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
William Tecumseh Sherman
October 6th, 2012
10:48 am
The Cardinals had their opportunities and delivered. The Braves had their opportunities and failed to deliver. Next year…Win. Your. Division. Last night is why the Cardinals are defending World Champions, and the Braves…aren’t. And won’t be.
Go Jackets
October 6th, 2012
10:49 am
Grats to the Fans…..loved the support….if we’re goin down, we are goin down swingin….whats MLB gonna do….fine the fans?
Gph
October 6th, 2012
10:50 am
Terrible fans. That’s what you be remembered for 2012.
Go Jackets
October 6th, 2012
10:50 am
@Ted M….agreed…..we got us a Costanza.
Dirty Dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:52 am
As a friend often observes in situations like this – disappointments following high expectations – ‘It was a long run for a short slide.’
Fredbird
October 6th, 2012
10:55 am
Hey Braves fans, we got 11 World Series titles. You have….3. We’re still playing,…you’re still shooting your TV over a bad call. We played to win….you played to lose. We are baseball nation…you are crying in your beer. I salute Chipper Jones on an amazing career. See you Braves in 2013.
David Puddy
October 6th, 2012
10:55 am
“And Don’t EVER EVER Tomahawk chop again. That HAS to go!”
Yeah, I’ve lived here for several years and, before, watched this tradition for a few decades. It is odd to say the least. Fake hatchets and chanting [I presume] like an American Indian would have in the 1800s. I would never do it and it looks foolish. And this comes from a guy who’s never swirled a white towl in his life, nor participated in The Wave…so I’m certainly not going to chant like an Indian.
JA770
October 6th, 2012
11:02 am
Seems to me Joe Torre could have corrected the infield fly mis-call, but chose not to thereby avoiding and upsetting TV network scheduling. Say it ain’t so, Joe.
David Puddy
October 6th, 2012
11:02 am
“Hopefully that ref can be dumped from MLB, as he isn’t up to the job. The call was unbelievable. But the Braves had plenty of opportunities to win, and were not able to cash in. Glad Chipper got the hit, and the applause from all assembled.”
First, it was a judgement call that many ‘non-MLB experts’ have conceded that it was either correct or could go either way. Second, Chipper was out.Look at the replay. The FB got his foot back on the bag in time. Close, but the UMP gave it to him. Great that he is the second best Brave ever.
Palmer Fralick
October 6th, 2012
11:02 am
Wren is a wet rag wimp. Torre was out of his depth, The ump is a pompous ass. I am proud of the fans the most. John “The Rightous” Schurholtz does not and can not apologize for us he has no right. Go back to the suite John. Braves fans have been labeled passionless long enough, last night we did “RISE UP”. And thank god we are now past all this retirement phase of the great players and managers. Now, let this team of youth go forward and know your fans will “RISE UP” to support you.
We are passionate, JOHN and FRANKIE, and not just about old players and managers. Better get used to it!
David Puddy
October 6th, 2012
11:05 am
“Seems to me Joe Torre could have corrected the infield fly mis-call, but chose not to thereby avoiding and upsetting TV network scheduling. Say it ain’t so, Joe.”
Joe very well never gave his opinion one way or the other. The rules are clear that he could not change a judgement call made during the course of a game. You can rant all you want about Torre, but he made the only decision he could make.
mumlypeg
October 6th, 2012
11:06 am
I am a happy Cardinal fan this morning. I enjoy reading comments of the losing team’s fans. I feel their pain but at the same time I love reading the sarcasm after such a painful loss. There was no worse call in sports history as when the Colorado Buffaloes were given a fifth down at the end of the game to beat my Tigers and go on to win a national championship and the second worse call was the Denkinger call. Both those calls actually cost my teams the win. I do feel your pain and glad its on you and not me this time.
Pat's Rockett
October 6th, 2012
11:07 am
I heard just over the internets that the Braves plan on saving money next season by not signing a left fielder. They are just going to let Martin Prado play third base and any ball hit into left field he will make a ” reasonable attempt” at the ball so the infield fly rule will rule the batter out. Prado, being the professional that he is, said ” yes i will play third base and left field” .
