Bitch ass play.
Should rightfully be dotted in the next game.
You think they'll do it right away or at a time when the game looks comfortably decided, one way or another?
It took a while after it happened, Joe Buck goes, "the more and more i look at it that seemed intentional." Ya think? Never really understood why people in the media are such bitches about calling shit like this out immediately. Another thing i guess i never realized is what a little turd Machado is.
Think Boston caught a break last night on the Altuve HR that got called back. Not really a definitive angle out there, but it sure looked like Mookie's glove was over the wall into the stands attempting to make that catch.
Think the Astros push this to 7 games but the Red Sox take it.
So is the rule that fan interference only applies to the field itself? If the play is over the wall, fans can do whatever they want?
I'm genuinely asking because the replay, to me, showed that Mookie was going to catch that ball and it honestly would have been one of the better defensive plays I've ever seen. I was bummed to be robbed of seeing that play.
I liked the call because it was, IMO, the far and away most likely outcome. Not only did the fans go for the ball, his glove was literally closed by a hand. If the rules are explicitly worded against that, however, I can see the frustration.
Here's the excerpt from the rule book:
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.
Now can the spectator do whatever they want- like swipe at Mookie's glove to knock the ball loose? I wouldn't think so, but given that the rule states "he does so at his own risk" it's hard to say exactly.
As far as him catching it being the most likely outcome, I don't think it's fair to make that assumption given the difficulty involved in making that catch from the "whip back" when the ball hits the glove, the impact with the fall, the wall, etc. We have seen plenty of players come down with that cleanly but we have also seen the ball come loose plenty of times as well.
The "No interference shall be allowed" phrasing sticks out to me. It was pretty clear that his glove was pushed closed (albeit inadvertently from the looks of it) by fans. Does that constitute interference? I would say yes.
I believe it is saying that interference will not be called when an OF reaches over the fence/railing/out of play to pursue a ball.