WBC Umpire call poll

[aarond23]

Do you think the runner left early on the sacrifice fly play?

[acetonic]

I think it was too close to call, and thus, should have not been overturned. Oh well, the human factor is still a big part of the game. It was a good contest even tho I felt a little guilty with the win.

[TonyStarks]

Umpire's Crew, Buck Martinez should all be ashamed of themselves to steal a win in this fashion.

Call should have never been overturned.
Just like in the NFL...Only if there is absolute evidence should the call been overturned.

I hope this teaches Bud a lesson to use MLB umps in time around.

[Licey Fan]

The game was definetly stolen!!! They should start thinking for a next contest of applying international umpiring rules... I don't think an international (and by that I mean not american nor japanese) ump would've never overruled the original call...

[RedSoxVT92]

The game was definetly stolen!!! They should start thinking for a next contest of applying international umpiring rules... I don't think an international (and by that I mean not american nor japanese) ump would've never overruled the original call...

I dont think you can eliminate bias towards a certain team. The international umps might start calling bad calls against america (U.S. isnt all that popular with other contrys right now) but if a person thats officiating over a game for there own contry might be bias towards there own. Also I think that the skill of the umps (minor leaugue umps) had something to do with it also. It is too bad that japan may of gotten the game tooken from them.

[Bluesteve32]

Now I did not see the play, but have heard about it. On most appeal plays when three men are working the game, the plate umpire is to make the call. In two man games, the plate umpire always takes the appeal at third base. In four man game, the plate umpire would make the call on all fly balls hit from the left field foul line to the center fielder.

I understand the plate umpire "overruled" a call. However, if it was his call to begin with, the other umpire erred in making any call. I hope this clarifies any mechanics situation. I will not comment on any other aspect concerning the call, since I have yet to see it.

[efin98]

Now I did not see the play, but have heard about it. On most appeal plays when three men are working the game, the plate umpire is to make the call. In two man games, the plate umpire always takes the appeal at third base. In four man game, the plate umpire would make the call on all fly balls hit from the left field foul line to the center fielder.

I understand the plate umpire "overruled" a call. However, if it was his call to begin with, the other umpire erred in making any call. I hope this clarifies any mechanics situation. I will not comment on any other aspect concerning the call, since I have yet to see it.

Steve, is that a universal rule or does that vary league to league?

[efin98]

I don't get how you could steal a win when the call was made by the correct umpire???

[Andruw]

Japan files official protest over controversial baseball call
Japanese World Baseball Classic representatives have sent a protest to the World Baseball Classic headquarters, demanding answers over a controversial call in Japan's loss to the United States on Sunday that wiped out a 4-3 lead for Japan.

Japanese officials sent a letter questioning a reversed decision which ruled Tsuyoshi Nishioka was out after he made it home on a fly ball, even though video replays showed he was safe.

The question that Japanese officials sent suggests the reversal violated section 9.02(c) of the official rules of baseball, which state that no umpire shall seek to reverse another umpire's decision unless asked to do so by the umpire making it. Officials are seeking a response from the World Baseball Classic association.

Officials also sent a letter requesting that when the World Baseball Classic is held in the future, the countries participating should be allowed to have umpires and steering committee officials join in. The letter is apaprently designed to express concern that mainly minor-league umpires were used in the baseball classic because of arguments about pay between major league officials and the umpires association.

The controversial decision was made in Japan's game with the United States on Sunday. Nishioka tagged up on third base after teammate Akinori Iwamura hit a fly ball, and beat the fielder's throw home.

The second-base umpire ruled Nishioka safe, but Team USA manager Buck Martinez protested. In response, the plate umpire ruled that Nishioka had left the base too early and reversed the decision, calling him out and overturning Japan's 4-3 lead. The United States ended up winning the game 4-3. (Mainichi)

March 14, 2006

[Bluesteve32]

Steve, is that a universal rule or does that vary league to league?

Pretty universal in all recognized umpire mechanics.

[efin98]

Pretty universal in all recognized umpire mechanics.

OK then Japan doens't have a leg to stand on in their protests since they knew the rules ahead of time.

[Bluesteve32]

Besides, any protest must be on rules applications, not a judgement call. The appeal play is a judgement call and nothing concerning the rules. They may have a bit of a mechanics issue, very much like Scioscia did last fall in the ALCS on the Eddings fiasco, but nothing would come of it.

Basically, protests are futile if is over a fair/foul, out/safe, ball/strike and other situations. Only if a rule is missapplied would a protest go any further. Example was the pine tar incident and Mr MacPhail did not say the umpires on that game missapplied the rule, but ruled on the "spirit and intent" of the rule so he overturned the rule on the field for that reason. This was natrually not a popular move by Mr MacPhail. The AL umpires thugh much of Mr Gebe Budig who replaced him. The late Durwood Merrill was very complimentary towards Mr Budig when I met him in Indianapolis in the summer of 1998.

[efin98]

Basically, protests are futile if is over a fair/foul, out/safe, ball/strike and other situations. Only if a rule is missapplied would a protest go any further.

What's the outcome if it is deemed that the rule was misapplied?

[Bluesteve32]

The game is replayed from the point of protest. If you recall the George Brett pine tar game. Brett was rules out and the game was over, when the protest was upheld, they gave Brett the HR and the rest of the game was replayed from that point so the Yankees had to get one more out and the Royals had to face the Yankees for three outs, which they did and won the game.

If a protest is not field before the next pitch, the protest is invalid. In pro baceball, a protest on a game ending play has 24 hours to the "league president" in most mamteur ball, even those using OBR, a protest must be made before the game umpires leave the field (especially written in NCAA and NFHS rules, that way).

There may be circumstances the league may rule in favor of the protest, but say if the game was 10-2 in favor of the opposing team, especially in the late innings, the game may not be replayed from that point since it really had no bearing on the outcome of the game. Upheld protest are very rare, and even in the George Brett incident, the umpires were correct by rule at that time (it was modified the next season specifically saying pine tar is not one of those substances that cause the ball to fly further, rule 6.06b or d if I recall by memory).