It will be a call that will be talked about for the next 50 years. It will be the moment that will define the 2013 World Series. And it is a shame because this could become one of the best Fall Classics in the history of the sport. These two teams are so evenly matched, between the versatility in the lineups, dominant starting pitching and great back end of the bullpen work.
St. Louis gained a leg up (no pun intended…well maybe a little) on the Boston last night because of a walk off ‘Obstruction’ call. The Twitter-verse blew up with controversy. Boston fans outraged, while basically everyone else claiming this is redemption for the “Tuck Rule.”
It was the first time a World Series game ended in an error, since well, Bill Buckner for the Red Sox in 1986. But the whole situation was amazing, outstanding, shocking and stupid all into one combination of about 15-20 seconds.
Nobody will remember the play that Dustin Pedroia made at second base; standing basically on the infield grass, snagging a diving catch on a screaming grounder up the middle, and throwing from his knees to home. Shades of Willie Mays basket catch come to mind, as one of the greatest defensive plays in a World Series, especially in the moment; bottom of the ninth and runners in scoring position.
Being able to nab Yadier Molina at the plate should have been enough to put the Cardinals worst hitter in their lineup, Shortstop Pete Kozma, to the plate with a hobbled Allen Craig waiting at third. Instead, Jarrod Saltalamacchia tried to be the hero, and makes an errant throw to Will Middlebrooks; that’s where the controversy rears its ugly head.
Middlebrooks dives for the throw that bounces of Craig, and rolls down the 3rd base line, into the outfield. Many (especially the Boston faithful) will claim there is nowhere for Middlebrooks to go in that situation, that he was not in the base path, that there was simply nothing he could do to get out of the way.
But sorry Sox fans, the call was right. Jim Joyce, the controversial umpire who stole a ‘Perfect Game’ from Armando Galaraga two seasons ago with a bad call at first, is stuck between a rock and a hard place. The runner has a right to get up and advance; Middlebrooks was in the way of Craig doing that and it doesn’t matter what part of the body Craig hit or how far away from the third base line he was.
If he doesn’t make that call, the outlook of the game and series shift. Essentially, if there is no call at the end of game three, it means tonight, Middlebrooks could lay in the middle of the third base line every time someone is trying to score, making the Cardinals runners hurdle him to get to the plate. It would be cool to see but this is baseball, not the “Tough Mudder” or “Wipe Out.”
It is very simple, the umpires went to the rule book and got it right; Saltalamacchia got it wrong, blowing a play that would make a legend of Dustin Pedroia. Boston should be in an uproar over the terrible play by their catcher, the decisions made by their Manager, but not by Joyce; he did his job correctly. The moment in the game doesn’t matter, you have to make the right call there.
On a more important note, this call may be the deciding factor in the debate between mustaches and beards.
