POLL Altuve HR or Fan-interference?

[Mike A. S.]

The umpire made the correct call, no doubt about it. And as a side note, Mookie Betts is the best baseball player in MLB, period.

Anyone that doesn't think Mike Trout is the best player is crazy, period.

 

[Dusty]

Anyone that doesn't think Mike Trout is the best player is crazy, period.

I will pick Mike for second. Thanks for the compliment.

 

[The Oldtimer]

No interference shall be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk. However, should a spectator reach out on the playing field side of such fence, railing or rope, and plainly prevent the fielder from catching the ball, then the batsman should be called out for the spectator’s interference.


That's a lot of help, huh? LOL

Thanks.

 

[PatsFan2003]

IMO, unless there is clear evidence to the contrary, the player making the exceptional play should be given the benefit of the doubt. And I think that fans should always be discouraged from interfering in the game unless they are CLEARLY not in play.

There is no question that the fan prevented Betts from making the catch and it is almost certain he was going to catch that ball.

This 100%.. the only thing open to debate is where the ball was. And honestly IMO it should be interference regardless.

 

[jarntt]

What is the baseball rule for interference once the ball is in the stands?

There is none. You can skull fuck him and while clearly a crime, it would not result in an interference call unless the same dopes from last night were involved

 

[Indrid Cold]

Went to the old ballpark there many a night. Used to sit in the bleachers and eat nachos and drank beer and talk shit to the outfielders. In that stadium, as you know, in the outfield you were right on top of them. Had a White Sox pitcher so fuckin wound up one night he acted like he was gonna come up in the stands and curbstomp my ass....lol.......

The loudest boos I ever heard were when a big party came for a guy's birthday at the old Arlington park and a girl who started doing a bikini strip for him between innings got tossed out by security....I seriously thought there might be a riot, all the drunk good ol boys wanted to see that dancer's stuff!

 

[Hook'Em0608]

This 100%.. the only thing open to debate is where the ball was. And honestly IMO it should be interference regardless.

A better alternative is they raise the fences to the degree players can't reach into the stands in fair territory. It becomes a moot issue. 11 feet should do it. Only a handful of NBA players who are average MLB height can get up over 11 feet. But MLB wants their home run robbing highlights so they created this issue.

 

[PatsFan2003]

A better alternative is they raise the fences to the degree players can't reach into the stands in fair territory. It becomes a moot issue. 11 feet should do it. Only a handful of NBA players who are average MLB height can get up over 11 feet. But MLB wants their home run robbing highlights so they created this issue.

That could ruin the fan experience. It's cool to be that close. Yes I understand fans can get drunk and stuff but overall I think most can control themselves especially if they realize they are hurting their team.

 

[molsaniceman]

So does the fan get as much hate mail as bartman?

 

[molsaniceman]

this is why it wasnt overturned

 

[The Derski]

They should probably stop making outfield walls that make fan interference so easy. What is a fan supposed to do in that situation? Hope that Mookie saves my life and also robs my team of a homerun?

 

[redseat]

I still have yet to see any angle to either confirm or disprove the call so I honestly can't say because it's that damn close. With that said, West probably should have let the call be a HR and then let replay confirm or deny (obviously in this instance it wouldn't have been overturned no matter what the call was)

 

[Hook'Em0608]

That could ruin the fan experience. It's cool to be that close. Yes I understand fans can get drunk and stuff but overall I think most can control themselves especially if they realize they are hurting their team.

Those fans last night weren't being drunk and stupid, outside the white shirt guy possibly. It was simply a matter of them being where they were, and Betts being athletic enough to also be in the same place. It isn't fair to the hitters or defenders to force decisions like last night to be made based upon a judgement call. When MLB is responsible for the situation the fans are in.

 

[Pure Steel]

Those fans last night weren't being drunk and stupid, outside the white shirt guy possibly. It was simply a matter of them being where they were, and Betts being athletic enough to also be in the same place. It isn't fair to the hitters or defenders to force decisions like last night to be made based upon a judgement call. When MLB is responsible for the situation the fans are in.

MLB should make fans put their arms behind their backs as the balls rocket towards them.....Hopefully no one uses their arms to protect themselves......

 

[ElTexan]

This is pretty clearly in the field of play to me. Button-downed Dad-Bod on the far right is holding the fence, leaning over slightly, reaching over slightly even more, and his hand is only two inches up the elbow of the orange-clad guy who is reaching out even farther to interfere:

@redseat

 

[redseat]

@redseat

Still not clear enough for me... it appears the ball (if you drew a straight line down) would hit the yellow line... I can see the arms of everyone but the ball isn't clear enough for me to tell where it is... I get the reason to be upset, really do but I honestly can't tell one way or another... This time it worked for the Red Sox... Might not the next time

 

[msgkings322]

OK, hear me out. My final feeling on this is being pretty sure Mookie would have caught that ball if no one bumped his glove. It would have been a spectacular play but you can see where the ball was headed, where his glove was he was going to make the play.

Was the ball in the stands? Maybe, a bit. The letter of the law says maybe a HR. But the spirit of it, the 'what would have happened if the great player was allowed to make a great play?' We all know it was a catch. I'm not a fan of either team, but the right outcome happened. This isn't a court of law, it's baseball, and stuff like that happens.

 

[wazzu31]

Fan interference is a stupid rule anyways. If owners are going to allow fans to be able to affect the game then they should be allowed to. If the fan drops it in the field of play then it should a live ball.

 

[Wazmankg]

This 100%.. the only thing open to debate is where the ball was. And honestly IMO it should be interference regardless.

How far in the stands are would you enforce that ? The ball appears to have crossed the barrier to me. It's anyone's then.

 

[Manster7588]

How far in the stands are would you enforce that ? The ball appears to have crossed the barrier to me. It's anyone's then.

I'm not positive either way, but being there are hands on the field side of the wall and Mookies glove looks to be even with that hand, I think it's a strong argument the ball hadn't quite made it over.

I think the MLB will start having cameras directly over the wall to get a better view in the future.