Iowa's Force Play Slide Rule Rule Double Play, Heller Ejected, Hawkeyes Lose to Illinois: A Review

When umpires called Iowa runner Kyle Huckstorf for a force play slide rule violation during an extra innings loss to Illinois, a call confirmed via video review, Hawkeyes manager Rick Heller was ejected. Let's discuss NCAA's rulebook, differences with MLB, and how a missing TV camera angle wreaked havoc. Article: www.closecallsports.com/2024/...
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[@CloseCallSports]

1:38 Balk.

[@XXelpollodiabloXX]

No way. You came to a full stop before delivery.

[@dfscott62]

@@XXelpollodiabloXX I dunno -- seemed like a start-stop balk to me :)

[@TroyVan6654]

​@@XXelpollodiabloXXIt's a "start and stop" balk.

[@michaelfalkner1186]

*all of us advance a base*

[@edibleapeman]

No runners on. No balk.

[@deankirkpatrick7658]

The following rules changes were approved by the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee and the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. All rule changes are effective with the 2023 season, unless otherwise noted: NCAA 8-4 2024 rules change: To allow in Force-Play-Slide Rule situations, that a runner must slide in direct line between his position and the base (not always in a direct line between the two bases depending on the runner’s position) and to allow judgment by the umpire to determine whether a runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid contact or is altering the play of the fielder. Rationale: This proposal is intended to alter the rule to preserve the safety and interference aspects but provide the runner the benefit of the doubt when safety and interference are not in play. (per NCAA : "provide the runner the benefit of the doubt when safety and interference are not in play. ")

[@zachansen8293]

Is a base actually wide enough to literally keep your entire body within the width of the base while sliding? I can't imagine any way that it is. edit: ok, it wasn't really talked about in the video, but the rules shown in the video say you have the width of the bag and the entire side of the base that the fielder isn't on. The only area you can't be is outside the bag on the fielder side.

[@sfan2767]

Are most people wider than 15" , no. Would you have to be completely rigid to stay within a 15" band, yes.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

Seems like something the rules committee thought was great in principle and didn't properly consider in practice

[@randominternet5586]

The rule is you have all the space towards the outfield in this case, as well as to the edge of the base towards the fielder, but you can't cross the inside line of the base too much into the grey zone on fielder side only. So basically if you are going to slide into or past the base - do it on the outside in this case. "A runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder" - a pretty basic safety rule in my view (I happen to like it). At these lower levels they don't want folks smashing into each other.

[@Desirsar]

@@sfan2767 How tiny are people where you are? 15 inches doesn't even cover my thighs together, not even close to my shoulder width.

[@zachansen8293]

@@sfan2767 you'd have to stay SIDEWAYS and rigid. My chest is way wider than 15" from shoulder to shoulder. And I'm reasonably baseball player that might be attempting a slide shaped.

[@stevenkeiser]

The Iowa player to me looked good perfect slide. I don’t believe the second baseman touch the bag, the first baseman didn’t have control of the ball. How could this play even be called as a double play.

[@thedoctor7949]

For what I see, foot was on bag, ball came, hit palm of glove, at the very same time he pulls his foot, ball lands in throwing hand, first point he had possession of the ball, foot was well off the bag at this point. I don't think it was a legal force out at 2nd.

[@anthonywaschow9409]

How much of the runner needs to be in the gray area for it to be called interference? Because it seems almost impossible to slide into a base without any part of your body entering the gray area.

[@wesleycampbellcaretto6942]

Not made clear in the video but it's only the gray area *occupied by the fielder* that the runner needs to avoid during the slide. So they can have the entire opposite side of the base line

[@OldManSurvival]

The fact that R1 slid directly into the base at 2nd is very clear (even from the 3High camera)! There is no way that any runner can collapse into a 15 inch path when sliding that is the size of the bases in NCAA. Just because R1’s lag was just to the left of the bases does not put him into the gray area on the diagram. I think the umps made a mistake here. I do agree with you the 1High camera angle would have been helpful.

[@michaelfalkner1186]

Yeah, I don't see a violation of the NCAA rule here -- they MUST have seen something High First to confirm it.

[@2639theboss]

Surely they give the umpires guidance about that 15'' path right? Like, you have to keep your legs in that space, or you have to have your center of mass, or something. I don't think it's physically possible to be 15'' wide in total.

[@randominternet5586]

CCS didn't fully explain the rule I'm realizing. You can't slide into the grey zone on the FIELDER side. You have as much space as you want away from the fielder. "A runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder". I think it's pretty clear he slid fielder side.

[@MwD676]

⁠@@randominternet5586 You are on to something. The runner must be totally within the 15-inch wide baseline, or slide “away” from the fielder. By entering the gray area where the fielder is protected (on the side of the base that the fielder is actually on), the runner has violated FPSR.

