Instant replay goes clank
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080904&content_id=3417261&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Well, can you believe that the umps may have *still* blown a call with Instant Replay? They may have concluded correctly that A-Rod's ball cleared the left field foul pole on the fair side, but they forgot about the ground rules at Tropicana Field. Take a look at them here:
http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/tb/ballpark/ground_rules.jsp
After clearing the foul pole, from the broadcaster's (must be the Yankees, as they didn't know what it hit) video, we see the ball bounce off of something. That something, I believe, would be the catwalk. By the ground rules, if a ball hits the catwalk on the foul side, it's a strike (oddly, if I interpret the rule correctly, you could *strike out* by hitting the catwalk on the foul side). Our question is what is the significance of the yellow pole on the catwalk. Is it the foul pole for the catwalk? If it is, then the umps blew things, even with instant replay.
Unfortunately, no one can argue the call. The Devil Ray front office may be able to call the umpires' attention to the catwalk ground rules.
This hit was going to be a tough call and was a great time to use instant replay, anyways. Too bad it may have been blown.
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