The rule applies all the way to the warning track, sooooooooo, on any ball that is hit out , as long as Prado leaves third base and is against the wall when the ball leaves the park, the batter will be ruled out , instead of a home run.
Don’t ya just love the ” infield fly rule”. Who needs outfielders.
Go Jackets
October 6th, 2012
11:08 am
I LIKE the tomahawk chop….spending part of my life living on the state line with Fla, I went to many FSU games. Deion Sanders brought it with him and his fan base when he came here to the Atl, and I want to keep it. Pittsburgh has their terrible towel, nothing wrong with The Chop! Now we just need a team that wins to go with it….;-)
Dave
October 6th, 2012
11:12 am
@Todd He couldn’t have backed off because he saw Holbrook signal the call because Holbrook didn’t signal the call until after he had already backed off. @a Players are taught to drop the ball when the infield fly rule is called??? What have you been smoking???
Rob
October 6th, 2012
11:12 am
You know why the Cardinals keep winning in these do or die situations and the so called better teams like the 2011 Phillies, Brewers, Rangers and now the 2012 Braves keep losing??? Because they take advantage of game changing situations on the field instead of making excuses off. You are really going to blame a loss on one call but would expect to win a playoff game after making 3 errors??? Come on!! Keep crying Atlanta, you sound like every other city the Cards sent home early.
B. Thenet
October 6th, 2012
11:15 am
Well at least the Braves have a better chance at winning a playoff series once Choking Chipper is off the team.
NCDawg
October 6th, 2012
11:17 am
Braves got screwed… just like 1991. MLB hates the Braves and it shows. No more needs to be said.
KWM STL
October 6th, 2012
11:18 am
Braves fans don’t seem to have a problem with Ross getting a 2nd chance from ump after striking out. Or Chipper being called safe at 1st when he was out. Cardinals overcame calls and misplays. Braves did not. STL moves on.
Bobo
October 6th, 2012
11:22 am
This new wild-card system is a JOKE. St. Louis ultimately did NOT deserve to go to the playoffs anyway. The Braves would win a 5 or 7 game series against them, but one bad night and you’re doomed. How is that fair? Stick with the one best alternate as the wild card. It’s not like a one game money-grab is going to be that much more effective…..On the contrary, I think people will ultimately spend more money on QUALITY.
As for quality, the Braves did deserve to lose that game with as many errors as they made. I also question starting a young kid like Medlen in that situation. Great season, but they should’ve gone with Hudson instead, given his experience. The call and the subsequent refusal to hear the protest were absolutely inexcusable. I don’t want to hear about the correct ‘interpretation’ of the rule. He was 100 feet out of the infield. At minimum, Holbrooks shouldn’t be allowed to work another playoff game. Also, I would can the announcers who called the garbage coming out of the stands ‘embarrassing or shameful’ for the Braves. On the contrary, I thought it was a rare show of passion and fan unity from a town that doesn’t care that much most of the time. The real embarrassment was on Holbrooks. The garbage shower is something called ‘consequences’.
NORRIS CHUCK
October 6th, 2012
11:24 am
I lost all respect for Joe Torre last night while he sat next to the fat guy from the Sopranos and The Men in Black trying to justify that obvious blunder.
I am so sick of MLB and their continued incompetance year in and year out to do the right thing. I still remember the Bartman play in Chicago, the botched call on the no-hitter in Detriot and last night will sting too.
I was watching them sit on the panel and trying to make explainations of what the ump called and Joe couldnt even put together legible words that even sounded like a sentence!
And looking at the ridiculous expression on Holbrooks face said it all for me. He knew that he made a bad call but was gonna hide behind MLB. That other ump was looking like, “Dude you screwed up and now i gotta sit here looking stupid with you!”
I agree with some of the others who posted, “If this would have happened to the Yankees, we would be playing again tonight!” MLB is STILL a joke!
But overall, the Braves wouldnt have been in this situation if they hadnt kicked the ball around in typical Atlanta Braves post-season fashion. Year in year out, in the post-season, the Atlanta Braves will find a way to CHOKE!
