Effectively Wild Episode 1123: Judgment Calls
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Yellowstone-explosion sensationalism and discuss the improbability of the Cubs’ 277-minute NLDS Game 5 victory over the Nationals, the game’s umpiring oddities and errors, the Nationals’ and Cubs’ reputations and legacies in the wake of the series, and what to do about instant replay and slides.
Audio intro: Thom Yorke, "Interference"
Audio outro: Villagers, "Judgement Call"
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So if we follow this rule to the letter, next time a wild pitch happens with the go ahead runner on third, the catcher should just stick his face in the bat path, like Wieters did, and that kills the play.
I completely disagree with your Lobaton “pick off” play assessment. You guys are barking up the wrong tree by arguing “slide technique” and that Lobaton “didn’t do anything wrong to deserve the out.”
It had nothing to do with a slide technique, rather he was simply too far away from the bag! In my judgment, Lobaton used poor judgment, and was not respectful of Wilson’s ability to throw him out. If he had, he could have managed his foot staying on the bag or maybe Wilson wouldn’t have tried and the Nationals might be playing in the NLCS. Lobaton chose to value possibly stealing 2nd over not getting out. Poor choice.
Sure it was physics and gravity that moved him off the bag, but playing baseball is the ability to master those things better then your opponent. Technology helps us measure them. I fully agree with softer bags, but if you want replay this rule needs to be binary. Is he on or off the bag while being tagged? End of story.
Further, the rules of baseball intentionally created this situation. They have a specific situation set aside for when you can be safe without staying on the bag- When a batter is running to first he has the option to run past. Every other time he has to stay on the bag and account for that momentum in his sliding.
Finally, your inability to come up with a viable alternative is proof positive that you have no business griping about this rule! Safe space above the bag??? Really? Sounds like a rabbit hole of more controversy and moves us further from true baseball then even replay does. Sure the call possibly stifled more interesting baseball to come, but I suppose every 3rd out with RISP stifles more interesting baseball.
Come up with a viable option, or dump replay, but until then live with it.
Love your show
Nate