I Guess Umpires Can Be Fans After All

By Cheval John

The Fort Worth Regional is probably the most competitive out of the entire 64 regional fields of the NCAA Baseball Tournament.

It was proven yesterday when Sam Houston State and No.7 national seed host Texas Christian University (TCU) played a 22 inning game that lasted for 2 months in which the Horned Frogs “won” 3-2.

The Bearkats should feel good because they’ve been apart of the second longest game in tournament history.

They don’t because they have to turn around and try to win right now against Siena in the losers bracket in order to face the Horned Frogs again in the regional championship later that night and beat them to force a second game tomorrow night.

The truth of the matter is that Sam Houston should not have been in this position because to me the second base umpire Jeff Head gave the game to Texas Christian with two horrendous calls.

To add on to that, this game should not have gone to extra innings in the first place.

In the first inning, after the Bearkats tied it up at 1 and had the bases loaded when short stop Corey Toups hit a ground ball to short stop Keaton Jones, who flipped it to second baseman Garrett Crain for the second out, but Crain throw the ball away that seemingly allowed two runs to score.

However, Mr. Head called Burgess for the interference that resulted in the third out, which kept the game tied.

When TCU scored their second run in the top of the 6th inning to make it 2-1, the Bearkats answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie it up again at 2 that sent it into extras.

Sam Houston had a chance in the bottom of the 13th inning to end it, but catcher Anthony Azar was thrown out at home plate that kept it going.

The Bearkats seemed to had won it in the bottom of the 21st inning when with one out and the bases loaded, right fielder Travis Lee hit a grounder to Jones, who got the force out at second base, allowing Burgess to seemingly score the walk-off run after Jones couldn’t get it to first base for the third out.

However, Mr. Head called left fielder Luke Plucheck for the interference that resulted in the third out and scratch the run away.

In both those plays, there wasn’t an interference by either players, but somehow Mr. Head saw a phantom interference on both plays that extended the game.

Of course, Mr. Head probably knew that he made the mistake, but since he is the umpire, he has all the power and when both Plucheck and Sam Houston coach David Pierce argued with him, he ejected them both.

TCU saw their new chance and capitalized on it by scoring the game-winning run in the top of the 23rd and then reliever Riley Ferrell finished the depleted Kats to seal the win.

What this shows is that TCU couldn’t handled Sam Houston by themselves and they were on their way to a second loss against them (first loss came in the Houston College Classic).

But because of the bailout by Mr. Head, they are in the regional championship.

Though it was a history making game, Sam Houston will remember the way how Mr. Head cost them a possible chance to be a step closer towards a trip to the College World Series in Omaha.

Guess, Mr. Head is a TCU fan.

About Cheval John

Cheval John is the Founder and CEO of Vallano Media, LLC, a marketing agency which helps small to mid-sized businesses use social media correctly to build a loyal following and in the process become more profitable. Cheval is also the host of "What's The Word?" a podcast about finding out what inspires people to choose their respective careers and how social media impacted their lives and business. He is the author of two books including the Amazon Best-Seller, "8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn." He has spoken at Social Media Week Lima in Ohio and at Social Media Day Houston 2017 about topics around live streaming and podcasting. Cheval has been featured in media outlets including Ebony Magazine, Social Media Today and Forbes. He was named a Houston Top 25 Social Media Power Influencer (2016 and 2017) and a Twitter Top 50 Influencer by Onalytica in 2018.

11 Responses to “I Guess Umpires Can Be Fans After All”

  1. Jeff says :

    I realize as a SHSU alum, you struggle with objectivity. Let me explain the rules of NCAA baseball in relation to sliding. The rules are very specific. Rather than summarize, here are the actual rules in question.

    NCAA Force Play Slide Rule

    SECTION 4.

    The intent of the force-play-slide rule is to ensure the safety of all players. This is a safety and an interference rule. Whether the defense could have completed the double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule. This rule pertains to a force-play situation at any base, regardless of the number of outs.

    a. On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground before the base and in a direct line between the two bases. It is permissible for the slider’s momentum to carry him through the base in the baseline extended (see diagram).

    Exception—A runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder. Interference shall not be called.

    (1) “On the ground” means either a head-first slide or a slide with one leg and buttock on the ground before the base.

    (2) “Directly into a base” means the runner’s entire body (feet, legs, trunk and arms) must stay in a straight line between the bases.

    b. Contact with a fielder is legal and interference shall not be called if the runner makes a legal slide directly to the base and in the baseline extended (see diagram).

    A.R.—If contact occurs on top of the base as a result of a “pop-up” slide, this contact is legal.

    c. Actions by a runner are illegal and interference shall be called if:

    (1) The runner slides or runs out of the base line in the direction of the fielder and alters the play of a fielder (with or without contact);

    (2) The runner uses a rolling or cross-body slide and either makes contact with or alters the play of a fielder;

    (3) The runner’s raised leg makes contact higher than the fielder’s knee when in a standing position;

    (4) The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg; or

    (5) The runner illegally slides toward or contacts the fielder even if the fielder makes no attempt to throw to complete a play.

