Posey & The Steal: Homecooking or Comedy of Errors

Mark Bowman writes a good blog on the Braves website: Click here to read it!

Homecooking?! You decide!

When Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants stole second base in the 4th inning in Game 1 of the 2010 National League Division Series between the hometown Giants and the Atlanta Braves, replay shows Atlanta second baseman Martin Prado tagged Posey's midsection before the runner touches the bag. Umpire Paul Emmel, who covered second base that night, incorrectly ruled the play 'safe'. Subsequently, Posey scored on a basehit in the same inning, and the Giants defeated the Braves by the 1-0 scoreline. Before we get into issues of replay and challenges, why not consider the following:

1) The Throw

When picking off a runner, who attempts to steal a base, the catcher delivers the ball in close proximity to the right of second base. In this manner, the second baseman or shortstop catches the ball directly above the closest portion of the base the runner attempt to touch (From the catcher's viewpoint). However, in the Posey play Braves catcher McCann throws the ball too far to the right, and forces Prado to bring the ball back across his body to apply the tag.

2) The Umpire

In any play involving a runner attempting to steal second base, the umpire is already standing at four o'clock position relative to the base. Here are a few examples I found on MLB.com :)

a) Molina (TEX) catches Izturis (LAA) stealing
b) Wieters (BAL) catches Jennings (TB) stealing. The throw forces the shortstop to catch across his body, but he applies the tag at the runner's foot, and the umpire gives the benefit of the doubt. If you remain on the link, MLB.com provides other similar examples of runners being caught stealing.

During Posey's steal attempt, the umpire is running with haste towards the bag to get a good view. When you weigh in McCann's throw, the umpire's vision obscured by Posey's body, and Prado's unusual tag you have a recipe for disaster.

2) The Score

Whatever the Giants do on offense has no bearing on the Braves' offensive performance. San Francisco's starting pitcher Lincecum threw a complete game shutout and struck out fourteen Atlanta Braves' batters; it would be difficult to argue the blown call at second base led to the Braves losing the ball game.

3) McCann catches Huff

If you saw Giants' runner Aubrey Huff in the eighth inning caught stealing by McCann, then that is the proper technique for catching stealers at second base.

For more on this game and others, check out this link to the photo gallery and MLB.com