I went to bed last night with the Dodger’s leading the Giants 1-0 in the fifth inning. I wanted to stay up and watch it but, my 7:30 AM Packard Health Board meeting was looming, and I still had to do some prep work in the morning. Upon waking, I immediately asked my Amazon Alexa who told me the Dodgers won 2-1. I quickly checked ESPN.com for the story and the first story I see is that the game ended on a “questionable” checked swing call that ended the game and the series as the Dodgers advanced to the NLCS.
Without reading anything about the call, I immediately looked for a replay, which ESPN had on their website. I watched the replay 5 times without sound so I would not be influenced by the announcers. Each time I watched it I have no doubt that had I been the umpire making the call I also would have called it a swing, therefore strike three.
The checked swing is one of the tougher calls an umpire makes during a game. Sometimes the plate umpire handles it himself, but most of the time, the plate umpire asks the base umpire for assistance. If it is a right-handed batter the plate umpire asks the first base umpire for the call. If it is a left-handed batter, it is the third base umpire who gets asked. The base umpire has a clear view of the batter from their respective position.
The checked swing is one of the most misunderstood rules in baseball, especially by fans. Many players were taught that it is only a swing/strike if the batter breaks their wrist. Others are of the opinion that it is only a swing if the bat passes the front edge of home plate. Unfortunately, in professional baseball and high school baseball there is no such definition. It is strictly a judgement call by the umpire on whether the batter made an attempt to hit the ball, that is not a bunt. Only in the NCAA do they define a swing as having to go past the front edge of the plate.
Here is the MLB and High School Rule: A swing is an attempt at a pitch, that is not a bunt. That includes what is referred to as a “checked swing” or “half swing.” It is up to the judgment of the umpire(s) if the batter attempted at a pitched ball. Note: Contrary to popular belief, a batter does not have to “break his wrist” in order to attempt at a pitch. While noting whether the swing carried the barrel of the bat past the body can aid an umpire on this call, the final decision is based on whether the batter actually attempted at the pitch.
Thus, the call by first base umpire Gabe Morales on Giant hitter Wilmer Flores was a judgement on whether Flores attempted to hit the ball. Morales made his call in real time on a batter that is over 90 feet away. In Morales judgement Flores made an attempt at a pitch, even though replays showed his bat did not pass the front edge of the plate. Morales stood by his call after the game when questioned by reporters. I am glad he did.
Here is a video of the questionable call. You be the umpire.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=32403696
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Orchid of the Day: Gabe Kapler, San Francisco Giants manager-see Quote of the Day
Onion of the Day: No onion today.
Quote of the Day: “These guys work really hard to make the right calls. It’s super challenging, There’s no need, especially right now, angry about [the blown call]. There are other reasons we didn’t win today’s baseball game, that was just the last call of the game. On our end, obviously it’s going to be frustrating to have a game end like that. We had a pretty high-quality hitter at the plate, but with that count there’s no guarantee of success at the end of the at-bat.” Giants Manager Gabe Kapler, when asked after the game about how the game ended on a questionable checked swing.