MLB, umpire: Call against Rays' Aybar was wrong

ST. PETERSBURG — Upon further review, umpire Doug Eddings was wrong about the controversial obstruction call involving Willy Aybar in Sunday's game at Chicago.

Mike Port, MLB's vice president of umpiring, told the St. Petersburg Times on Thursday that it was "a missed call" and that in making the split-second decision, Eddings thought he saw runner A.J. Pierzynski "impeded more than he was" by Aybar, the Rays' third baseman.

"Looking back at that occurrence, for the first and last time, it was a missed call," Port said. "And it was not because Doug Eddings, an umpire with 10 years' experience and 10 before that in the minor leagues, didn't know the application of the rule, but just that in the moment in applying the rule, he saw something he thought was more than it turned out to be."

Pierzynski, in a rundown between second and third in the 10th inning, stuck out his left elbow at Aybar. Eddings ruled there was obstruction and awarded third base to Pierzyn- ski, who later scored the winning run for the White Sox.

Port said that after watching replays, Eddings was "the first to admit" he was wrong and said so to MLB officials who regularly review controversial plays. There is no recourse, however, for the Rays.

Comments on this article

by Kathleen	Aug 31, 2008 9:20 AM
Pierzynski knew what he was doing. Time for a little justice.

by Ed	Aug 31, 2008 9:20 AM
Mike: Review the call how? If you are talking about instant replay review, there is no procedure in place at this time to review any call.

by John	Aug 31, 2008 9:18 AM
Time to review and reverse??? What was he supposed to review, his memory?

by Andre	Aug 31, 2008 9:18 AM
Poor officiating all over this year espacially. But my main concern is to see 12 or 13 thou. in the stand with a great young team. What' wrong with you Tampa Bay fans.If you want to keep your team show up at Tropicana.

by Rodger	Aug 31, 2008 9:18 AM
I guess if your a blind idiot MLB has umpire jobs available for you.

by Techno	Aug 31, 2008 9:18 AM
How do you know which horse wins the Derby? (Or even which Presidential candidate?) Baseball's in a league of its own & a century (at least) behind.

by BOB	Aug 30, 2008 2:43 PM
I have to laugh. A missed call, big deal. It's happend before and will always happen. These bloggers complain but couldn't make a call if their life depended on it. The umps do a great job and like ALL of us they sometimes make mistakes.

by Les	Aug 30, 2008 2:39 PM
It's nice to know that controversial plays are reviewed by major league baseball, especially ones that affect the games outcome. Video replay is a must for these kinds of calls. Football is in the lead on this.

by Rich	Aug 30, 2008 2:36 PM
I agree he game was lost the inning before when Riggans missed the tag at the plate, but its nice to see the umps 'man up'. ... now if somebody would just own up to the even worse call on Upton, I would REALLY feel good about things.

by baseball coach	Aug 30, 2008 2:34 PM
Doing a course of a 162 games the umpires are going to blow a call or 2. Hopefully, not the outcome of the game. In this case it may have. I guarantee at some point during the season the rays might have stoled one as well due to a bad call.

by Hunter	Aug 30, 2008 2:32 PM
couldn't agree with you more, Mike

by Mike	Aug 29, 2008 6:42 PM
"Split second decision?" How about the split second conference after Mr. Maddon took issue with the umpire? There was time to review and reverse the call. Don't hand us that "split second" BS.

by Doug	Aug 29, 2008 4:23 PM
The game was lost the inning before when Riggins dropped the ball. It should never have gotten to that run down.

by baseball is boring	Aug 29, 2008 4:20 PM
Who cares they only get 50 fans a night anyway.

by Scott	Aug 29, 2008 3:59 PM
Dave, great logic. So, no matter how bad the refs screw up, you always had a chance to win despite the ref's screw up? Thanks for allowing this Dave. That sounds fair. Jeez.

by Wes	Aug 29, 2008 3:58 PM
And the call cost the Rays a game in the standings. How do they get that back?

