Bartlett: Pierzynski yelled "obstruction"

The biggest - and most controversial - play of the Rays 6-5 loss to the White Sox had plenty of people talking in post-game.

Here's what happened: White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski became the center of attention in the 10th, when, after getting caught in a rundown between second and third, he tripped, fell and was tagged by Rays SS Jason Bartlett. But second base umpire Doug Eddings ruled that Rays 3B Willy Aybar interfered with Pierzynski, allowing the colorful catcher to advance to third. Pierzynski later scored on Alexei Ramirez's bases-loaded single.

Aybar said he tried to get out of Pierzynski's way, and only made contact after Pierzynski stuck his arm out. Bartlett said he heard Pierzynski yell, "Obstruction!" after he fell, and Pierzynski admitted afterward that he was thinking about trying to get an interference call.

"That was the first thing I thought of, to get somebody to get close enough to where I could touch them. People go, 'How do you think of that, that fast? Well, if you’re not fast, you have to think of a lot of things to try to get you out of bad baserunning."

Eddings wasn't available for comment, but third base umpire Ted Barrett defended the decision:

"As a runner, you're allowed to (make contact). What Doug ruled at second base was, even though A.J. did kind of stick his arm out to make contact, Aybar was still in his way, so A.J., if he would have turned, he wouldn't have been able to continue on to third. So after making the throw, Aybar is no longer in the act of fielding and he can't obstruct the runner, which is what Doug ruled happened. And in a rundown, even though A.J. was going back to second, the rule of obstruction during a rundown is he gets his next advanced base and that's why he was rewarded third base."

"If Aybar's got the ball, there's no obstruction, You protect the fielder when he's in the act of fielding. Once that ball's released and out of his hand, he has to vacate."

According to Bartlett: "I looked up at the umpire thinking he's going to say something like, 'Are you kidding me?' And he's like, 'Yep, yep, yep.' Right there I lost it. I was like, what?" Those are the breaks, I guess."

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[A.J. Cheatzynski]

A.J. met Doug Eddings in the NorthHalsted neighborhood in Chicago during the summer of 2005, and he's been "catching" for him since then. Eddings was just returning the favor. It's the only legit explanation.

[Bill]

Come on, nobody needed slo-mo to see that play.

[JIM S]

GIVE THE UMPS A BREAK. THEY MAKE HUNDREDS OF CLOSE CALLS A WEEK. WE NEED TO SLO MO INSTANT REPLAY TO SEE THE REAL OUTCOME OF PLAYS, THEY HAVE A SPLIT SECOND TO MAKE THE CALL. I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB OVERALL.

[Dom]

Did MLB tell The Times to kill the video? Why else would The Times remove it?

[WS Grizzard]

With the huge odds available at the beginning of the season for betting on the Rays and potentially a large liability for Las Vegas gamblers, I do think MLB should definitely investigate Hedding's bank accounts, gambling debts, relationships with gamblers, and spending habits. He should also be suspended for the rest of the season. It happened in the NBA.
Sandy

[Carl]

The word gutless comes to mind. I think it should be spelled A.J. Puss-zynski. And they had the gall to complain the Rays were stealing signals in the first game when they threw out the two baerunners at second base. Amazing!

[Andy in Dunedin]

One of the radio commentators remarked today (paraphrased) : "Leave the Rays out of it for a minute ... how do you think the TWINS and their fans felt about this bogus call that knocked them back into 2nd place in their division?"

[Dave]

Looked like a good call. Too many "devil ray" colored glasses watching this one.

[Brian]

Just a bad call. Watch the play again. Pierzynski is running towards second and is almost touching the grass. After Aybar throws the ball he tries to step away but Pierzynski doesn't just stick out his arm, he lunges towards Aybar which causes him to fall down a good 4 feet from the grass. The kids in the Little League World Series had better character.

[lkjgermatech]

Funniest part was Aybar arguing in Spanish and Aki in Japenese. Wonder what they called him.

[Augie]

Can't protest judgement calls no matter how bad. Only Rules.

Rule says fielder without the ball can not obstruct the runner. Bushzinski's Godfather judged that Aybar obstructed Bushcowski from turning around to go back towards third. He didn't miss the rule. He called a rule book out instead of interpreting the spirit of the rule. Terrible interpretation and judgement, but not protestable.

If Maddon pulls his team, as some wag suggested, you don't even want to know how harshly and severely MLB would come down on the Rays. Think SMU football's death penalty. It would be that bad.

On Bushzinsky's running in the infield grass, that's not relavent. A runner can run anywhere he wants to. The only restrictions are when a play is being made on him. As soon as a play is being made, his baseline is established and he may not go more than 3 feet out of the baseline to avoid the tag. In a rundown, when he turns around to go the other way, the baseline is reestablished as he heads to the other base. The three foot line moves with him. Therefore, when BushSoxski turned back towards second, he was probably right next to the grass, which gives him 3 feet into the grass and three feet towards the outfield. Again, judgement on his Godfather's part, and not protestable.

