— Bill Klem, legendary Major League Baseball umpire
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LOL....... old Bill.
Seeing that Slick Corey Bellinger's sly,and speedy scampering sprint to first base was basically inside the chalk the whole way to first base, it is to his credit that he fooled the umps, or, they just decided they would CHOKE on the interference of his devious trek to first base. (Maybe they wanted the game to go 7) ...... more cash for all.
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Other comments:
• You pretty much have to throw the ball into the runner’s back to get this called. LOL
• And the runner pretty much has to be 100% on the grass. It was a good no call.
• Other than for purposes of determining whether the runner interfered with a fielder within the meaning of Rule 6.01(j), whether a base runner willfully or deliberately interfered with a fielder with the intent to break up a double play within the meaning of Rule 6.01(a)(6) or (7), shall not be reviewable.
• Says the guy or gal ARGUING THAT A NON-REVIEWABLE CALL NOT BEING REVIEWED MEANS IT MUST HAVE BEEN CORRECT. (ROFL)
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Not necessarily talking about this specific play, but THERE IS A RUNNER’S LANE FOR A REASON. If they get hit by a quality throw to first base and it disrupts the first baseman's ability to make the catch, they are considered to be willfully interfering if they aren't in the lane. If they abide by the spirit of the rule and run inside the lane, they are permitted to enter fair territory for the last few feet in order to touch the base.
(The fact that the runner in this instance was running speedily and inside the chalk nearly the entire way down to first base, hindering a possible catcher’s throw, effected the catcher’s reactions/ability to make himself a throwing angle.
The runner should have been ruled out by the umpire because he interfered all the way down the line ……. and his devious, incorrect path was obviously purposeful.
The fact that this runner was so fast made it difficult for Vazquez to take time to get himself a better throwing angle. Yet the cause of the interference with the first baseman AND the catcher was the direction the speedy (and sly) Bellinger took to first base. The umps blew it!
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LOL …… there's always someone who just started watching baseball last month.