Umpire Watch: One Shaky Sixth Inning

by Andrew Johnson

Filed under: Rangers, Rays, MLB Playoffs, MLB Umpires, American League Division Series

Controversial calls have become as much a part of the Major League Baseball postseason as Derek Jeter and patriotic bunting. In Umpire Watch, we intend to document those calls, at least until commissioner Bud Selig puts us out of business.

It was a good day for the umpires, unquestionably. That's all relative now, of course. There was still a cluster of controversial calls in Texas on Saturday afternoon, but none of them led to or took away from game-altering rallies, and two of them even seemed to cancel each other out.

Tiptoe Around the Subject

The Situation: With the Rays trailing 2-1, Rangers lefty Derek Holland relieves starter Colby Lewis in the sixth inning after he issues a leadoff walk to Evan Longoria. There's a man on first, no one out and right fielder Matt Joyce works the count to 2-1.

The Play: Joyce sends a grounder to Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler who flips the ball to shortstop Elvis Andrus to erase Longoria. Andrus relays a high throw to first baseman Mitch Moreland who stretches to make the grab as Joyce arrives at the bag.

 

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