Rob
October 6th, 2012
11:29 am
It takes a special kind of fan to disgrace the game and throw trash on their own field. Nice representation of your city on a national platform Atlanta. I think everyone in baseball is glad this fan base took an early exit
pb
October 6th, 2012
11:43 am
Hey Rob,
Just curious? Who is the “everyone in baseball” you speak of? Have you done a poll? Maybe you know the commisioner and get his opinion, too? Or do you just not like the Braves? A few drunk and stupid-acting fans do not represent an entire fan base. And the one game playoff format is kind of crazy, anyway.
You gotta be kidding!
October 6th, 2012
11:43 am
The worst call in the history of baseball! Bud Selig, Joe Torre, and that stupid umpire should be fired immediately and held financially responsible for loss of revenue in possible future playoff games by the Braves and the city of Atlanta! I have been a baseball fan for nearly 50 years, but I won’t be watching any more games because it is obvious that the umpires are paid off. Also, the home plate umpire was suspiciously inconsistent in calling balls and strikes ver early in the game (to benefit the Cardinals, of course)!
short memories
October 6th, 2012
11:43 am
The worst part is that Sam Holbrook is too classless to own up to his bad call. He said after looking at the replay that he would make the same call. He doesn’t even say anything about how he blew the call by not making it until the ball was about to drop. Sam Holbrook is a 330 lb inbreed from Kentucky who needs to go back to the Appalachian league he came from.
John Leonard
October 6th, 2012
11:44 am
As bad as that call was,the umps should be glad thats all the fans did.
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
October 6th, 2012
11:44 am
So some of you knuckleheads say it was the correct call. Ok, so in the future all OF’s should play at the wall and let IF’s attempt to catch the ball in the outfield. With runners on base, they would be called out on the IF fly rule.That was not a professional call by the umpire. We played like crap but still could have won. Bases loaded with one out, anything could have happened. Hope for Holbrook’s sake, he does not umpire in ATL next year, that’s all one should say!!
DawgFan#1
October 6th, 2012
11:50 am
I didn’t want to see anyone get hurt, but it did make me happy to see the fans litter the field after a call that a Little League umpire could have made. The Braves and their fans are always know as being NICE…as a matter of fact the Hawks and Falcons are too. It’s about time this city showed it had a pair and showed it. Let that moron ump make that call in Philly and see what happens. If it had happened against MLB’s DARLINGS, the Yankees, I doubt that call would have stood. There would have been an immediate call between Selig and Torre and the call would have been reversed. That’s the way the world works…THE STRONG SURVIVE. Good for you fans for finally standing up and saying were not taking this crap anymore. I know it won’t happen, but they should fire the UMP,Selig and Torre.
Bob
October 6th, 2012
11:53 am
Holbrook should be fired immediately, and the rest of the crew put on uncompensated leave for the 2013 season. Think that too harsh? They don’t know the rules of the game they are umpiring! And baseball is so archaic — their collective answer is — “well, that’s the way we do it”. What? Have they looked at ticket prices, and ancillary costs to attend a game? And the TV money they get? If I were the highest Braves official at the game last night, I would have ordered the team off the field and fought it out in the courts with MLBB. It was that egregious. In 63 years of following baseball I have never (and never is a long time) seen a call as bad, and in a worse situation. It is a black eye for all of baseball.
You gotta be kidding!
October 6th, 2012
11:53 am
I guess suggesting that MLB be held financially responsible for ruining its own game is keeping my coment in the filter
JS
October 6th, 2012
11:53 am
After that amazing catch by Jason Heyward of Malina’s potential home run, I was sure this was the Brave’s game
SSIgator
October 6th, 2012
11:54 am
DawgFan#1 -
Spoken like a true Dwag fan, but then again you guys are used to trashing your own campus win or lose.
DC Brave
October 6th, 2012
11:58 am
1) The IFF rule is in place to protect the offense rather than assist the defense. It is designed to ensure that the defense doesnt take advantage of an impossible tactical dilemma for the offense: A pop-up on the infield or very shallow outfield that, without the IFF, could frequently lead to two outs instead of one because baserunners would have to move far enough down the baseline to have a reasonable chance of not being forced out should the IF decide to let the ball drop, but if he moves far enough down the baseline to hedge against that possibility he will likely be easily doubled off if the infielder opts to catch the ball.
