Nice Sox game tonight. Key game because Detroit won, and could have cut the lead. The homeplate umpire had a terrible game, and I will reference some of these calls.
1. Down 1-0 in the first, umps gave Sox 4 runs and a 4-1 lead. The Sox had bases loaded, no outs. Konerko hit a ground ball to third, and they threw home for the force. The catcher threw to first to try to double up Konerko, but Konerko was far inside the baseline. This caused the catcher to throw far to the second-base side of first, pulling the first baseman off the bag. The Angels argued, the umps huddled, the call was upheld, and the Angels protested the game. Had Konerko been ruled out, Rios would have been walked to load the bases with two outs, and the inning would have been completely different. Here is the excerpt from the Los Angeles Times:
The White Sox had the bases loaded with no outs in the first inning Friday night when Paul Konerko grounded to Angels third baseman Alberto Callaspo, who threw home to force out Alejandro De Aza. Catcher Chris Iannetta‘s throw to first base in an attempt to double up Konerko pulled Albert Pujols, who reached toward second, off the bag. Replays showed that Konerko ran the last 45 feet to first well inside the baseline, an apparent violation of Rule 6.05(k). But to invoke that rule, umpires must deem that the runner “interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first base, in which case the ball is dead.” In upholding the call, crew chief Dana DeMuth said, “Konerko in no way interfered with the play at first — the catcher threw wild.” The White Sox followed with a run-scoring single and A.J. Pierzynski‘s three-run homer for a four-run inning and went on to win in extra innings. Iannetta said he had to alter his throw to first base to avoid hitting Konerko, adding that the fact he hesitated before throwing to first “was an indication that the runner interfered with me.” “I had to throw around the runner,” Iannetta added. “I didn’t want to throw into right field, and I didn’t want to throw at the runner because there’s no guarantee I’d get the call.” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, a former Dodgers catcher, said the umpires conceded that Konerko ran inside the line. “That makes it virtually impossible for him to not affect the throw from Iannetta,” Scioscia said. “It very clearly puts him in the throwing lane of our catcher.” Had the protest been upheld, the Angels and White Sox would have had to have replay the game from the point following Konerko’s double play.
2. Down 6-4, the 1-0 pitch to Rios was a strike, but it was called a ball. Since it was now 2-0 instead of 1-1, Greinke, who had been squeezed all game, threw a fastball down the middle that Rios, the hottest hitter in baseball, homered on.
3. In the 8th inning, the Angels had runners on second and third, two outs, and the batter had two strikes. I told the person I was with Myers would throw a curveball and the batter should sit on it. He threw a curve, the batter swung fastball, and the inning was over. It was obvious the batter and coaches hadn’t been watching the game.
4. In the 8th, I believe, the Angels got a one-out walk, but the ump called the 3-2 ball strike three, hurting the Angels’ scoring chances.
5. In the 9th, the Angels had one out, one on. Game tied at 6. On a ball, the ump called strike 3. The next guy got a hit (I know it’s a different situation) putting two runners on, but the terrible call cost the Angels a chance for the winning run.
6. 10th inning: The Sox have a man on first, one out. On an 0-2 pitch to Rios, the runner steals on strike 3, but the ump calls it a ball. Instead of two out, man on second, Rios hits a “game-winning” two-run homerun.