I was watching the Florida vs Southern Miss Super Regional match-up last night when a very interesting thing happened.

Pinch-hitter Kyle Maxie lifted a fly ball into shallow right, and third-base coach Chad Caillet had Stevens tagging and testing Jonathan Pigott’s arm. Pigott’s throw was perfect and had Stevens beat by 10 feet. Stevens, though, barreled through catcher Buddy Munroe and immediately was ejected by umpire Paul Guillie. – ESPN

I have a problem with how this was dealt with.  First off, yes in amateur baseball your suppose to slide and try to avoid contact, ok no problem there we all know that.  When the catcher is up the line, which in this case he clearly was, you have every right to blow through him because you have no other option unless you want to retreat (pointless).  The umpire overreacted with the decision probably not even thinking about the fact the catcher was up the line.  When will college umpires realize that at this point in a baseball career you must accept your actions and if you are willing to stand up the line, the runner has every right to blow through you.  Of course in the professional ranks the runner can blow through you no matter what but we are talking about blocking the line NOT standing on the plate or just in front.

/rant

Filed under: Rants & Raves, Sports by Jon