Fined for criticizing the call on this play, a breakdown

Aug 27, 2022 2.3M views 6:12

What Happened

In the first inning of a Guardians-Tigers game in August 2022, Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges took a throw home and tagged Javier Baez, appearing to record the third out. Detroit challenged on the home-plate collision rule, and replay overturned it because Hedges blocked the plate without yet possessing the ball, giving Baez no lane to slide. Baez stayed alive, then crushed a three-run homer two pitches later. Hedges ripped the umpiring afterward, called it embarrassing and a disgrace, and MLB fined him for the comments.

Why This Matters

This is the home-plate blocking rule, on the books since 2014 after the Buster Posey injury, suddenly being enforced in a way it never had been. The rule was written to protect catchers, but in 2022 umpires started using it to wipe outs off the board when a catcher's leg shaded the plate before the ball arrived. Jomboy actually nails the standard MLB wanted: the catcher can't cross the line until he has possession. Hedges did, technically, block the lane. The problem is that's how catchers have set up for over a century. Baez goes from out to home run, a three-run swing, and Cleveland loses control of an inning that should have ended. Hedges, never known for his bat, made his name as a defender and framer, so being told his standard tag was illegal stung. The fine only amplified the fight.

At 2.3M views this sits at #84 of 1,583 Jomboy breakdowns, top 5.3% of the catalog, proof that a rules controversy travels further than most highlights.

Key Moments

Who / What Is Involved

Players: Austin Barnes. Teams: Guardians.

Key Terms Mentioned

Full Transcript

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it's a plane that's been called a few

times now recently that really has never

been called before there's plays at home

that are beating the runners

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