[nwflwriter]

That was the worst call in history. It was smart on AJ for trying but come on, was Willy to become invisible. Ted Barrett should be fined.

[nwflwriter]

Bossman Junior is a player who is still developing. People might not think he is getting it, so what, let him figure out what kind of a ballplayer he is and then let him go and take over the league. The Rays need him.

[Brian]

If you have ever played baseball you would realize that what AJ did is exactly what your supposed to do. If your stuck in a pickle and you know your not going to get out of it you always try to buy enough time for the other runners to advance and also try to draw obstruction anyway you can. It was a cheap play but it was a smart play and it helped them win the game. Oh well it is one game. GO RAYS!

[bigbfan]

These calls are so blatant. There has to be some recourse for the Rays organization. Can't they request an investigation based on bias, discrimination and outright conspiracy?

[TechRider]

Between the obviously suspicious calls, and hit by pitch broken bones of the two leading hitters on the Rays, anyone can see that the Rays have targets on their backs.

[Pete]

As one who umpired high school games for many years, I never would have made that call. Incidental contact is often overlooked, when common sense is employed. Pierzynski admitted he was going for an interference call. This is just like in basketball when a player falls on the court and claim foul, while hamming it up for the spectators. How many football players have claimed pass interference without justification? Good officials is any sport must interpret the rules with and ounce of common sense tossed it.

[Dennis]

I think we should move the dome.

[raysfan]

This is what happens when you're a winner -- everyone's out to get you for every little thing. Enjoy, Rays, it means you've made it to the big time.

[Bart]

It really "sucks" when you have to "cheat" to win. Rays, obviously the better team, were victims of shoddy umpire calls. Where's "instant replay" when you need it?

[steve]

You do realize we pretty much beat their bullpen. Their starters are solid with probaly the al mvp and al rookie of the year on their team. The Rays just beat a better team than the yanks and red sox.

[Bryan]

Pierzynski shuld be concerned about staying on his feet than yelling out phantom excuses for his dumb @ss falling down. It reminded me of a world cup soccer match. Nothing against soccer, I play it. Umpires need to be held accountable for this garbabge, and if not than we need instant replay in baseball. Does anyone know Doug Eddings cell phine #?

[Dave]

Its a proven fact. In the leagues eyes, the Rays in the playoffs does nothing for baseball. The umps will do all they can to keep the Rays out, cause they will not draw enough TV $$$ and ticket revenues. Well f-you umpires, the Rays will win it all and prove you wrong. You screwd us in the LAA game, now the Sox.

[J.J.]

It shouldn't have come down to this. Zobrist's throw made it a tough play for Riggans, but still that's a play that could be made. If B.J. hustles, he could have gotten a slow Pierzynski at second. I think he was surprised as everyone that A.J. would try to advance.

But it did come down to it. Everyone saw it, on national t.v. no less. I think everyone in the country knew it was the wrong call. Everyone except for the one that matters.

I'm not one to think there is a conspiracy. But it's obvious by all of the comments post-game that this was an intentional act that ruined an exciting game. If Eddings just blew the call, he should be fired for ineptness. The other umps should have intervened to help the situation.

And no, this is not a scenario where a protest could be made. You cannot protest a judgment call, and Eddings made a terrible judgment in this one. I mean, even a little leaguer learns, you can't "run out of the base line" With this new interpretation of the rule, baserunners could be chasing fielders all over the diamond trying to run into them and scream "ineterference".

Ridiculous.

[Brad]

This call gives me incentive not to watch Major League Baseball. It was a smart play by Pierzynski...very smart, but the call was outlandish and calls like this really hurt the integrity of the game and take away from the players being able to decide things. Since when do MLB umpires go by "what ifs"? "Aybar was still in his way, so A.J., if he would have turned, he wouldn't have been able to continue on to third." First of all A.J ran toward Aybar to get in Aybar's way. He's simply incorrect that Aybar was in A.J.'s way and the proof is that A.J. had to "kind of stick his arm out". Additionally, Aybar didn't do anything different from what any other fielder does during a run-down. What Barrett seems to be saying, in effect, is that during a run down, if the runner simply charges at a defender who doesn't have the ball and runs into them, the fielder should be called for intereference. I wonder if this type of call will cause more physicality on the basepaths now. Alas, Riggans should have caught the ball in the 9th and this would never have happened. That was an easy play that he blew and it definitely cost the Rays the game. They didn't deserve to win after he botched that play. Riggans and Ruggiano should be sent down for more seasoning and Jonny Gomes and John Jaso should be brought up.