    You can choose to ignore reality but the rules are clear. In the first inning, the slide was to inside of bag at the infielder. His body did not cross the top of bag; plus he raised his leg. … clearly interference by rule. In the 21st inning, the runner’s slide was illegal. He failed to get his leg and butt on the ground before arriving at bag. The contact occurs with butt and leg in the site. Illegaland dangerous slide therfore by rule, interference. Sorry dude the rules are clear and the ump correct. Fairness is not what works for you. Ump made the right calls.

  2. Cheval John says :

    Sorry, Jeff, but I am objective. It wasn’t an illegal slide. It was clearly going for the bag. And I did look at the replay. It wasn’t an illegal slide. The short stop was in the path of the runner. So, in both instances, it wasn’t the right call.
    And even if I wasn’t an SHSU alum, I would have still come to the same conclusion. Thanks for your reply.

  3. Jeff says :

    So you are ignoring the actual rule. The first slide was not on the bag. Only his for touched bag. By definition not legal in NCAA. Second “slide” wasn’t a slide. He never made it down to ground before bag. The rules are clear. Location of fielder is irrelevant. You can argue the rule is not consistently applied, but by NCAArulethe slides are illegal. This part is not debatable. They were illegal for different reasons but still illegal. As people have said. You can have your own pinions but not your own facts. Problem is people don’t read the rules, they assume they know them.

  4. Scott says :

    You’re right, the rules ARE clear. Watch the video on ESPN’s highlights, just past 01:00 there’s a close view from center field angle: http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/11015874/tcu-horned-frogs-outlast-sam-houston-state-bearkats-22-innings

    Runner slides directly into the bag “with one leg and buttock on the ground” – body CLEARLY hits the ground and his front foot even makes contact with the base before momentum carries him over it. It’s second baseman’s priority to get out of the path, runner has every right to go through the bag.

    Jeff Head blew this entirely. He should issue a formal apology to Sam Houston. If I were the crew chief he’s not invited back…ever. Hopefully all other crew chiefs feel same.

  5. Cheval John says :

    Thank you Scott for the reply. I listened to the game for almost it’s entirety. Left after the 11th to get something to eat, thinking SHSU blew it, then coming back over an 1 hr later to see they are still playing and stay up past 2 central time and then was shocked when he called that bone headed call. Just stunned.

  6. Jeff says :

    Scott. He made contact before he made it to the ground. It was a dangerous late slide attempt. Rarely called I will grant you but illegal none the less. His foot hits the bag and he slides through. His location isnt in question. It is the fact that he was not on the ground properly before making contact with fielder. That kind of slide can rip apart a knee. That is why the rule exists…safety. Just because you dont like a call doesn’t make it wrong. I have seen the play over and over and he does not make it down before contact. The ump made a call t hat was within the rules. It was unfortunate for SHSU and Im glad they got a chance against TCU again. But to say they are better team and ump working for them is sour grapes.

  7. Cheval John says :

    No. The runner was in front of the bag when he started the slide. He was no where outside the base pad, meaning, the short stop was in the path of the slide and as a result, he got taken out. It wasn’t illegal. The rules that you showed actually goes against you.

    Here are some others who are not SHSU alum that backs me up: http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/11015874/tcu-horned-frogs-outlast-sam-houston-state-bearkats-22-innings

    http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/tcu-outlasts-sam-houston-st–in-controversial-22-inning-ncaa-postseason-game-081419026.html

  8. Cheval John says :

    I guess you didn’t see what I just sent. Oh well, I got nothing else to say.

  9. Jeff says :

    Saw it. I had proudly read those articles which doubt really address the rule. However one has a nice still of the runner at the point of making contact. He is still in the air. Fielder had foot on bag and preparing to throw. Looks like clear interference… which would be your claim had that happened to your second baseman and had not been called.

  10. Cheval John says :

    Sorry, I don’t roll like that. I actually go by the book even when those bad calls go for Sam Houston.

  11. Scott says :

    Jeff, I didn’t imply SHSU is the better team or that the ump is working for TCU. Not sure what you’re watching – the view I cited shows runner did slide, on the ground, before the bag…and even made contact with the bag before the fielder. Jeff Head owes an apology on this.

    TCU’s 2bagger was stood with his left foot in front of the bag, a cardinal sin as a middle infielder. Runner didn’t even go for his leg, still slid into the bag with front foot touching it and momentum carried him through. Just because there was hard contact doesn’t mean it was an illegal, or even malicious slide.

    After 21 straight innings, if you’re running towards that bag knowing a double-play wipes out the winning run…you’re not going to jog. #26 for Sam could have easily ended that kid’s career by targeting his left leg, but made the right choice going straight to the bag and the ump’s call was unwarranted.

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