This Is A Ball.

To the untrained eye, this pitch may look like a perfectly placed strike- what should have been the third strike to end Navarro's at-bat in the 8th. But to homeplate umpire Dan Iassogna, this is a ball.

Despite the odd strike zone, Clay Buchholz still managed to turn in a masterful performance - and the Sox lineup failed to back him up with a masterful performance of their own.

Silver lining of last night's loss: Youkilis broke Stuffy McGinnis's nearly 86-year-old major league record for most consecutive errorless chances (1,700) by a first baseman. Youkilis' total now stands at 1,701, plus he holds the major league record for most consecutive games without an error for a first baseman at 205 and counting.

image credit to RedSoxInIsrael from SoSH




Comments (8)

[ Lindsay ] says:
on April 27, 2008 12:58 PM

Definately a PERFECT pitch. That umpire got me so pissed off last night! First off, he should have thrown Iwamura out for arguing earlier in the game, and that would have erased his homerun, and then he called that damn pitch a ball! grrr.



[ Liza ] says:
on April 27, 2008 1:15 PM

Linday, I'd disagree. If he threw Iwamura out, he'd have had to throw Lugo out as well, and the Sox might have been in deep shit if they ended up with no infielders on the bench.

Although I definitely agree on the perfect-pitch part. It did occur to me, though--is the ball actually in the strike zone, depth-wise, in that screencap?



[ Liza ] says:
on April 27, 2008 1:16 PM

*Lindsay. Whoops, sorry.



[ Lindsay ] says:
on April 27, 2008 1:25 PM

YEah, but Lugo didnt rly argue as much, he seemed more civilized when he was arguing. but iwamura was more up in his face, but then again i dont know what Lugo said to him, so i cant necessailry say that he was more civilized.

but if Lugo did get thrown out, they could move Youk to third, Jed to short, and Moss to first.



[ Meghan ] says:
on April 27, 2008 1:47 PM

Arguing is always subjective...there are no set guidelines for a player getting thrown out, the umps just need to be somewhat fair. However, there are guidelines for a strike- over the plate, between the letters and the knees. So it's clear where the error was made yesterday.

And we would like to avoid having Moss play first until he gets more familiar with the position...in Pawtucket. He'd work in a pinch, but they would prefer for that not to occur.



[ christa ] says:
on April 27, 2008 2:10 PM

that pitch is gorgeous. that ump must be taking bribes. even big z couldn't bring something that perfect



[ Jordan ] says:
on April 27, 2008 4:26 PM

I have always had a problem with that umpire. When ever he is behind the plate for the White Sox it is a given that Ozzie will be ejected and the Sox will love. Must be that Dan Iassogna hates any team that has the word sox in its name.



[ christa ] says:
on April 28, 2008 12:53 AM

probably. the man is obviously a douchebag




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