by Dave	Aug 29, 2008 3:44 PM
Actually, you cannot say that one call cost the Rays the game. They missed plenty of opportunities to win it before it went to extra innings. You cannot focus on one play and say the umpires cost them the game. The game is 9 innings long, not 1.

by mr bill	Aug 29, 2008 3:23 PM
aybar was at fault. if you do not have the ball get out of the way because this is the stuff that happens. all he had to do is run a couple of feet to his left and none of this would have happened. he crowded the runner and paid the price.

by chad	Aug 29, 2008 3:18 PM
Well its about time. It would be nice if they would admit a screw up on the B.J Upton call also because that might have been an even worse call.

by Derek	Aug 29, 2008 3:16 PM
There's only one E in judgment people!

by Mike	Aug 29, 2008 10:23 AM
Finishing the game under protest wouldn't have done anything. It was a judgement call on the field, and you cannot dispute a judgement call; only the application of a rule.

by Marty S.	Aug 29, 2008 10:23 AM
A.J. did exactly what every pro player (INCLUDING THE RAYS) is taught from high school on up when caught in a rundown - SEEK OBSTRUCTION. He executed his embellishment perfectly and at exactly the right spot - right where Eddings had the worst angle.

by David	Aug 29, 2008 10:23 AM
A call that instant replay (especally on the jumbotron)would have caught and corrected on the spot instead of a "darn" "I'm sorry" later.

by Hardhat0038	Aug 29, 2008 10:23 AM
Why do you fools care about a team you won't go support,.. Tampa sucks for sports fans. period.

by bigbbfan	Aug 29, 2008 10:23 AM
Well Hallelujah!!! Finally somebody is ready to admit that the umps can make bad calls. Too bad an apology didn't come from Eddings himself. At the least Aybar deserves that.

by Duh	Aug 29, 2008 10:23 AM
Instant replay will fix this from now on.......oh wait, it's only for determining questionable home runs. GENIUS!!!!

by Randy	Aug 29, 2008 10:23 AM
It just may be a conspiracy theory that MLB would not want the Rays in the playoffs due to money as John says. So stop droning on about getting screwed, go out, buy a ticket, and put 30,000+ in the stands and get it over with... Geez....

by David	Aug 29, 2008 10:22 AM
Being that you hardly ever hear an umpire admit they're wrong, while I hate the call I find it refreshing to see his admission. I'd love to see the same thing over BJ Upton's controversial call.

by djrayy	Aug 29, 2008 10:22 AM
WITHOUT UMPIRES? , you would not have had Lou Pinella throwing bases or kicking dirt, George Brett charging out of a dugout,Earl Weaver bumping chest , or Billy Martin running around like a wild man. You can go on and on! We all love it. PLAY BALL!!

by bob	Aug 29, 2008 10:22 AM
the balls and strikes calls against the rays are routinely even worse than these two recent on-field calls - they should do a study after the season, so as not to further get the umps' panties in a bunch while we're still in it

by John	Aug 29, 2008 10:22 AM
Oh...by the way, we were still in trouble in that inning and no guarantee that they don't score anyway. Our bigger concern should be how to keep them in Tampa Bay if people don't start showing up at the Trop(one of the worst stadiums in baseball).

by Pete	Aug 29, 2008 9:24 AM
This is more than I expected. Too bad they can't throw a red flag on close plays like the NFL. Give them two per game. That should include HR's and fouls.

by duh	Aug 29, 2008 9:23 AM
If one bad call is why we miss the playoffs then we didnt deserve to be there in the first place. I think the rays will walk in. especially now that Beckett is sidelined and going to see dr andrews.

by John	Aug 29, 2008 9:23 AM
Calls are missed in nearly every game.We are not getting screwed,umps are human.The interpretation of the rule is correct,if there is contact and the runner is obstructed he gets the next base.Players are taught to look for contact,but there was none

by Jan	Aug 29, 2008 9:23 AM
That mistake-the last out-cost the Rays the game just the way the MLB wants it. "Ooops we made a mistake too bad you lose" says the MLB. They DON'T want the Rays in the playoffs. More of these kind of mistakes will follow until end of season.