Comments on: Arroyo/Livermore recap

By: Random Guy

Random Guy — Fri, 30 May 2008 04:29:21 +0000

Kyle that last paragraph before gettin to the umps mistake is cool.The comment is greatly appreciated. Wish we could of been interviewed by you one more time.
-TL

By: DONPRIDE

DONPRIDE — Fri, 30 May 2008 02:59:25 +0000

Dons all the way!! College park won’t know what hit em.

By: baystuff

baystuff — Fri, 30 May 2008 02:06:49 +0000

Go Dons!! All the best in the Championship! Well deserved.

By: Kyle Bonagura

Kyle Bonagura — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:28:25 +0000

Exactly.

The motion the HP ump made was in the air with a closed fist, that was the mistake.

By: Ballfan

Ballfan — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:24:07 +0000

Correct mechanic for HP ump would be to call a strike on swing, but not ring him up. Here’s where he then needs help from his partner(s) [assume they had a 3-man crew]. Base ump will signal, by for example pointing to the ground for ball in dirt and clenched fist for ball caught, which will then allow HP ump to make no further call – signifying play on, or “he’s out” – so that the catcher then knows no further play is required. Sounds like here the HP made the out call without help from partner – bad mechanic = bad call, but as you say, appears not to have affected outcome.

By: Kyle Bonagura

Kyle Bonagura — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:22:43 +0000

I explained it a tag wrong. The catcher didn’t throw it back to the mound, he threw it to second to try and get Christopher stealing. What Big Dawg was saying is that the throw to second was essentially getting the force there instead of at first.

I think he was safe at second, force or no force. Whoever caught the ball (2B or SS) is the one who tossed it back to the mound when he realized there was a strikeout. There still would have been time to go to first on the play because Hart didn’t run to first right away.

By: Ballfan

Ballfan — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:14:55 +0000

Yes, very much – clear and concise (and for what it’s worth, based on that description, i agree with your conclusions) . What is the discussion about a play at second? same or different play? If there was a throw down to second on the dropped third, that is a force play – same as catcher stepping on plate after dropped third, two outs, bases loaded.

By: Kyle Bonagura

Kyle Bonagura — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:57:12 +0000

There were two outs in the top of the first.

Brett Christopher was on first for Livermore and David Hart was at the plate.

1-2 count, Christopher steals (had it stolen easily), Hart swings and misses at a ball in the dirt. The catcher throws the ball back to the mound and everyone on Arroyo runs in.

Hart ran to first, then second. Christopher ran all the way around to the plate.

As soon as Hart swung and missed the umpire at the plate made the signal that he was out, when the catcher should have had to tag him or throw it to first.

They definitely blew the call.

I equate it to in football if a ref blows the whistle, the play is dead even if they were faked out and the ball carrier hasn’t been tackled. Can’t blame Arroyo for running in because the ump called him out.

It’s not like the ball skipped by him to the backstop, Hart would have easily been thrown out and it definitely had no affect on the outcome.

Hope that helps.

By: Ballfan

Ballfan — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:34:08 +0000

Kyle, Can you explain the “dropped strike” play in a little more detail? # of outs before pitch, runners on base, what happened after that. It seems like the play has drawn a lot of fire, but since I wasn’t there, I don’t think I have a good handle yet on what exactly went down. Not to stir the pot, but just curious.

By: Kyle Bonagura

Kyle Bonagura — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:22:43 +0000

I’m pretty sure he would have been safe at 2nd also…