildings on fire. Media would have gotten a little more worked up as well.
Quicherbichin
October 6th, 2012
12:09 am
mj- next time, according to the way you see things, a fly ball to the warning track would also be called an infield fly. Even most of the ESPN guys are saying the call was bad. Have fun getting beaten by the Nats.
maddogette
October 6th, 2012
12:13 am
after listening to the so-called experts and watching the replay many times, I have concluded that the Cards were rewarded [via the "infield-fly" rule in the outfield] for NOT being able to catch the ball! what the hell?!!! is this little league baseball or what?!!!
Chop Chop
October 6th, 2012
12:13 am
People whining about the infield fly call (and quite understandably so) have to remember Chipper lighting the fire in the fourth inning. The Braves had a chance to score after the umps’ call in the eighth and didn’t. The Cards scored three runs after Chipper’s error. Which team took advantage of its opportunities? Which team threw the ball around the park and made more mental errors?
The one in the first base dugout.
The Braves weren’t good enough today. That they lost is no surprise. Welcome to Choketober.
Bravesradiofan
October 6th, 2012
12:13 am
Sorry MJ, but the call was mis-applied. The infield fly rule is for the benefit of the baserunners, so that they may not be doubled off by an intentionally dropped pop fly. Holbrook doesn’t make the infield fly call until just before the ball drops. He’s supposed to make the call immediately when the fielder is in position to make the catch. The catch could just as “routinely” have been made by the LEFT FIELDER. You’re right, sloppy defense and a lack of timely hitting doomed the Braves, but Holbrook’s misapplication of the rule didn’t help
Billy (not Martin)
October 6th, 2012
12:14 am
THis is exactly why Atlanta fans don’t throw all in on our teams. We see this ending each year. The script and actors may change, but the ending is the same every year. We play tight and play not to lose instead play to win.You can see it in organizations like the Cardinals. They expect to win everytime they take the field. WIth the Braves, one bad play and you can see it in the way theie eyes, here we go again.
As far as those rotten announcers saying the fans should be ahamed. I;m proud we finally showed some emmotion and made a statement that we are not going to except this BS anymore.THe players and umpires are the ones that really should be ashamed for stealing peoples money with such a pathetic performance.tonight. Way to show up Atalanta.
Cletus Van Damme
October 6th, 2012
12:17 am
Again, please! Wild Card teams DO NOT DESERVE the same footing as Division winners! I feel that Wild Card qualifiers should be GRATEFUL that they even have a one game chance to get into the Division Series (after all, it is named THE DIVISION SERIES).
Winning the division in a 162 game season..should be rewarded with an automatic bid into the Division Series. Regardless of how many games the Braves won more than the Cardinals did during the regular season…the Braves were still a WILD CARD team.
Quit complaining about the Wild Card set up….when the division title was for us to win. Quit complaining about the bad infield fly call…..when we played terrible defense and couldnt get a hit with runners in scoring position.
mj
October 6th, 2012
12:18 am
Quicherbichin, perhaps you should take the advice in your username. I refer you to the mlb rule book. Rule 2.0 If an infielder can get under a ball to make a routine catch, even wt the warning track, yes, it is an infield fly. Its an infield fly anywhere an INFIELDER can make a routine play on it. And, btw, I will enjoy seeing the Cards play the Nats. We will see who wins. Too bad for you that it wont be the Braves. Thats baseball.
Rabbit
October 6th, 2012
12:18 am
Joe torre made the protest denial. Said it was judgement call by ump. Nevermined the oddity of an outfield ump calling an infield fly when the infielder yielded to the outfielder, Joe is full of you know what. The issue was rules based. Guy broke the first two requirements of the rule. Notice and timeliness. People can bi+ch and moan about the errors and hitting, but we will not continue to be interested in pro sports if the integrity of the product continues to erode like the NFL lingerie league refs, the unbelievably bad call tonight and the pro boxing like kangaroo judgment of Joe Torre.
BIG MIKE
October 6th, 2012
12:20 am
@MJ
I’m an umpire too. And have been for 40 years. For lack of a better term….you sir are full of $HIT. You are either not an umpire or you didn’t see the play in it’s entirity. If it was clearly an infield fly it should have been called when it was immediately apparent that it was an infield fly, not when it was immediately apparent that the ball was going to fall between the infielder and outfielder. The infielder gave way to the outfielder whom he thought called him off. If an outfielder reaches the ball at just about the same time as the infielder, it’s ludicrous to call that an infield fly. The ball was in the shallow outfield and that is not how the rule was meant to be applied. Even if it was, the call was made only after the umpire thought there might be a chance the infielder was going to muff it. He was protecting somebody. Watch the play and provide a precident where that rule was used in the shallow outfield in a similar situation. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen an infielder muff that fly ball or as in this case give way to the outfielder only to see it fall between them. That happens all the time, but NEVER has the infield fly rule been used in that position of the field.
mj
October 6th, 2012
12:21 am
radiofan, you need to read the rule. it clearly sttes that EVEN if the outfielder MAKES the catch, if an infielder COULD have made it, its an infield fly. MLB rule 2.0. Look it up
chris
October 6th, 2012
12:21 am
Fredi Gonzales calls for a Safety Squeeze with two on, one out and the Pitcher on Deck? He she be fired for that move alone.
