The Crazy Arguments About the “Neighborhood” Play at 2nd Base
1-liner, Baseball October 20th. 2009, 2:30pm“Neighborhood” Play at 2B: By far, the craziest argument we had with people this weekend was over the incredibly silly “neighborhood” situation at second base late Saturday night. Erick Aybar did not touch the bag. Thus, the runner was safe. Luckily, we were at a bar and could not hear that imbecile Tim McCarver. “A former catcher, McCarver initially said that Aybar had not been touching the base on previous plays during the game, so he should not have been held to account on that one. Later, when informed by his technical staff that replays showed Aybar had touched the base on previous plays, McCarver acknowledged his error.” This is simple, people – safe or out. No in-between. Don’t care if you’ve “seen it before” or “the neighborhood exists.” Really hoping nobody tries to argue for the neighborhood. [NY Times]
47 Responses to “The Crazy Arguments About the “Neighborhood” Play at 2nd Base”
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October 20th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
when arod ran over the catcher with the play at home, neither touched what they needed with they were supposed to.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I would argue that if things were called consistently (which they obviously aren’t) then there wouldn’t be an issue. Aren’t you a basketball fan? Shouldn’t you be aware of this?
October 20th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
The neighborhood has existed forever so this is a solution in search of a problem. Same thing when calling out a base stealer when the ball beats him to the bag. If the ball was there, you’re out. Tag or no tag. Carver’s stupid explanation not withstanding.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I’m not in favour of the ‘neighborhood’ concept because I think it’s just lazy umpirining.
Having said that, if you haven’t noticed that concept in effect dozens of times during the season, you haven’t been paying attention. As a Yankee fan, you’ve probably seen it from Cano 8-10 times alone as he’s not the smoothest at the double play pivot.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
The 2B and SS get the benefit of these calls by jumping out of the runners way to save their bacon. But that is only the case if a) it is close and b) they must do so to save possible injury. Neither was the case on Saturday hence I am fine with the safe call. However, I am also fine with the umps letting the players have some liberties in certain circumstances…as they do in other situations (and other sports).
October 20th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
What made it worse was after acknowledging that Aybar hadn’t touched the base, and that he had been touching the base the whole time, the two idiots nevertheless continued to drone on about how happy the game wasn’t going to be decided on “that call”. That call was the CORRECT CALL!!!!!!
October 20th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
*umpiring, not umpirining
October 20th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
It’s the correct call but if an NBA game is decided on a traveling call people would still be pissed.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
TST – are you saying that was a “crab tag” of the base?
October 20th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Their announcers during the BCS games are pretty awful as well. At least Fox has an amazing HD feed.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
in regards to traveling, if a rule is ignored enough then it might be made legal.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
That’s exactly the neighborhood concept though, it’s something that is ignored all the time.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
this should catch on.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
i cant remember the last time i saw a game where a guy got away with the neighborhood and replays showed that he was “close enough” for it to be an out.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Nantz on Sunday at the Masters -
Tiger is going to give himself that one-footer. It would be good at Isleworth during his weekend match.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Wow, we’re on fire today with baseball knowledge. With the current unemployment percentage, someone should have enough free time on their hands to review every close play at 2nd base this year and find out the percentage of MIs who obviosly miss the bag but get the call. I think you’d be surprised by the numbers, TBL.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Fetch told me it was 95% of plays. I trust his methodology.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Could you imagine if touchdowns were determined on a “close enough” basis? Like, “He may not have had possession of the ball, but he was close enough.”
October 20th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
i cant remember the last time i saw a game where a guy got away with the neighborhood and replays showed that he was “close enough” for it to be an out.
That’s because you’re exclusively NBA until July.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Apples, meet oranges.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
i know there is a hubbub about calls in every post seaosn but it seems there is alot more bad calls this year.
/can say the same thing every year.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Seriously? It happens all the time but the broadcast doesn’t usually slow it down enough and focus on the pivot to make it obvious. They don’t do this because it’s generally accepted that it happens and the justification is that it saves middle infielders from getting killed.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Probably because it’s a non issue 99% of the time. TV only focuses on it to stir shit up (see previous Mariano Rivera post). You’re having a hard tim believing that Joe “that was a disgusting act” Buck and an ass clown like McCarver would make an issue out of nothing?
October 20th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Saw it with Stokley last night.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
It’s real bad this year. Neyer is calling it the Great Umpiring Fiasco of 2009.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
well that confirms it. neyer said so.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
No, it’s fine, TBL, we don’t want anyone’s feelings to get hurt by telling them they made a mistake and really didn’t touch the base. That might harm their brittle self-esteem.
I think we should give them all MLB players trophies at the awards banquet at the end of the year too.
/sarcasm
October 20th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
well that confirms it. neyer said so.
Also Joe Sheehan. And Jonah Keri.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Who the fuck is Neyer?
October 20th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I’m going to keep listing people you don’t respect know or care about mrejr, see if I don’t.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
This. (take that jpq and sportsgal!) Also happened last year with the Steelers/Ravens game.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
As has been stated, the neighborhood play is an unwritten rule designed to keep the middle infielder from being killed. But he wasn’t in danger of that on that play. He took the time to straddle the bag.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
A voice of reason in the woods of ignorance. A cool glass of water on a hot summer’s day. The first laugh of a child. All of these things and more are Neyer.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Good thing the NBA doesn’t make similar calls. Good thing I have never seen a foul called on a defender because the ref thought he was “going to” make contact. Never happens, right.
Good thing pass interferance calls aren’t made because of how it looks as opposed to what actually occurred. Also a good thing that these penalties aren’t, like, huge or anything.
Good thing this is just about baseball.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
TST I thought Neyer was a short-lived cop drama which occasionally airs during weekday afternoons on the Hallmark channel.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I thought that was Shawn Bradley.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
This is ridiculous. The neighborhood play is exactlyt he same as the ball beating the runner on a steal. Its not because they have a desire to call it incorrectly, it is because it is used as a shortcut because it is difficult to see all the appropriate variables. To argue that the umpire should ignore getting the call right because he can’t promise to get it exactly right every time is mindboggingly stupid.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Totally agree. It was a lazy play by Aybar and a (shockingly) solid judgement call by the umpire. Had the runner been on top of him, I’m sure the call goes the other way.
Not saying it’s right, just saying it happens hundreds of times every season.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
TJ
Mariano cleared.
/TJ
October 20th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
don’t football have the no wiggle rule? ball can’t wiggle if you have possession.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
@YoungLefty – Elaborate please on apples/oranges.
Point was why have the rules if its just going to be a close enough counts mentality?
October 20th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Well, if the commissoner’s office said so.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Case closed.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Not until STONE COLD SAYS SO!!!
/ Hopes I’m faster than mrejr on this one
October 20th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
File under travelling in NBA and holding in NFL
October 20th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Move it along, nothing to see here….
/Bob Watson’d
October 20th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Commissioner’s office says Yankees closer did not spit on the ball during the Angels’ 5-4 victory in Game 3 of the ALCS on Monday.
They really did have to use this as the explanation. Despite some of the arguments to the contrary, spitting ont he ball as a pitcher on the mound is clearly illegal. If he was caught doing it during the game, he would have to kicked out and suspended.