The Slap

[Copperfields]

I don't particularly agree with the caption on this picture, but it's by far the best view of A-Rods slap at Arroyo's glove in ALCS Game 6.

members.cox.net/robert3442/a-rod.html

David

[Demreb]

I agree. The caption is petty and juvenile. But the call was right from every dang angle Fox showed it.

I was really disappointed that A-Rod would try something like that, and then be amazed that he was called out.

I don't recall the exact wording of the rule that prevents the "slapping, kicking or hitting of a ball out of a glove", but what is the difference between what A-Rod did and what any runner crashing into a catcher to dislodge the ball does?

Mind you, I agree with the call. But I'm curious what the difference (by rule) is.

[Copperfields]

Demreb said:

what is the difference between what A-Rod did and what any runner crashing into a catcher to dislodge the ball does?

Mind you, I agree with the call. But I'm curious what the difference (by rule) is.

I don't think there's anything specifically in the rule book that addresses this, but the MLB Umpire's Handbook says this:
"While contact may occur between a fielder and runner during a tag attempt, a runner is not allowed to use his hands or arms to commit an obviously malicious or unsportsmanlike act such as grabbing, tackling, intentionally slapping at the baseball, punching, kicking, flagrantly using his arms or forearms, etc. to commit an intentional act of interference unrelated to running the bases."

So I guess the difference is that a runner crashing into a catcher does so in the act of trying to get to home plate (which the catcher presumably has blocked), while A-Rod flagrantly slapped at Arroyo's glove with the sole intent of dislodging the ball. Dislodging the ball may be the intent of the runner coming into home plate as well, but that's an action that IS "realated to running the bases," while A-Rod's action wasn't.

I can't say I was disappointed in A-Rod's slap at the ball - he was clearly going to be tagged out and in the heat of the moment I guess I can't fault him for trying to do something to try to reach first base. It may not have been a smart play, because if it didn't succeed, Jeter gets sent back to 1B rather than being in scoring position, so it may have cost his team a chance at a run.

What WAS disappointing was his reaction when the umps got the call right. His slap was clearly intentional, so there's no way he should have been surprised when the umps called him on it. He should have just shrugged his shoulders and trotted into the dugout. I guess it's a pride thing.

David