Originally Posted by
gloopy
The IFFR specifically doesn't specify (yeah that just happened) a distance. 75 feet is less than the distance between bases. Maybe it could have been called earlier but if they would have been lucky to get the lead runner then the late call didn't hurt them anyway, other than the single out that would have resulted if it was called earlier in the first place. And it wasn't like a clean hit was taken away or anything.
If a team pins their hopes on winning on a play like that when they lost by 3 anyway its one thing to say it could have been called sooner but entirely another thing to say they were robbed. Odds are overwhelming they would have lost anyway.
You didn't read what I wrote. I agree, technically the IFFR could be called on the warning track. My point is the shortstop running 75' (which yes is less than the difference between home and fisrt or second and third thank you)into the outfield does not constitute "routine effort". It was a long way for a short stop to run out. It absolutely was handled poorly (an inappropriate implementaion of the rule and called too late to fulfill the intent of the rule) and they (MLB) don't have the sack to admit it.
Where did I say the Braves were robbed? Yes they played horrible defense that cost them the game and did not get the key hit when they needed it (several times). But that call absolutely changed the flow of that inning. Big diff in bases loaded and one out vice two on and two out and a twenty minute delay while the crowd goes ballistic. The mental error to let the ball drop on that play was negated. Hell, the cardinals may not have brought in the closer if it weren't for the delay.
"Odds are overwhelming they would have lost anyway?" I'll be calling Monday for stock tips since you are obviously a precog. My point is simply, we will never know how it would have played out if the ump wasn't the TOTD.