High & Inside: NL Notes
Let's go to the videotape Let's set the scene. Sunday, ninth inning, Marlins vs. Braves in Atlanta. The Braves' Brian McCann smacks a ball that ricochets back onto the field.
Let's go to the videotape
Let's set the scene. Sunday, ninth inning, Marlins vs. Braves in Atlanta. The Braves' Brian McCann smacks a ball that ricochets back onto the field.
Home run? Double? Come on, ump. What is it?
Ground-rule double, you say.
McCann stops at second. Not so fast, let's look at the video. And 86 seconds later, crew chief Tim McClelland pops out of the tunnel, looks toward McCann and twirls his right index finger.
Home run! Braves win!
McCann, who had stopped at second, completes his jog around the bases to give the Braves a stunning 7-6 win.
"I knew it was a homer," McCann said.
"Yep, that was a home run," said Florida manager Edwin Rodriguez. "It was a home run all the way."
Rightfielder Mike Stanton, who had the best look, said, "It disappeared for a minute. There was like a little rail, and it was behind it. Oh yeah, there was no doubt."
The decision to use video came almost two years to the day that the replay rule went into effect. On Aug. 28, 2008, baseball officials allowed umps to look at video to see whether a potential homer was fair or foul, actually left the playing field or was subject to fan interference.
There's do's and . . .
Those St. Louis Cardinals must be really bored on their current road trip. At their clubhouse in Houston, they took turns cutting each other's hair. What no braiding?
Manager Tony La Russa says he loves the new do's cause they are so ugly. La Russa says he'll join the fun after the Cards get a five-game lead in the NL Central race. The Cards entered Monday night's game five back of Cincy.
Breaking up is hard to do
The divorce battle between Jamie McCourt and Frank McCourt opened Monday. At stake is who will be the owner of the Dodgers.
Ex-Dodger CEO Jamie McCourt has her lawyers arguing she was duped about a marital agreement.
Frank McCourt's lawyers are arguing his ex was a savvy businesswoman who didn't know what she signed.
At issue? The prenup and whether it is valid.
If valid, Frank McCourt gets sole ownership of the Dodgers. If the judge says no way, then even-stephen under California's community-property law. The couple were married for nearly 30 years.