[cubbie blue]

u have to remember that white soxs fans are second class citizens.....it was a horrible call.......eddings should have lost his job back in 05........if this were to ooccure against the red soxs or yankees eddings would be fired but since it the rays its what ever....its not right......i would drill aj right below his helmet.....hes a tool

[Tone]

The White Sox won 1 out of 3 @home and they needed the umps to even pull that off. Funny to see White Sox fans bragging about such a pathetic win. Rays will overcome all this bullsh*t and prove to Bud and MLB that even their corrupt officials can't stop them. The money is not what makes baseball great, Rays stick it to the money teams and the corrupt MLB executives every day they are in 1st.

[9equals8.com]

You can complain about missed plays, dropped balls and slow catches/throws and that's all legit. But, my beef is with the umpires inventing calls that affect key playoff-significant games. This crap just can't happen if you want to maintain the integrity of the game. If it were close, I'd be the first to admit it, but it was SO BAD, I can't believe there are people that think it was a reasonable call. Just crazy.

Time to move on, but this one needs to be elevated to the commish so that they are on notice that we're not just the "pesky" Rays anymore (that was directed toward ESPN, who keeps calling the Rays "pesky". Don't they know that pesky means you are annoyed by something? Are ESPN, the umpires and MLB really annoyed with the small market Rays' success?

[Helene]

Yeah, yeah, Riggans should've handled Zobrist's bad-but-not-unfieldable throw, BJ should've gotten it in quicker, Rays are overall not blameless in not completing the sweep, blah, blah, blah.

But yes, White Sox fans, I WILL take some cheese with my whine, because the umps still suck. ;) And I can't believe you guys are here bragging...but thanks for providing some entertainment with my morning coffee. Look, it's one thing to take your chances and run to first on what you think is a probably-not-but-maybe dropped third strike at the time. It's quite another to throw dignity to the wind by sticking your elbow out, yelling "interference!" and taking a soccer diva dive. I'll let you guess which one is closer to "cheapass crap" than "smart, aggressive play."

[Ray]

how many more phantoms calls are we gonna get? we aren't the cinderella team anymore, so, why the umpires are calling fakes against us? Maybe MLB doesn't want a low-budget team in playoff because tv rating and marketing, maybe the Soxs (white & red) are better for selling stuff?

[Dave]

That was a terrible call, however a number of fielders could have just run his fat butt down. there was no reason to continue the back and forth.

Why are we resting Navi? Cal Ripkin Jr played 3,000 + games without missing a day.

Joe, please learn how to sacrifice bunt, it works! Oh yeah, the other great offensive play is called HIT and RUN; try that one freaking time.

BJ is just not a hustle guy. Bring Pete Rose to St Pete to show the kids how to play.

Why the rotation of 5 pitchers in relief. Balfour was eating their lunch; keep him in to finish it.

CWS are just another bunch of babies, like the Skankees and Red Suks. They are such big time players until the Rays kick their butt.

We are close, but have to win these games to close it out.

[Dave]

If Riggans holds on to the ball A.J. never gets a chance to cheat.

BJ must have a a disorder that prevents him from giving 100% - I'll make up a disease.

I hope that the Rays FO get engaged with the MLB Umpires and the terrible calls they are making. To have this call made and this juncture of the game - this late in the season with 2 teams in 1st place? This has to be disciplined by MLB - maybe the Umpires union has to go. These guys are way too protected now.

Zobrist in left. I had wondered if Ruggiano replacing Zobrist is left was better defensive move? Ruggiano has an outfielders arm - Zobrist's throw wasn't bad but could have been better.

[Dave]

If Riggans holds on to the ball A.J. never gets a chance to cheat.

BJ must have a a disorder that prevents him from giving 100% - I'll make up a disease.

I hope that the Rays FO get engaged with the MLB Umpires and the terrible calls they are making. To have this call made and this juncture of the game - this late in the season with 2 teams in 1st place? This has to be disciplined by MLB - maybe the Umpires union has to go. These guys are way too protected now.

Zobrist in left. I had wondered if Ruggiano replacing Zobrist is left was better defensive move? Ruggiano has an outfielders arm - Zobrist's throw wasn't bad but could have been better.

This is Frickin what if call ....read the Umps comments. When did MLB start making calls on what if scenarios!

[Winston]

Eddings called A.J. safe because he (Eddings) did not want "die hard" sox fans to attack him on the field like the two idiots did to Laz Diaz.

