There was a critical moment in the Blue Jays–Orioles game Sunday, when Blue Jays runner Ernie Clement went very wide to avoid a tag in the base path between first and second base and was ruled safe at second. A double play, with Clement ruled outside the base path, would have ended the inning. instead the Blue Jays busted out for multiple runs in a 6-4 win at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Here's the play in question:
Crew chief Hunter Wendelstedt on Ernie Clement establishing wide base path on potential double play ball, via @afkostka:
"It was actually a very gentlemanly thing to do … getting out of the way to allow the fielder to make the play to first base."pic.twitter.com/gbXIZF51WX
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz immediately exited the dugout to argue the no-call at second. However, it was explained that there is no base path between first and second until one is established by the runner, and since Gunnar Henderson did not make a concerted effort to tag Clement, he was free to run to second however he wanted. If Henderson had made an earnest attempt to tag Clement, that would have immediately established his base path and any extreme attempt to avoid the tag would have had him outside the base path.
My take: It seems they umpire crew got it right, based on the rule. Henderson just gives a little wrist-flick toward Clement, not a real effort to tag him, assuming he was outside the base path and would be ruled out.
So it comes down to the effort to tag. Do you thing Henderson did enough?
THE ASYLUM
Basepath controversy
There was a critical moment in the Blue Jays–Orioles game Sunday, when Blue Jays runner Ernie Clement went very wide to avoid a tag in the base path between first and second base and was ruled safe at second. A double play, with Clement ruled outside the base path, would have ended the inning. instead the Blue Jays busted out for multiple runs in a 6-4 win at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Here's the play in question:
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz immediately exited the dugout to argue the no-call at second. However, it was explained that there is no base path between first and second until one is established by the runner, and since Gunnar Henderson did not make a concerted effort to tag Clement, he was free to run to second however he wanted. If Henderson had made an earnest attempt to tag Clement, that would have immediately established his base path and any extreme attempt to avoid the tag would have had him outside the base path.
My take: It seems they umpire crew got it right, based on the rule. Henderson just gives a little wrist-flick toward Clement, not a real effort to tag him, assuming he was outside the base path and would be ruled out.
So it comes down to the effort to tag. Do you thing Henderson did enough?
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