Jim Joyce Was Right!

This is a great example of mass hysteria/mob psychology. The whole nation “knows” that umpire Jim Joyce was wrong in calling the runner safe.

Sorry Sally. The video at about the one minute mark clearly shows the pitcher bobbling the ball as the runner touched the base.

Update: Wow, lots of comments so far, mostly against me. I will review them all and comment further tonight. If I am wrong, I will change my call per Emerson’s foolish consistency advice. (I corrected the post and now have the pitcher fielding the ball.)

Second Update:

I received about 15 responses to this post. 13 people disagreed and 2 agreed. I also noticed that there is minority support for my position in the far corners of the web. I take it for granted that numerosity is not an argument.

While I was prepared to change my position, I am not persuaded by the arguments. In response to my argument that the pitcher bobbled the ball, many said, in effect, no he didn’t. That begs the question of course.

Many argued that a catch is still a catch even if the ball is bobbled. True, but that doesn’t decide the issue because in my view the fielder must have possession not ultimately but before the runner touches the base. No one cited any rule to the contrary.

Some said there is no mention of bobbling in the rules. True but not decisive. The MLB Rule supports my position:

A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in his hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it; providing he does not use his cap, protector, pocket or any other part of his uniform in getting possession. . . . Rule 2.00 (Catch) Comment: A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled . . .

Since the ball is moving around before the runner touches the base, the pitcher is clearly not “firmly holding it.”

Some argued that Joyce himself did not initially call the runner safe because of bobbling. Umps aren’t judges who write opinions for publication. They make instant decisions based on the totality of what they see and their experience. Joyce was in good position to see that the pitcher was not in firm possession of the ball.

Let’s assume for the sake of the argument that bobbling was not a basis for the call, even subliminally. The claim I dispute is that Joyce was wrong because the video shows the runner was out. That is false. It does not clearly show that, so the actual basis for the on-field call is really irrelevant. What is even more absurd is the notion that this is one of the worst calls ever made. That’s where the hysteria and mob psychology come in.

BTW, the reason why so many people instantly decided that the runner was out was that they were shown the video from behind where you could not see the bobbling. Once people take a firm position, it is difficult for them to change their minds. (Me too.)

One email was quite revealing. The writer said that the TV crew went over the video carefully to resolve the issue of bobbling and “after several replays,” they concluded the ball was not bobbled. Hardly a firm basis for condemning the call made in real time.

Lastly, there is a “smoking gun” that supports my position. The pitcher himself knew he was bobbling the ball because he eventually looked down into his mitt to see what the heck was going on. The pitcher himself knew he lacked firm possession.

I see the burden here as being on those who claim the video shows that runner was out. They have failed to carry the burden the proof.

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11:07 pm on June 10, 2010