2) The rule IS NOT designed to help defenders make outs or to be applied in a statutory manner (i.e., a rule exists about IF making plays with “ordinary effort” so we must call it–hard to suggest a SS who was at double play depth at the start of the play used ordinary effort to (not) field a fly ball 225 feet from home plate).
The offense should never be put in a worse position by the invocation of the IFF rule. Even if the ball is dropped on an actual infield fly, the offense is no worse off than if the ball had been caught because they have been relieved of that crushing tactical dilemma. For those who play Black Jack, the IFF rule is like the dealer offering you insurance, except that no one offers it to you, they just give it to you.
3) Last night, there was absolutely no reasonable case to be made that calling an IFF protected the Braves from anything. Even if the SS catches the ball and this is a non-issue, the play would have been made in shallow left and the SS would not have had reasonable shot at doubling Uggla or Ross up. Fly balls to left do not create the same tactical dilemma the IFF rule is designed to address and they therefore shouldnt be called IFF.
4) By standing by this ruling, MLB is suggesting that all lazy fly balls to the outfield with runners on 1st and 2nd or 1st, 2nd and 3rd are essentially the same as a pop up to the catcher and therefore umpires should call any fly ball to the outfield that can be fielded by a position player–whether it is or isnt is not material–as an infield fly and automatic out.
Mr. Hankey
October 6th, 2012
12:02 pm
Who’s shocked or surprised or “sick” to their stomach? After so much practice over the last 15 years you should, like me, have been expecting it and have gotten calloused over the Braves. There’s really nothing else to say. Why bother saying I’m bothered when I’m not. The only good thing was the fans tossing cans of the field. It’s about time we got a little street cred instead of sitting around on our hands waiting for the pool boy to refill our mint julips and make whispered comeents of disapppointment with a team. I’m done. “nuf sed.
Mr. Hankey
October 6th, 2012
12:03 pm
And I’m gone. And I’m out. And no mo cha-ching for MLB from me.
pb
October 6th, 2012
12:07 pm
Sorry to say, but same old Braves, when you come right down to it. Choked once again. Umpire call was bad, but that was not why they lost the game. Plenty of hits, but could not score the runs needed. Very disappointing, but not unfamiiar!
Stan
October 6th, 2012
12:08 pm
A bunch of guys on a sports blog worried about some plastic bottles after a top 5 bad playoff call in a one game death match? Why don’t you kittle girls go strategize your afternoon mall shopping
DC Brave
October 6th, 2012
12:10 pm
comment appears to have been caught in some filter. One more try:
1) The IFF rule is designed to protect the offense from the difficult tactical dilemma of what to do on a pop-up on the infield or (very) shallow outfield–stand on the bag and get forced out when the IF lets the ball drop or go down the line and get doubled off when the IF catches the ball. It is not designed to assist the defense in making outs. Indeed, one could argue it is designed to prevent the defense from collecting outs it has not earned.
2) The rule should never be invoked at the expense of the offense. Even when a real IFF is dropped the offense has not lost anything. The batter is out–as he should be–but the team is saved from further sanction or loss of outs by the rule.
3) There is absolutely no reasonable argument to be made that the play in question created the same tactical dilemma that the rule is designed to protect against. None. Even if the SS catches the ball, he does so in short to mid left and is not in a position to double up either Uggla or Ross. People fly out to short left with runners on all the time (especially Braves) and until now no one has suggested that the play should be dead to benefit the offense.
4) The rule was invoked wrongly (and late) and as a result, the defense was very much aided even when there WAS NO RISK TO THE OFFENSE OF THE DEFENSE GAINING MORE OUTS THAN THEY DESERVED.
5) By standing by the ruling, MLB is (hopefully unwittingly) suggesting that any fly ball to the outfield that does not clear the fence, whether it is fielded or not, is the equivalent to a popup to second base and therefore covered by the IFF and an automatic out.
