Post by Admin on Aug 9, 2016 21:25:48 GMT -5
While all expected to see A-Rod in his Fenway swan song starting tonight through Thursday before ending his Yankee career in NY on Friday, Mgr Joe Girardi decided not to insert A-Rod into the roster tonight.
So with the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 5th with a runner on third and nobody out, all eyes shifted to "The Kid" who's merely 8 of 16 since his call up to the Big Leagues. While A-Rod pouted in the dugout, Benintendi launched what looked to be a sacrifice fly to left-center out by the "foul line" on the green monster.
The ball catches some air and suddenly takes off and drops close to the top of the monster and scuffs the wall just on top of that yellow foul line. Initially ruled a double, the umps got together and decided, like everyone else in Fenway and watching from home, that indeed it was a homer and "The Kid" (C'mon, he does look alot like a young Ted Williams) is credited with his first major league homer ... 4-2 Red Sox!
AP Photo/Winslow Townson
But of course, this is the Red Sox - Yankees, so naturally Mgr Joe Girardi asks for a review of the play by the MLB forces that decide these things, who just happen to be based in NYC ... am I implying something? Nahhhhhh .... me?
So while Remy and viewers are comfortable that it's a HR after seeing 4-5 reviews of the play, including magnifications, the call comes back from NY almost 4 minutes after the review started that it's a ground rule double!
Huh?
??Now there are two yellow "foul poles" in Fenway (and every ballpark in MLB I would presume) and interestingly enough, whenever those poles are hit by a batted ball the hit is ruled a HR, making one ponder why they are not called "Homer Poles."
Remy is off on a tangent when word comes down from the "powers that be," that the yellow foul line in Fenway's center field is not a HR when the yellow line is hit but decided by "where the ball lands." So if it hits the line and bounces into the crowds or onto the lower level roof to the right of the line then it's a HR but if it lands in fair territory then it's playable or a ground rule double if the fielder is unable to field the ball or it touched foul territory before becoming playable.
Now that's odd, all these years of watching games at Fenway or on the Tube, you'd think that this had happened before and the rules pertaining to such a hit were well known by all. But nope, this was a first for not only me but even a Red Sox player/Announcer (Remy) as well.
Seems to me, they need to review this ruling with MLB and make sure everyone is in agreement. At the very least, the "yellow" foul line needs to be changed from yellow to some other gutless color to distinguish it from the "HR Poles" ... how bout something like "Black & White Pinstripes?"
Here's a link to the video and a recap of the play ...
m.mlb.com/news/article/194618836/andrew-benintendi-homer-reversed-ruled-double/
BOSTON -- Andrew Benintendi came inches away from his first career home run in just his second at-bat at Fenway Park.
In the fifth inning on Tuesday night against the Yankees, Benintendi drilled one to the exact point of the Green Monster that intersects with the lower wall in center field.
Full Game Coverage
If a ball hits the wall to the right of the yellow line, it is a homer. If it hits to the left, it is in play. Benintendi's drive actually appeared to hit off the line, and he pulled into second with a double.
But after the umpires met in the middle of the diamond, it was temporarily ruled a home run, and Benintendi completed his trot home from second to the roar of the crowd.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi asked for crew chief review, and he was granted his wish. Following a review of three minutes and 32 seconds, the call was overturned and Benintendi went back to second base.
Fortunately for the Red Sox, Benintendi scored later in the inning on an RBI double by Dustin Pedroia. Boston scored three in the inning.
According to Statcast™, the drive had an exit velocity of 102 mph and was projected to land 405 feet away from home plate.