Joe Torre, MLB’s executive vice president of baseball operations, issued a statement regarding the overturned umpires review of Rule 7.13 during Wednesday’s game against the Reds.
It was a play where Pirates catcher Russell Martin fielded a throw from Stolmy Pimentel while his foot was on home plate to complete a force out at home. The umpires went to a review and the officials in New York City ruled Martin was in violation of Rule 7.13 (The illegal blocking of home plate). Because Martin’s foot was on the plate before the throw arrived, he was in violation of the rule even though he was able to get out of the way before the runner slid into the plate.
Torre later reviewed the video and stated that Martin was not in violation of Rule 7.13.
“[Wednesday] night’s play at home plate was one of the most difficult calls that our umpires have faced this season, given that the positioning of the catcher at home plate was necessary to record the force out,” Torre said. “After evaluating the play and the details of the review, we recognize that this play was not the type that should have resulted in a violation of Rule 7.13.”
“The goal of Rule 7.13 is to prevent egregious home plate collisions, and despite how challenging these situations can be, we have made important progress in accomplishing that goal.”
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle went out to get an explanation of the call and was ejected. Once back in the clubhouse, Hurdle called Torre to discuss the call.
“I was on the phone with Joe,” said Hurdle. “What I will tell you is we’re still working our way through finding what is and what isn’t obstruction at the plate.”
Martin believes that the new rule is beneficial to the health of a catcher, but it can still be adjusted for the correct purposes.
“I think it’s better for the game,” said Martin. “It’s going to protect the guys that are coming up next and it’s going to reduce a lot of unnecessary blows to the head to a lot of key players, but then there’s this play. You don’t know everything that’s going to happen until you go through it and we’re at the beginning stage and there’s going to be adjustments that have to be made and I feel like that’s one of them. It’s nice for them to reaffirm what I believed was a missed call.”
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(Photo Credit: Joe Sargent/Getty Images North America)
