Ump Tosses Girardi After Changing the Rules

Published on: 6th July, 2009 @ 11:21 pm by JeffG

Ya gotta wonder sometimes what goes through an umpires head when they have to make a close call.

Take today’s Jays/Yankees game for example…nobody out, Derek Jeter on second, first inning.  A situation that calls for aggressive baserunning.

That’s what Jeter did, taking off for third, and apparently, beating the throw and Scott Rolen’s tag.

Stolen base Jeter…right?

Apparently not, according to third base ump Marty Foster, who called Jeter out even though it was clearly evident Jeter was safe.  Derek Jeter wanted an explanation–and he got one.  But not one he expected.

“He didn’t tag me,” Jeter said to Foster.

“He didn’t have to,” Foster said, according to Jeter. “The ball beat you.”

Huh?

Did I miss something…did Major League Baseball change the rules?

Since when is a stolen base attempt, or any play at an empty base a force play?

Only in Marty Foster’s mind…maybe he was thinking about Michael Jackson’s memorial service.

Of course Jeter became enraged at that lame answer, as did Girardi, which prompted the manager’s ejection.

Foster was unavailable for comment, but crew chief John Hirschbeck thinks Jeter may be in the right on this one.

And I agree.

Even if you hate Jeter, the guy never argues.  He hasn’t been thrown out of a game, well, ever.

That includes every level he’s ever played in…from Little League to the majors.

Which makes me think Foster blew the call, then f’ed up the rulebook.

Now he should be a man and own up to his asinine mistake. [NJ.com]

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