Dave in St. Louis
October 6th, 2012
12:16 pm
Although I’ve been a hometown Cardinals fan for sixty-something years, I must admit that the call seemed, indeed, a “bad call”. St. Louis Nation got lucky. However, after the MLB channel repeatedly dissected the play over a dozen times, the video replay did, indeed, support the call according to the rule. It showed how (1) Cardinal SS Pete Kozma definitely had a bead on the ball and dropped back into short LF as dozens of shortstops have repeatedly done dozens of times this season and other seasons. (2) Kozma remained FACING the infield. (3) With the ball passed the peak of its height – yet STILL about 40 or 50 feet ABOVE the ground – the umpire clearly raises his hand to indicate the infield fly rule. He did NOT wait until it hit the ground as many believe. The replay clearly shows all the other umpires doing the same. (4) THIS IS IMPORTANT … on the replay, Kozma’s final position shows him still facing the infield and his retreating back foot (his right foot) stopped less than 3 feet from where the ball actually landed – clearly catchable. But in that last instant, Kozma jumped forward a couple of steps which appeared to extend his distance from the ball by 7 or 8 feet. MLB Channel did a freeze frame analysis that clearly showed Kozma’s right back foot firmly planted in the turf STILL FACING THE INFIELD. So Kozma, did indeed, maintain control on the ball, continued facing the infield, and could have caught it. Consequently, all three MLB commentators (Harold Reynolds, Matt Vasgersian and Dan Plesac) ALL agreed on the call. I don’t know how thorough ESPN or your local Atlanta TV stations examined the replay, but MLB Channel really took the last couple of seconds apart frame by frame, and explained how this play applied to the infield fly rule. Personally, I think the Braves were “jobbed” and my Cardinals got lucky. But when you get down to the facts, it was, indeed, a correct call. Unfortunately, Braves Nation now knows how Cardinal Nation felt on the Don Denkinger call in the 1985 World Series. World Series — not a one and out playoff — the sixth game of a World Series. Think about that, folks! Nonetheless, the Braves have a good team and will surely be a playoff contender in 2013. Ya never know …
UmpireDuped
October 6th, 2012
12:18 pm
Why doesn’t the umpire just admit he was duped. Not that being 230 feet from home plate, running sideways and backwards should be called an infield fly, but the fact they won’t admit he was wrong is not right. People, and everyone knows he was duped when his arms went up. Then pulled away, about the same time the SS ran away from the fly. Not to say the Braves would have scored, but who is to say.
Ron
October 6th, 2012
12:23 pm
First let me say I am from STL and have been a Cardinals fan for well over 40 years. I’m not saying the Braves would have won that game, but that was a bad call. I also think Chipper Jones is one (if not) the last class player in MLB. He proved himself last night when he took the blame for the worst error of the evening. We’ll never know if the Braves would have regained the lead if that call was made properly, but the whole point would be moot if there was not those 3 very costly errors. I hated to see Chipper Jones last game end this way. Chipper is a class ball player and a class human and will be missed. Enjoy retirement Mr. Jones and enjoy your induction into the Hall. YOU DESERVE IT.
DC Brave
October 6th, 2012
12:23 pm
Dave,
Watched MLB last night, too. Omar Vizquel and two other guys disagreed with Harold Reynolds and indeed the footage showed the the SS wasnt even on the same cut of grass as where the ball landed. He was 4 feet away from where the ball landed when he bolted. And, by the way, if we are looking at an IFF rule call after the fact frame by frame to determine whether it was the correct call, I think its not the correct call and we have all missed the point.
But beyond the dissection of timing et al, the RULE IS NOT DESIGNED TO HELP THE DEFENSE MAKE OUTS. Its just that simple. The situation did not call for the rule to be invoked because there was no risk that the defense would gain anything by intentionally dropping the ball and potentially making an extra out. None.
Ultimately, the Braves had tons of chances to change the outcome of the game. The bottom of the 8th was one of them and I think that opportunity was undermined by rank poor officiating.
UmpireDuped
October 6th, 2012
12:25 pm
Dave Short left field is a few feet back. ESPN this morning took the measurement and it was 240 feet from home plate. A short stop running sideways and backward is not having a bead on it. MLB network showed that he was NOT 3 feet from it but actually 4 feet from even being under it, based upon where he was and where it landed based upon the grass coloring. This was not even CLOSE to an infireld fly rule. Would it have helped, who knows. I know the Braves 3 errors and the 4 unearned runs they gave you guys on 6 hits didn’t help. The Braves 12 hits to your 6 and stranding 12 men on base didn’t help
the truth...
