<p>more complicated than you might think…what if Craig was already starting to trip and fall before any contact with WM is made? I case can be made that indeed was the case…watch frame by frame and you can see that he was starting to fall and actually pushed WM in the back to try to regain his balance.</p>
<p>Yes, you can say still obstruction because WM was in his way even if he tripped himself…BUT, would he have scored if he tripped by himself if WM was not close to him?
The answer would be no, because we saw that he was thrown out. The home plate ump would have had to rule out in that case.</p>
<p>Also, have you seen the still frames of Joyce looking away from craig and WM and looking at the ball rolling down the line?..He took his eyes off the play and could not have seen Craig stumbling to determine he might have tripped on his own. By the time he glanced back over, he missed that crucial first part. </p>
<p>I still say a non call was the best call in that situation, but he called it on what he thought happened(possibly that he tripped over WM legs, which was definitely NOT the case)…just as the ump tin game 1 thought the 2nd baseman caught the ball on the double play attempt. Bottom line is that Joyce, did not see the play completely…the still frame shots clearly show him looking at the ball going down the left field line for a brief moment.</p>
<p>The fact that Middlebrooks’ legs were in the way – even if the runner never touched them – kept him from being able to regain his balance as quickly as he could have without the obstruction. He had to regain his balance without full use of the base path because Middlebook was in the way.</p>
<p>That will be my last thought on this topic as I don’t have a dog in this fight. Go Rangers!</p>
<p>Those are two completely different circumstances. Your example of the batter standing in the batter’s box has no bearing on this play. Not even close to being related. That batter has a right to the batter’s box. If that batter steps out of the batter’s box and interferes with the catcher’s ability to throw out a runner, then interference can be called on the batter.</p>
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<p>You didn’t look at all of the still shots. There are also still shots that explicitly show the umpire looking right at 3rd base when contact between Craig and Middlebrook. He has to see that contact and see where the baseball is when he determines whether the runner shall be protected to the next base or not. If he would have seen the left fielder being close to the baseball when that contact was made, he could have decided the runner was “protected” back to third base only and any attempt to advance past that point was at the runner’s risk. But he decided that the left fielder was far enough away from the ball that the runner would have scored if obstruction from the third baseman had not occurred. Therefore he awarded the runner home plate.</p>
<p>I’m a Red Sox fan (have tickets for the World Series) and I’m thrilled that the Sox will be coming back to Fenway. That being said, I feel so bad for the kid who got picked off (Wong). He was almost in tears at the press conference. Hard way to break into the major leagues.</p>
<p>The Cardinals scored first because Ellsbury turned a single into a double. Note that Nava was in perfect position backing up. Then you have to say it was a managerial error to bring in Breslow with a man on 2nd and 2 out. He has mentally melted down and can’t get anybody out. Single to drive in the run, then a walk … then Farrell brings in Tazawa for the 1 out.</p>
<p>And to add, when Napoli came in, he made the same stupid mistake Middlebrooks made at 3rd on a throw: he tried to keep his foot on the bag to make the out rather than prevent bigger damage. Napoli let the ball go by to his right rather than get off the bag to stop it. The Cardinals didn’t score but you can’t let a guy get to 2nd. Middlebrooks the night before had one job: keep the ball from going into left. Put aside the nonsense about him saying lifting his legs was him trying to get up - as Lou Merloni just said on the radio (former player now radio host) - you’re taught how to get up, you do drills and that wasn’t it and it looked like a clear attempt to impede the runner. Put that aside, Middlebrooks can see the catcher winding up and his job is to keep the ball in the infield so the winning run doesn’t score. Those plays by Saltalamacchia and Middlebrooks are two of the worst, most senseless I’ve ever seen.</p>
<p>I’m wearing my beard and Red Sox cap for Halloween, and I plan on being home by 8 pm in time to see the first pitch of Game Seven. Keep your Sox on!</p>
<p>Did you hear McCarver’s disappointment groaning “awe boy” in the background after the play? No that can’t be, I must be imagining things, McCarver unhappy with the Cards misfortune?</p>
<p>In McCarver’s defense, it was a bad way to end a ball game, unless you are a Sox fan and don’t care how it ended as long as the Sox won. Getting picked off with Beltran at the plate was just stupid. I hope Wong has a long and successful major league career, but haven’t seen anything from him this year to explain why he is on the roster. Yes, he had a hit and a couple of defensive plays in game 3, but that’s not much.</p>
<p>Game 3 ended with a stupid play also, but it was such an unusual, interesting, and action-packed stupid play that it provided plenty of fodder for analysis and discussion. Getting picked off because you weren’t paying attention isn’t the same.</p>
<p>I dug up the best, most beautiful version of the Star Spangled Banner: Jose Feliciano 1968 World Series. Look it up. It captivated me as a kid. Still does. He makes the song itself beautiful.</p>
<p>Lergnom,
Quite the stirring way to start a morning! Thanks.</p>
<p>Bromfield,
Let us know how wild the atomosphere is tonight at Fenway.I heard your tickets should be priceless!
Boston rallying around
1 not clinching a World Series at home since Game 6 in 1918.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>not playing a World Series Game 6 at home since 1975.</p></li>
<li><p>not playing a World Series Game 6 period since 1986.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>My 1975 Game Six World Series Ticket cost me $6…yet the memories are priceless! I still remember following Fisk’s home run in extra innings and the reaction of the fans all around me like it was yesterday. I would wait another eight hours in line for a chance to see a Game Six.</p>
<p>Some folks hate Jose Feliciano’s version of the Star Spangled Banner claiming it distorts the original tune.</p>
<p>I found out I was pregnant with S1 the day of game 6 in 1986. He became a Red Sox fan. Nobody else in the family is. Actually, I’m a Mets fan, but I’m rooting for the Sox tonight.</p>