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Now this is getting just plain fun. Apparently Derek Jeter didn’t hear what he though he did. After almost getting thrown out Monday afternoon while arguing a bad call, umpire Marty Foster is now disputing Jeter’s account of the events.
Jeter told the media after the game that Foster told him that although he was not tagged while stealing third in the first inning, he did not actually have to be tagged to be out. Essentially, Foster was saying that if the ball beats you to the bag, you are out – which by the way, is NOT in the MLB rule books.
In the nicest way possible, the crew chief of Monday’s game against the Blue Jays, John Hirschbeck, said that his umpire was wrong and that in the past, before television, umpires used to call players out if the ball reached the bag before they did, but after the advent of television and instant replay for fans, the umpires apparently dropped that practice. Probably because it was never in the rule books to begin with.
Now, Hirschbeck is speaking again for Foster and for the second straight day, Hirschbeck refused media access to Foster after Tuesday’s game at Citi Field between the Mets and Dodgers. Hirschbck said Foster told him that he said to Jeter “The ball beat you and I had him tagging you.”
Now Hirsch (can I call him that?) attributes the misunderstanding to tempers flaring – but Jeter did not get all worked up until Foster said something to him – so I don’t really buy this count of events and I’ll explain why.
First, Derek Jeter does not get a temper. He’s the most cool, calm and collected guy on the team. Its a reason why he’s the captain. He was not fired up until Foster said something to him.
Second, stadiums are loud, but I don’t think Derek Jeter is going to hear “The ball beat you and I had him tagging you” and turn it into “you don’t have to be tagged to be out.”
That’s all I need to say. Its a two point argument. Bottom line, Hirschbeck is doing his job, Foster sucks at his and got caught saying something dumb.
The Yankees low-key, non-confrontational Captain, Derek Jeter, got in an argument with an umpire for the first time in what feels like forever. Umpire Marty Foster called Jeets out stealing third base in Monday afternoon’s game at the Stadium.
Replays showed that Jeter did get his hand on the bag before he was tagged, but Jeter said later that Foster told him he didn’t have to be tagged to be out.
Umm…what?
Apparently, crew chief John Hirschbeck agreed with Jeter’s argument and called Jeter “the classiest person I’ve been around,” while telling reporters that Foster made the wrong call.
Joe Girardi argues with umpire Marty Foster in the first inning of Mondays Game. Girardi was ejected. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
“Getting a play right is one thing, but how you handle it is also important,” Hirschbeck said. “Nowadays, with the cameras, ESPN and the reporters, I say the media, I actually mean television — it used to be if the ball beat you, you were out, but it isn’t that way anymore. It’s not a reason to call someone out. You have to make a good tag.”
Back it up, a minute. Apparently you didn’t have to be tagged to be called out on a steal at one point? When was this? I don’t remember that being taught in Little League. Not to mention, its just plain dumb not to have to be tagged.
Skipper Joe Girardi felt the same way. “I don’t believe if the ball beats you, you’re automatically out,” Girardi said. “Jeter is not going to argue unless he’s safe. That’s the type of player Derek Jeter is. I wanted an explanation. I also don’t believe that perception is reality. I don’t believe that statement, either.”
Girardi continued the argument after Jeter was pulled away by 3B coach Rob Thomson and was ejected for the third time this season.
Apparently, the bad calls Monday afternoon extended beyond Foster. The Yankees were upset that second base umpire Wally Bell seemingly missed two calls. In the third inning, the team thought Bell called Aaron Hill safe when Jeter’s throw beat him to second. That put two men on base for Alex Rios who promptly hit a three-run homer. Then in the seventh inning, the Yankees thought Blue Jay’s shortstop Marco Scutaro was off the bag when Bell called new Yankee Eric Hinske out at second.
The blown call at second (if it was) in the third inning gave the Blue Jays another run and the blown call (it was) at third in the first with Jeter would have given the Yankees a man at third with no outs and Nick Swisher batting. If just one of those calls went through the right way, the Yankees would have at least tied this game and perhaps have gone into extra innings, not lose 7-6.