Frank
October 6th, 2012
12:21 am
Chip Carey is rolling in his grave.
mj
October 6th, 2012
12:22 am
Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly) Comment: On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder — not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire’s judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder.
mj
October 6th, 2012
12:23 am
my last comment is straight from the rule book
Dr. Henry -- Augusta
October 6th, 2012
12:25 am
Terrible Call!! This is the most disappointed I;ve ever been after a game……BUT, we had 162 games to avoid this one game scenerio…..We were good enough to WIN the DAMN DIVISION !!!!
Cletus Van Damme
October 6th, 2012
12:26 am
Larry Miller, your complaints about the whole 162 game season being decided over 1 game…..fail to recognize the fact that the Braves DID NOT win the NL East division.
The Braves are a Wild Card team. By not winning the division, they put themselves in a position of having to win a one game, wild card play in game.
For years, Braves fans complained that the Marlins (or whoever got in as a Wild Card) was unfair..because it downplayed the importance of winning the Division in a 162 game season. Yet, Braves fans like you are complaining now that the Wild Card has to play a touch, one game play off just to get into the Division Series?
Perhaps next year, Braves management will make better decisions that will result in us winning the Division (like not giving Randal Delgado 17 starts….like not waiting until July 31st to give Kris Medlen his first start).
mj
October 6th, 2012
12:27 am
big mike, the short stop was under the ball, and when he waved his hand to call for it, the outfield ump made the call, followed by the infield ump. You, sir, are the one full of sh@t, if indeed you are an ump and dont make that call.
Rabbit
October 6th, 2012
12:29 am
One outlet reports that Joe Torre was the MLB rep to deny the protest. Said is was not reviewable since it was a judgment call. Setting aside the curious fact that an outfield umpire call the infield fly (when the infielder was deferring to the outfielder because the ball was so far out in the OUTfield): The issue, Joe, was not the admittedly bad judgment of the umpire who will live on in infamy. The is was very contestable since it involved the misapplication of the requirements we place on umpires who make that call. Specifically, notice and timeliness. Should have granted the protest.
Big difference between one out bases loaded and two out two on, especially for a team whose ability to come back has been proven. I’m sick.
People will move on from professional sports if they don’t find it legitimate. With the lingerie refs and tonight’s debacle, …and this stupid one game play in …. I’m not hopeful.
Adrian
October 6th, 2012
12:31 am
I think this wild card one game elimination format is a reward for mediocrity. We finished 94-68 a record that should made us win a division. My point is that MLB not only should eliminate this wild card elimination format but the should go back to the general standings. We are a team that should be in the playoffs and we are out because of a format and threw away all what we did on the regular season.
We didn´t play a good game today and that umpire decision was determinant on the score.
Now to think on 2013.
Chipper my favorite braves player all time! Great memories in 19 years carreer.
Be Proud… Be Brave!
Rabbit
October 6th, 2012
12:32 am
One outlet reports that Joe Torre was the MLB rep to deny the protest. Said is was not reviewable since it was a judgment call. Setting aside the curious fact that an outfield umpire call the infield fly (when the infielder was deferring to the outfielder because the ball was so far out in the OUTfield): The issue, Joe, was not the admittedly bad judgment of the umpire who will live on in infamy. The is was very contestable since it involved the misapplication of the requirements we place on umpires who make that call. Specifically, notice and timeliness. Should have granted the protest.
Big difference between one out bases loaded and two out two on, especially for a team whose ability to come back has been proven. I’m sick.
People will move on from professional sports if they don’t find it legitimate. With the lingerie refs and tonight’s debacle, …and this one game play in …. I’m not hopeful.
mj
October 6th, 2012
12:35 am
The rule states the ump MUST make the call as an infield fly even if the outfielder actually makes the catch, IF the infielder CAN make it routinely. But, being an ump for 40 yrs, you know that, right?
