Umpires Screw Up Another Call on This Texas Rangers 'Double Play' [GIF]

By: Mike Cardillo | May 25, 2013 11:55 am ET Follow @thatsonpoint

It hasn’t been a banner year for umpiring in Major League Baseball and it took another turn for the worse Friday night in Seattle during the Rangers 9-5 win over the Mariners.

In the second inning the Mariners hit into a double play, except they really didn’t.

Seattle’s Jesus Sacre, in his first big league at-bat, hit a grounder to Mitch Moreland at first, who then threw to Elvis Andrus at second for the force out. Andrus’ return throw was intercepted by Rangers pitcher Justin Grimm — at least 4-5 feet away from first base. Somehow Sacre was still called out by umpire Jeff Nelson, in what was initially scored a 3-6-3 double play. (Later it was changed to a 3-6-1.)

Seattle manager Eric Wedge came out to argue … that Moreland was off the bag when he “caught” it. He told the Tacoma News-Tribune:

“I thought (Moreland) came off the bag, so that was what I was out there arguing. I didn’t come to find out until later with the replay that he didn’t even catch the ball. … It would have been a much bigger argument if I had known that at the time, no doubt about it.”

Replay, in some form, can’t come soon enough.

[GIF via r/Baseball]

GIF, Miscellany, MLB, Miscellany, MLB

http://joebushtradepub.blogspot.com Shining Base Path

wow. before I read I watched and got caught up watching the 1b foot. freaky
scripty

That’s just terrible, ref should ask to see the ball in the glove there.
jbriaz

The human element.
scripty

Part of the issue is the MLB Umpire Union. Many people say the MLB players have the best union in the world. Some would argue the MLB Umpires do. They need some relegation system to get the worst guys outta there.

/looking your way Angel Hernandez.
Roethlishotdog

Too be fair to Nelson – he is looking at the bag to see when the runner’s foot hit and where the 1B’s foot is, and then listening for the catch. I blame the other umpires for not coming over to help him with this.
jdeeser5

Too be fair to Nelson – he is looking at the bag to see when the runner’s foot hit and where the 1B’s foot is, and then listening for the catch.

This is absolutely true but how did the umpire not see the pitcher flip the ball to whom ever after and why didn’t the home plate umpire see that happen. What they are watching is beyond my comprehension.
You People

/looking your way Angel Hernandez.

This. And C.B. Bucknor. Never saw him call a decent game.