October 6th, 2012
12:25 pm
@Dave in St. Louis
MLB Network is owned by MLB and they work for Selig……………what do you think they’re going to say? Did they roast Selig for the insane one game “Wild Card Playoff” ?
Yes the MLB Network “has a dog in this hunt” so frankly I don’t give a crap what their shill say. I was there, I saw it first hand and I can assure you the Cardinal players in no way thought that was coming.
Someone said that Kozma must have backed off because he “heard” the umpire calling IFF….are you kidding me? He didn’t hear Holliday who was a lot closer than the sorry ump………
It was a bad call……………Torre even insinuated it in his explanation that whild saying it was not overturned because it was a judgment call and that mistakes are a part of the game……….
No way was it the correct call……….
Sam doughty
October 6th, 2012
12:27 pm
I never did like the wild card.
BigDAtlantaFan
October 6th, 2012
12:27 pm
As a diehard Brave fan, I thought the call was awful! I have never in my over 40 years of watching Baseball, seen an infield fly rule called on a ball hit so far into the outfield.I knew with a shill like Joe Torre working in the commmissioner’s office, that he was never going to overturn the call. What is the purpose of the infield fly rule, it is a dumb rule. How their be an automatic out, you have earn it by making the play.Too bad the three Braves errors in the infiled wern’t popups, or the Braves would have had three more outs instead of theee errors.But let’s face it, the Braves didn’t lose becuase of that play, they lost because of 4 unearned runs caused by errors. Also their usual untimely hitting. I was also disapointed by the Atlanta fans, you would think with that many cans thrown into the field, that they would have hit that umpire who made the bad call at least once!
the truth...
October 6th, 2012
12:33 pm
Selig and his ideas are horrible…………this year we see his first one game wild card playoff blow up in OUR FACES….
………..and next year the Astros to the AL and baseball realignment is going to be good for baseball?
You want something that will be good for baseball Bud………..put in instant replay and stop this kind of garbage. You and Torre are fine with having blown calls be ok because it has always been that way, but have no trouble instituting Designated Hitters, Wild Cards, and now Wild Card Playoffs……
Time to come into the 21st century baseball………..instant replay has to come to the aid of the game and overcome the farce caused by umps like the clown Holbrook…………
Larry
October 6th, 2012
12:33 pm
Aside from the Ump’s “judgment” in making the call based on the SS position under the ball is the simple poor judgment in making the call at all given the circumstances.
The ball was so deep that even if he had intentionally dropped it there’s no way on earth he could have picked it up in time, made an accurate throw to 3rd, and gotten more than one out…essentially a wash. Thus, there’s no way on earth the SS would have dared to drop an easy out in the outfield and risk a bad throw to 3rd leaving the bases loaded and zero outs up by 4 runs. He or the outfielder would have caught that ball under the circumstances and the ump has to realize this!
The purpose of the rule to to prevent double plays on an infield pop-up; the purpose was ignored by this ump.
This is the kind of tradegies that can happen during playoff games when an unp makes an unnecessary call under the circumstance that influences the outcome of a game.
Heisenberg
October 6th, 2012
12:33 pm
What we need is a re-creation of the situation to see if it is physically possible to get a double play in that situation. Put runners on the bases and have a SS standing next to the exact spot where the ball landed. At the sound of the whistle to go, runners take off and SS picks up the ball and they try to turn the DP by throwing to 3B then to 2B. We assume the 2B to 1B DP is not possible as the batter should already be at or near 1B during the flight of the ball. We would need good fielders in that I doubt Cards players would participate. But for argument sake we could use average to slow runners. Even though normally the runners would be a few steps off, we could start with runners in contact with the bases but try it both ways. I doubt it is possible to turn a double play from where that ball landed.
And my 52 year old legs with 6 knee surgeries and 1 ankle surgery will volunteer to be the runner on first who in theory would get doubled at second.
beachcomber
October 6th, 2012
12:40 pm
Granted we got jobbed on the call in left field but it wouldn’t have made any difference had we not tossed the ball around like a bunch of T-ballers earlier in the game.
The thing that will stick in my mind will be Torre, Holbrook and Bud’s other minions blithely denying the call was blown during the press conference. You have to wonder how those men can look themselves in the mirror this morning.
P.S. – Good point above Heisenberg.