Bizarre rule has Verdugo safe even though he missed the bag, a breakdown
What Happened
In a close game between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, the action unfolds in the top of the sixth inning. The Red Sox have runners on first and second with only one out. Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray induces a ground ball to third base, resulting in a potential double play. Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo reaches first base, but it appears he may have missed the bag. The umpire, however, calls Verdugo safe, much to the confusion of the Blue Jays players and coaches. Verdugo himself seems unsure, pointing back to the umpire and saying he got in his way. Verdugo then walks back to first base, making sure to touch it this time. The rulebook is unclear on this situation, with some arguing Verdugo should be out for missing the base, while others claim it's an obstruction call since the first baseman's leg may have blocked Verdugo's path. However, the umpire explains the bizarre ruling: if the runner misses the base but the fielder also fails to touch it, the runner can still be called safe. This is the case here, as the first baseman did not establish control of the ball while touching the base. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo comes out to discuss the play with the umpire, who clarifies that Verdugo is indeed safe because he crossed the base before the first baseman attempted to make the play, even though Verdugo did not initially touch it. Verdugo, relieved, acknowledges the call, while the Blue Jays' coaching staff expresses their frustration with the unusual ruling. In the end, Robbie Ray is able to induce a foul pop-up to escape the inning, but the bizarre play leaves both teams and the viewers puzzled by the obscure rule that allows a runner to be safe despite missing the bag. This unique situation highlights the complexities of baseball's rulebook and the need for clear communication between umpires and players.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentthe red sox and blue jays played a lot
of close games last weekend this is game
one of a double header so it's only
seven innings long we're in top six and
the red sox have something brewing they
got first and second only one outs
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do watch this interesting play
with an interesting ruling ground ball
to third they get the out at second
double play completed no safe now
verdugo was pointing
back saying hey he got in my way he got
in my way so verdugo knows that he might
not have touched first base but the ump
calls him safe and he says okay
all right no problem but he then walks
back and makes sure
that he touches first base like you know
what i may not have touched it i got to
make sure i establish dominance
it's my first base live time
everyone first saw that verdugo didn't
touch first
but neither did the first baseman so how
could it be
anything what is the ruling here and
then they're like oh wait but now his
foot
slides on top of first and he's got the
ball in his hand
that must be out they should replay this
and call it out
and then a lot of other people were
saying well it's obstruction because you
can't
as a first baseman have your leg block
the runner's path to the base
if that was allowed every first baseman
would just put their foot there and make
it really difficult
for runners so they were so a lot of
people are saying well it was
obstruction that's what they called
neither are the case which is really
interesting
the ruling is that
if the runner does not touch first base
he can still be called
safe if the fielder also doesn't touch
first base which is bizarre but i'm
guessing
they made the rule that in case this
happens and then
the play goes on and then they challenge
it after the fact i have no idea but
the rule says that the runner does not
have to touch first base he's safe
the moment he crosses it and if he
crosses it before the fielder fields it
if the fielder also isn't touching first
base
then he's safe so that makes him safe
right here as soon as the umpire calls
him safe
he's safe but the blue jays would have
to appeal that play
they would have to look at the umpire
and say i think he missed
first base and step on first base he
would have to knowingly be appealing the
fact
that verdugo missed first base in order
to appeal the safe call and verdugo
is now looking he says [ __ ] [ __ ]
he's looking at the replay because he
thinks he's going to be out and he says
he can't set up like that so he wants
obstruction
little does he know he's safe anyway
girls looking like uh oh i don't know if
that's good for me
now they get on the headphones they say
safe inverter says okay there you go
thank you they're like but he went over
but he went over now montoya's gonna
walk out
and he's gonna try and figure it out and
you can see the umpire explain to him
say
after he misses he does not come set on
the bag and appeal
he didn't know the runner missed first
so he's saying that yeah he may have
had his toe on the bag here with the
ball in his
hand but he didn't know that verdugo
missed first base and he wasn't
actively looking at the umpire saying
hey he missed first i got him out if he
did that
it would have been awarded but it's a
funky ruling
and because verdugo came back and
established that it was his bag
it's now his back if you miss it
it's up to appeal so it's not just right
around now
verdugo or the red sox coach is starting
yelling at material like hey
shut up come on we're good and he's like
i'm not even i'm just listening and i'm
saying we're just speaking to him
mentor says hey look at this guy i'll
speak to him i'll speak to him
mentor goes his way and the blue jays
just get out of it robbie ray induces a
foul pop up
and he's out really interesting rule i
didn't really know what was going on
everyone i saw two sides on the internet
and neither side was right because it's
a weird rule that says
you can be safe at first even if you
miss the bag as long as they also
miss the bag or i guess never attempt to
play bizarre rule
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