[Robert]

A few observations: 1.BJ's circular dance after catching the fly ball was certainly a factor in the catcher's advancing to second. Granting to his defenders that he's not lazy and that he wants to win, one is forced to conclude that he is simply not smart enough to play MLB on a daily basis for a contender. 2.Further evidence of this was his conversation with the Chicago middle infielder when he was a runner on second during the intentional walk to a teammate. He was not even watching two of the pitches and could not have advanced if one was errant. (By the way, BJ, what was so interesting, or are you desperate to find someone who still talks to you?) 3.On the interference call the Rays failed to execute properly a run-down play, which should not require more than two throws. With a catcher running there is even less excuse. So, the blame falls on the Rays in general and BJ in particular, despite a dubious call by the umps.

[steve]

If there are so many Rays fans like it looks on every single blog talking about AJ, why are your stands empty every game? Aj might have provoked this but its not going to help by crying about it.

[John]

Check out this quote from a Chicago Tribune article:

"And then there's the A.J. Pierzynski picture, which never seems to be in black and white.

Pierzynski scored the winning run after another controversial baserunning play that only the baseball gods could have designed. And umpire Doug Eddings was right in the middle of the ruling, as he was in the 2005 AL Championship Series against the Angels, when Pierzynski was awarded first base on a third strike and scored the winning run."

Coincidental? I think not.

[Matt]

Only thing more amazing than this ridiculous call is the fact that there are actually White Sox fans gloating that they weren't swept. Listen, I know you guys are the red-headed stepchildren up there in Chicago, but you gotta think a bit more of your team than to be excited when you only lose 2 out of 3 at home. White Sox were just thoroughly schooled at home, and those White Sox fans with all their neurons firing know it should have been a sweep.

Shieldsy's got a beanball waiting for AJ. And hopefully Eddings will have home plate one day soon so a Rays pitcher can "cross up" Navarro.

[Terri]

something should be done with these umpires!! Just like Maddon said - FABRICATED rules - Terrible calls - cocky, arrogant jerks

[rivieraretiree]

Isn't a runner "out", when he runs onto the infield grass, thus out of the base path? Why wasn't this infraction called by the umpires?

Can someone explain whether (or not) Maddon could "play the game under protest."

[9equals8.com]

Albert - I agree with your conclusion, but I disagree that this is not a big deal. I believe the Rays are very good, but the game needs to be fair and this garbage hurts the game. Since when does one team deserve less respect from their sports' officials than other teams? That's the crux of the issue here - MLB/umpires do not respect the Rays. I did some homework and wrote a short piece on my blog. I'm not entirely convinced that the umpires understand the actual definition of "interference". I searched the rulebook and it's not clear to me they even understand what the rule book says the call should be. Ted Bartlett's (umpire) own words make me question these guys. I would post the blog piece here, but it's too long. You can read it at http://www.9equals8.com

[Albert]

Aybar did everything he was supposed to do. Pierzynski fell out of the base path trying to elbow him. In the overall scheme of things, it ain't no big deal. The Rays have won against teams better than the White Sox (Angels, Red Sox, Cubs) and will do it again, post-season, while the White Sox are at home watching on TV.

[Dave B]

I am a WHITE SOX fan but ill be the first to admit that that was a horrid call. But the play wouldnt even have been in question if Upton played the game with his heart and brain.

[Reality check]

to red sox nation blah blah etc: The white sox destroyed the red sox in the 2005 post season. If the US Supreme Court hired on as umpires for those games,the red sox would still have been pitiful

[red sox nation in chicago]

white sox fans aren't intelligent enough to know an actual rule in the mlb rulebook...they still believe that their team actually WON a championship in '05...when the truth is they had the benefit of every umpire's horrendous call...especially the infamous "dropped 3rd strike" which every replay showed was clearly not dropped....ironically that call was made by the very same umpire that made the blatant miscall today...not a coincidence either from what my sources tell me....i would have loved to have heard their blowhard announcers if the situation was reversed...they aren't going to make the playoffs anyway...so don't worry...this from a fan of the REAL sox who respects your rays...

[mick the pr*ck]

You Ray's fans are precious. Shut up and win something before the conspiracy accusations. If the fan's reaction to a loss is this "upsetting" I wonder how your "team" will react? See ya next year chumps!

[Jay]

Brian Paruch is right, you Rays fans are crazy!

[Scott]

For every player who attempts to cheat, there is always an idiot umpire who is suckered into his ploy. How many times have we seen a football player instigate a dispute with another player and then dramatically fall backwords when the other player pushes him off...and then, bam, flag on the guy who simply pushed him back. In the same vain, how many times have we seen the refs fall for the punter or kicker dramatics when they are barely nudged? I just wish the refs had the guts to come out and admit when they are wrong. This would be soooo refreshing to see. The call today was a horrible call, horrible. Sorry ref, the rulebook does not state that "baserunners can advance in a rundown if they can reach out and tag the fielder running by." Give me a break! Admit when you are wrong and move on.

[Jay]

It might just be since "A.J" is a teensy bit less tedious to say than "Pierzynski" every five seconds.