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New York Giants furious over 'terrible' blocking decision in loss to Marlins Originally appeared on NBC Sports by Area
San Francisco – In the wake of A frustrating one-point loss. In a game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday, the Giants were left feeling bitter over a controversial decision that led to the winning run.
The game came in the seventh inning when Miami's Otto Lopez got a first-out walk and then stole second base. New York Giants' Patrick Bailey threw the ball to center fielder Tyler Fitzgerald, who appeared to have successfully passed the ball before second base umpire Ryan Blakney signaled a safety because Fitzgerald had apparently obstructed the runner.
Giants coach Bob Melvin asked the umpires to take a second look at the play, and after a brief meeting among the four umpires, the original safe decision was upheld.
“They called it a tackle, and I don’t know how that affects the play,” Melvin said after the Giants’ 4-3 loss. “I mean, [Lopez is] Slide to the back of the bag. Yes [Fitzgerald’s] “The foot is in front of part of the bag, but when it was sliding to the back of the bag, you're trying to make a mark and it doesn't affect the play. I don't know how you make that decision. There has to be some feeling associated with it, that's what I've been told.”
Major League Baseball has instructed umpires to be more diligent this season regarding obstruction plays, especially those at second and third base.
This was emphasized to all 30 teams during spring training, although there were not many instances where this rule was enforced at that time.
It's been happening quite frequently lately, and Fitzgerald is the latest quarterback to get caught up in the mess.
“I thought it was a bad call,” Fitzgerald said. “My foot was originally in front of the bag, but I pulled it back. It may have been an obstruction under the rule, but I was not obstructing the runner in any way. He slipped and got to the bag. I tried to move my foot so he could get to the bag. I didn't think I was obstructing at all.”
Fitzgerald said he was aware of the obstruction rule but felt he handled the game fairly.
“It’s kind of a fast-paced game, so you’re playing on the grass and then running all the way to second base while the ball is being thrown in the air,” he said. “It’s hard to know where your left foot is all the time. I usually try to move my left foot while I’m catching the ball so I can kick it. [the runner’s] “I didn't hit my foot. That's what I thought I did.”
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker apparently agreed with the umpires' decision to allow Lopez to stay at second base. He then scored twice and the Marlins were able to hold on to the win.
“They got it right,” Schumaker said. “I thought they were going to make a lot of comments about it after spring practice. That’s all I heard, that we were going to be aggressive on that call. I saw it, and there wasn’t a lot of comments, to be honest with you. I thought the umpires, they got it right on the initial call and then they got it together, and I think they still got it right.”
Teams cannot appeal the obstruction rule, but they can request a review from the referees, although replay is not used.
“In spring training when they came up with this rule, it wasn’t an instinctive rule. It’s not something you look for,” Melvin explained. “So they said you can ask the umpires to come together, and they came together. But that’s a second-base umpire’s decision. I don’t know how you can make that decision if it doesn’t affect the play. It’s one thing to slide on his foot and block the runner. He didn’t do that.”
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