The abstract art of baselines
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
The abstract art of baselines
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Before we begin the debate of Rule 7.08, let's acknowledge this: Ryan Howard tagged Michael Bourn. Howard was adamant after the game that he had "nicked" Bourn.
After watching the replays, it's clear Howard got a piece of Bourn -- around his left buttocks. If you watch the replay and focus solely on Bourn's belt, you see it move after Howard's glove touches it.
So Rule 7.08 notwithstanding, Bourn was out.
But it was impossible for first-base umpire Greg Gibson to see Howard barely tag Bourn. He could not see it.
Here's the problem. Charlie Manuel was arguing the wrong part of the call. Granted, Gibson's interpretation of Rule 7.08 might have been wrong, but it wasn't Manuel's best argument for having the call overturned.
Manuel's main contention was the runner was out of the baseline. After the game, the manager was asked if he had requested Gibson ask for help in making the call, perhaps to home plate umpire Scott Barry.
"He does not have to get help," Manuel said. "That's his call."
Manuel said he did not think Howard tagged Bourn. Howard said he did not ask for an explanation on the play. He apparently didn't tell Manuel he tagged Bourn either.
"It didn't look to me like he tagged him," Manuel said.
So Manuel didn't ask for help?
"I didn't request help because that's his call," Manuel said. "He's standing right there at it."
But maybe Barry, who had a clear view of Bourn's backside and the tag being applied, would have ruled differently had he been asked.
Unfortunately, we don't know that now. Following the game, a pool reporter requested comment from Gibson. Crew chief Sam Holbrook said Gibson was not available and said only this: "Per MLB policy, we're not allowed to talk."
It is common practice for umpires to explain a disputed call to reporters following games. Take, for example, Jim Joyce after the imperfect game. Or Bob Davidson from earlier this season in Miami when he ruled a potential game-winning hit for the Marlins foul. The Phillies won that game.
Now, to Rule 7.08. Most would say it shouldn't matter that Manuel argued the wrong part of the call -- both aspects were ruled incorrectly by the umpiring crew.
"It was so faint I wouldn't have expected him to see it," Howard said of the tag. "As far as being out of the baseline, I think that was pretty much no contest."
Well, that's depending on the interpretation of the rule. As I wrote in the game story, Rule 7.08(a)(1) is ambiguous. It says, in part: "Any runner is out when - He runs more than three feet away from his baseline to avoid being tagged unless his action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner's baseline is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base he is attempting to reach safely. . . ."
Basically, it is the umpire's judgment as to where the tag attempt occurs, thus establishing the baseline. Gibson told Manuel that relative to where Howard's tag attempt was, Bourn had not exceeded three feet beyond the baseline.
"My version of the play was the umpires made the call that they thought was right," Bourn said. "Me, too. I agreed with them."
It's impossible to say Gibson was right or wrong simply because we do not know where the tag attempt "officially" begins. That is under Gibson's discretion. Because he did not explain after the game, we do not know -- yet.
The biggest gripe Manuel had was Gibson told him something differently June 24 against Cleveland. In that game, Manuel was tossed in the second inning after disputing a call at first base.
Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona was in front of Shane Victorino, who was trying to leg out the infield hit. Victorino avoided Carmona's tag and reached out to safely touch first. But he was called out by Gibson.
On Monday, Victorino stopped to talk to Gibson on his way into the dugout. He reminded Gibson of that play and asked how this was any different. Gibson told him Carmona had established the tag attempt and Victorino was more than three feet away from it.
This time, Gibson told Victorino, Howard was behind Bourn when the tag attempt occurred. When Howard went to tag Bourn, he established his baseline there.
Confused yet?
Howard said Rule 7.08 is one constantly discussed in spring training, when a representative from Major League Baseball typically visits each club to go over the rules.
"It's one of the rules that's always brought up because there's so much gray area," Howard said. "Nobody is sure."
Hopefully, Holbrook or Gibson will comment before Tuesday's game.
Now beyond the call, there was more to the game. I tweeted that I could have written 3,000 words but had to settle for 700 in the newspaper.
The e-mails are already pouring in, complaining about Jayson Werth being picked off second base following an intentional walk to Carlos Ruiz. A Phillies official noted this comedy: The chicken dance song played (because Ruiz was walked) as the Astros left the field.
Manuel would not discuss the play.
"That speaks for itself," he said. "I don't have to say a word. That play right there is sitting in front of you. I don't have to answer that."
He was asked if thought about benching Werth.
"No," Manuel said, "I did not."
Wilson Valdez would have been up with two runners on and two outs. Would something have happened? Impossible to say. But Werth has these mental mistakes and Monday was the most glaring yet.
Werth was gone Monday by the time reporters entered the Phillies clubhouse.
After the disputed call, Angel Sanchez sacrificed the two runners over. Hunter Pence struck out and Carlos Lee came up with first base empty. Manuel, who had been ejected but was still standing in the dugout tunnel, said he did not consider walking Lee.
Behind him was Chris Johnson, the rookie who is hitting .370 since the all-star break. Lee was 4 for 14 lifetime against Ryan Madson.
"Madson knows Lee," Manuel said. "We felt like we could get in on Lee. Even if he walks him, it's OK. I haven't seen it yet, but I guarantee you, he was trying to bust him inside."
He did. Lee broke his bat, still enough to drive in two runs.
"I didn't see it," Manuel said. "I was down there, still upset at the call."
And that's Game 124 in a nutshell.
That's one big nutshell.— hey buddy- once bourn goes to his right, he is avoiding the tag attempt. he moves to his right about halfway between the two white lines, which is 1.5 feet. he's at least two feet to the right of the running lane when he hits the grass. out of his baseline. there should be no interpretation but this is MLB were talking about.
