Texas Rangers Manager 'Dumbfounded' By One of 'Worst Calls' Ever in White Sox Loss
Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy didn't understand how an out call at the plate was overturned for catcher interference late in Tuesday night's 7-6 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
“It’s absolutely one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen,” Bochy told Bally Sports Southwest after the game. “And it was done by replay. I don’t get it.”
Bochy wanted to get clarification on the field but was unable to hear. He knows the call was made by replay officials and not the home plate umpire. His objections to the call led to an automatic ejection, per replay rules.
Bochy said the entire episode left him "dumbfounded."
With the game tied 6-6 in the eighth, Chicago’s Zach Remillard singled to left and Rangers left fielder Travis Jankowski delivered a strong throw to catcher Jonah Heim, who tagged out White Sox runner — and former Texas shortstop — Elvis Andrus at the plate to apparently end the inning.
The White Sox challenged both the tag and whether Heim blocked the plate. Replay officials in New York overturned the call, saying that Heim was blocking the plate as Andrus tried to slide home.
The White Sox were awarded the run and went up 7-6.
That led to Bochy coming out to argue the play and his automatic ejection.
Heim said he understands the rule, but didn’t get any sort of explanation after the play was overturned. Heim set up the way he was taught on the corner of the plate. He also said it was the first time he’s been called for that violation.
“I asked what I did wrong and they kind of said they (replay officials) didn’t explain it and that was the call,” Heim said.
The play comes down to the rules that govern how catchers can make plays at the plate.
The replay showed that Heim’s right foot was on the edge of the plate. It also showed that he received the ball to the left of the plate and before Andrus’ hand crossed the plate. Additionally, Andrus’ hand slid across the plate as Heim left more than two-thirds of it open as he applied the tag.
The rule says that “catchers will often provide a sliding lane into home for the runner to lower the possibility that they will be called for violating the rule.”
Bochy said that Heim absolutely provided a lane for Andrus.
“There’s never any contact with the catcher,” Bochy said. “It was a sweep tag. I don’t get it. I really don’t. I’m shocked. Jonah did a great job there. The throw was a bit to the left, a sweep tag, I’m lost on this one.”
No matter what explanation the Rangers get on Wednesday, this one will stick with Bochy for a while.
“I don’t care how many times they’ll try to explain it, you can’t do that in that situation,” Bochy said. “It’s a shame. It’s embarrassing really.”
The series with the White Sox is tied 1-1 and concludes Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. at Guaranteed Rate Field. Texas (45-28) starts Martín Pérez (6-3, 4.54), while Chicago (32-43) goes with RHP Michael Kopech (3-5, 3.92)
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