MSU Red Cedar Message Board

The play in extra innings today when Leyland argued? Slo-Mo showed he was right, the ball clearly went off the bunter's knee. Umps blew the call, and obviously Someone in the Tigers dugout saw it.

(Full disclosure, Michigander and MSU alum, but I've lived in Texas for 30 years and am a Rangers fan now. THAT took about 10-15 years to happen.)

HOWEVER, in the umps defense, the Ranger's announcers didn't catch it on replay until after the commercial break after the inning was over. Tom Grieve is our color commentator, former major league player and Ranger GM. Usually his technical analysis is stellar. He knows the game, knows the rules, knows what to look for, and HE missed it on a slow motion replay more than once, as the argument was going on. For the umpire, or crew, to have missed it at full speed, live, only getting to see it once, and being prevented from using replay was forgiveable. Blown call, to be certain, but to actually see that as the Home Plate ump, well, he was screened by the batter's body. For any of the other umpires to call that, THAT fast, from 30+ yards away, well, that's a pretty tough call to make. You could only make it out when the ball changed directions in slow motion.

What Grieve said after seeing the replay that showed it was, "the Rangers caught a break". and they did. And unless and until baseball goes to much more replay, that's simply part of the game.

But, bottom line, Leyland was right. As a Rangers fan, I'm grateful for the win. They've lost their fair share (or more) on bad breaks over the years.