- Bourn was out and Werth is an idiot. How do you get picked off on an intentional walk?
Comment removed.- Bourn was out, Charlie was thrown out, Werth was out to lunch and 2-run Madson strikes again!— Mark1npt
- The Bourn play should not have been an issue. Once again, WHERE ARE THE BATS ???. 7th & 8th innings both excellent scoring opportunities WASTED AGAIN!!!!! WERTH getting picked off second is UNACCEPTABLE......MADSEN??????GIVES UP THREE HITS IN THE 8TH.....NOTHING NEW!!!!!!! SAME O, SAME O. THIS LOSS IS MONUMENTAL !!!! TOP TIER TEAMS DO NOT LOSE THIS GAME!!!! A GREAT PERFORMANCE BY JOE BLANTON.... WASTED. FOLKS, THIS IS NOT A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM AND WILL BE LUCKY TO MAKE IT AS A WILD CARD.— Craig Schmoll
- Everyone who watches the Phils knew when Ryan and VIctornio came back the offense would suffer. THe Phils 4th and 5th hitters are hitting around the .230's with Runners on base and in scoring postion. THey are striking out 30% of the time with RISP. THE is the biggest problem, those situations are the difference in games. During the winning streak, without Vic,Howard and Utley guys were getting singles in these situations,(RISP) That is all that is required, we dont need Werth swinging at ball 4, or Howard waving at breaking balls. I mean how can Howard get 25 million per year and be without the ability to hit breaking balls. Howard hits fastballs and mistake breaking balls or hangers. But, he cant hit good pitching, which is why he struggles so often and why the Yankees were able to completely shut him down in WS. He is too easily of an out in important situatins. Pujols, A.Gonzalez,Zimmerman etc dont consistenly strike out with the game on the line and in important situations. Howard's WAR this year is 1.7 which is below the production of a starter and right about the expectations of a reserve. The Phillies need a consistent hitter in the clean up spot,just a guy with a good average with RISP. Werth and Howard have hurt the Phils this year with RISP. Howard isnt getting 25 million per year to hit singles with no one on base or solo HR's. WIth 2 runners on base 3, 4, 5 hitters cannot keep coming up empty handed. Polanco,Ruiz are carrying this team and getting all the important hits.
- If starters are pitching well, they shouldn't get pulled.— biagio7
- I agree BIAGIO, BLanton has given the Phils very little this year and this Phils gave him a nice extention, probably overpaid and undeserved. Blanton hasnt given the Phils very many innings and he was rolling. I am getting tired of this 100 pitch wall in MLB. Nolan Ryan used to throw 250 pitches during some of his complete games and he pitched until age 47. Blanton should have been relieved when he got into trouble, but he was having a nice game after that 1st inning. I think Blanton could have went deeper and this would have eliminated the need for Madson. Blanton was supposed to an innings eater for the Phils so why not let him try for atleast 8 innings of work tonite considering he was doing so well. Blanton could have pitched more but Charlie is a slave to his conservative approach. I love how he lets Blanton hit in the 7 inning against the Cardinals with the basesloaded but against the inferior Astros he takes Blanton out in 7th when Blanton was clearly rolling against Astros. The Phillies main objective should be to keep Bourn off base paths, especially if they are not going to score more than 2 runs. Instead, Bourn was on base on what seemed like every at bat. So many mistakes, why let LEE hit with an open base? This has plauged Charlie so many times this year, whenever he doesnt give pass to the opposing teams best hitter, he ends up hurting the Phils. WIth an open base and 2outs, why let Lee beat us? Madson gets Johnson to hit chopper to end inning. Madson has had good stuff lately, why not make rookie beat us?
- Remember that "foul ball" awhile back in Florida that was fair, curved around the 3B bag foul and then went fiar again and the ump called it foul? Last night's call makes it even.
- Yeah, Chris Johnson has hit .370 since all star break, but he is 12 for his last 49 and everyone is dropping him in fantasy baseball! He has been slumping lately. Thing is, El Caballo has been even worse at 11 for his last 50,but El Caballo has a RBI track record.— gmo709
- Bourn was out. Werth needs to get his head out of the clouds, but I don't see why this is pinned on Madson. He has pitched very well lately. He gave up a broken bat single. I agree that he never should have pitched to Lee, with the base open and a rookie on deck. I like Charlie, but sometimes these simple things are too much for him.— harry & whitey
- Whether or not Bourne was out of the baseline, Howard knows how fast Bourne is and should have thrown the ball to first and forgotten about the tag play.— negativeh
- Here is the correct rule: 6.05(k)--- In running the last half of the distance from home base to first base, while the ball is being fielded to first base, he runs outside (to the right of) the three-foot line, or inside (to the left of) the foul line, and in the umpire’s judgment in so doing interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base, in which case the ball is dead; except that he may run outside (to the right of) the three-foot line or inside (to the left of) the foul line to avoid a fielder attempting to field a batted ball; Rule 6.05(k) Comment: The lines marking the three-foot lane are a part of that lane and a batterrunner is required to have both feet within the three-foot lane or on the lines marking the lane. The batter-runner is permitted to exit the three-foot lane by means of a step, stride, reach or slide in the immediate vicinity of first base for the sole purpose of touching first base.— Romus
- Thank you, Romus! Everyone has been looking at the wrong rule! This was the second time this year that Werth has been picked off 2nd in a critical situation. It has looked all year like his head isn't in the game. You can deal with physical errors. It the mental errors that are inexcusable. When will the Phillies learn how to bunt? I know they are built "like an American League team", but they aren't performing like one this year. Valdez bunt was horrible! He 'offered at the ball, rather than 'catching' it with the bat. The Phillies will get to the playoffs and when they are there they will have to execute in all phases of the game, including bunting.— Dasher521