Walt
October 6th, 2012
12:38 am
*SOME* of the “fans” in attendance showed a total lack of class by throwing objects on the field when one of the umpires made a bad call. This comment is addressed to them. You are complee and total jerks who should never be allowed in a ballpark again. You are a stain on society, the city of Atlanta, and the Atlanta Braves Baseball Club. You are equal to ond worse than the trash you threw.
jared
October 6th, 2012
12:38 am
need to fire john schuerholz. He has the gall to apologize to baseball for the fans. He been terrible since the money left. You suck john schuerholz, leave….
Matty bicep
October 6th, 2012
12:39 am
Why is an outfield ump making an infield ruling?
BIG MIKE
October 6th, 2012
12:40 am
We know what the RULE BOOK states. That’s not the issue. In our society and sports if you will, there are laws and rules, respectively. We have people in place who are trained to enforce these laws and rules tempered with judgement and common sense so that they are applied equally to all with as much consistancy as practicable. That rule has NEVER been applied in that manner in any game especially a playoff game prior to tonite. Somebody had big money riding on this game. That umpire blatantly tried to save some runs. That’s not completely why Atlanta lost, but it was a contributing factor. That’s all a bookie can ask from a referee in game this big. Frankly, if I didn’t know better, I would have questioned Chipper Jones as well after that lackadaisical throw to second that eventually allowed three runs to score. Maybe he was trying to make one last big payday.
Cletus Van Damme
October 6th, 2012
12:42 am
Adrian, the Braves DO NOT deserve to be in the playoffs. They lost the division, period. The Giants won 103 games in 1993…..yet weren’t fortunate enough to have the Wild Card available back then.
I dont look at winning 94 games in 2012 as being “deserving” of making the playoffs. Instead, I see an opportunity SQUANDERED to win the division….because of bad decision making by Braves management…as well as a lack of clutch hitting (our offense basically took the month of September off).
By failing to win the division…we were rightfully punished (being subjected to the volatility of a one game play in game). When a team doesnt take care of business during the regular season….the team doesnt deserve equal footing as the other three teams who win their divisions.
chase
October 6th, 2012
12:42 am
mj
admit that you are just a Cardinals fan
even ESPN said he blew the call in 5 ways
By the letter of the rule book – that umpire blew the call in 4 ways! 1: It was not a “routine effort”, 2: The infielder was not “camped under it” , 3: The ball was NOT in the infield or the “vicinity” with the fielder under it, 4: The call is supposed to be made ONLY by an infield umpire !!!!!! excuse me – they mentioned a 5th way – The call must be made “quickly for the benefit of the base runners” – he didn’t make the call until it was 10 feet from the ground…and a team that wins 86 or 88 games does not deserve a 1-Game chance against a team that won 94 games and beat them 5 out of 6 times in the regular season!
Walt
October 6th, 2012
12:44 am
The umpires ruling was a judgement call. Good or bad….. sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you.
GT87
October 6th, 2012
12:44 am
@mj
I was second row left field. Very close to the call as it happened 225 ft from home plate. If this is not a factor, why is it called an infield fly rule instead of simply a fly rule. But the important point, the defender has yet to get under the ball. It was clear as day and night from Sec 136 R14 (front row is 13)Seat 101. He was near where the ball was to hit the ground. But he never stood on that spot. This was very obvious even to the Cardinal fans sitting near by. As with many over the shoulder type plays, the defender had arced toward the spot. He might well have arrived at the spot the ball impacted the field had he continued. But he chose to defer the play to the outfielder because anyone who knows how to play baseball knows it was the outfielder’s ball to be played in the outfield from the outfield position. Lastly, the Braves fans threw the trash. But after the initial barrage was deminished, the ump walks into left field, tips and waves his cap at the stadium crowd inciting the second and sustained escalation of the fans expressing there understanding of the game. I do not condone the throwing of anything. But the ump caused and perpetuated a fiasco much more significant than the Green Bay call. This was season ending. With respect to your Umpiring experience and judgement, should the common sense component not be reinstated. Does the Cardinals manager protest a no call? Never, because it would have made him appear to be grasping at straws. MLB could have fixed the call. The ump was on the horn in the dugout during the clean up. The tv guys said the call would be reversed. But no. Braves had an off night and got jobbed. Thanks Chipper. Awesome career. A lot of fun for a lot of people. Excellent post game comments. Go Braves.
BIG MIKE
October 6th, 2012
12:45 am
@WALT
KISS MY A$$…..How’s that for class??
Cletus Van Damme
October 6th, 2012
12:46 am
Walt…if the Braves had taken care of business in the regular season (we should have won the Division)…then we would not have been in the position of having “the bear eat us”!
Next year, you better believe that teams will take it more serious the importance of winning the division. I wouldnt change the format ONE BIT!