[@salange17]

@@randominternet5586 If the rule is literally that if any part of your body goes in the fielder-side-grey area at all, then yeah, I agree. But that's a ludicrous rule. Humans are wider than 15", so sliding straight into the bag will be a violation of that rule 100% of the time. You'd have to take a slide wide to the non-fielder side and then reach out with your hand or something, it seems like. The only sane interpretation to me is that sliding straight into the bag and having like two inches of your elbow happen to stick out into the grey is OK.

[@jonathonmedia8751]

KZbin brought me here because I watch Jomboy and I'm so glad it did. Your videos are 100times better and more insightful. Keep up the awesome work

[@1969EType]

Jomboy…entertainment purposes. Close Call Sports…educational purposes. Two great channels…two great purposes.

[@Figginsfan34]

The exception just before the blue you can read at 1:25 indicates that if the runner had done the same slide path but to the right (OF side) of the bag, he wouldn't have been in violation, right? You don't actually have to stay entirely in the white of the diagram, you just can't be in the gray and "in a direction not away from the fielder."

[@mattvorwald]

Correct

[@bentraudt]

Yeah, I don’t like this call, especially in this situation. My original umpire mentor once told me “calling it by the book can sometimes ruin the game.”

[@zachansen8293]

You call interference when you see it, you don't wait until later. And once you call it, you can't uncall it. And you can't call it after the play is over if oops you should have.

[@MyBiPolarBearMax]

Yeah, if you use that gray area rule, literally *every* slide is interference. The bases are still 15 inches in NCAA iirc so if you’re over a foot 3inches wide, you’ve interfered if they call it “by the rule book”

[@TheFizzster]

You can't suddenly not enforce the rules because it's towards the end of the game

[@DylanFoxy]

I'm surprised (I should not be surprised) by how difficult a lot of people are being about this. For one thing, yes, the video didn't do a great job of explaining the rule. "The fielder is protected in the grey area" on the diagram means that you can't slide into the player's side of the bag. He could have slid as far as he wanted into the outfield and it wouldn't have been interference. On top of that, EVEN IF the rule applied to both sides of the bag, the 'no person can fit in fifteen inches' is such a poor faith argument. That isn't what the rule says. The rule says (and, surprise, this is literally in the video) that the runner needs to make a "legal slide directly toward the base". That's clearly about where a person aims to slide. I agree with the video's two part conclusion: the replay we do have seems to show the runner sliding off the fielder's side of the bag, and the replay booth clearly had something conclusive given the 'call confirmed'.

[@deankirkpatrick7658]

read the rule. Close Call sports is using an old rule that doesn't include the 2024 updates. NCAA 8-4 2024 rules change

[@MyBiPolarBearMax]

IIRC, bases in the NCAA are still 15 inches wide. To say a runner has to slide within 15 inches (to stay in the gray area) is not possible. Everyone’s shoulder width is greater than that and by rule (if im understanding your explanation correctly), *every* slide is in that gray area and should be called interference by the letter of the book. Which, while making this a technically correct call, also makes it selective enforcement, which is way worse.

[@ACracing24]

Lindsay with a Chicago Blackhawks organist deep cut! I loved how it sounded in old Chicago Stadium. A very unique sound.

[@BobbyMinn]

I think the runner's oven mitt makes contact with the fielder's thigh.

[@Phaezen]

One of the situations where they should take a leaf from Cricket's playbook. The full review process is broadcast with all the footage the replay umpire is looking at.

[@ClipsofClips1]

This video starts with a lot of certainty and condescension only walk it back slowly and end on “we can’t know because there’s no camera angle”.

[@JPINFV]

1. You can slide into the gray area provided you either aren't the slide in the base line (the assumption is that the runner is point to point). So if the runner was going to round second and ends up sliding instead, that's acceptable. Also if the slide is away from the fielder. So in this case, if R 1 is sliding into the outfield side of the bag and away from the fielder, that would be legal. 2. You can clearly see on the 3rd base angle that the runner's feet do not go over the bag and is on the 3rd base side of the bag.

[@SteveJeantet]

What about the pretty clear piece where the shortstop never had possession of the ball on 2nd? Even if there is an interference per that rule, the SS is off the bag before he receives the incoming throw. I have safe at 2nd.

[@MwD676]

I see his foot on the bag as the ball enters his glove. It’s very close. But, both runners are still out on the violation anyway.

[@thedoctor7949]

​@@MwD676it entered the glove but he never caught the ball! Glove never closed on the ball. He caught the ball when it landed in his throwing hand and by that time, his foot was no longer on the bag. As the ball clearly starts to enter the glove, he MAYBE has a tip of his toe on the bag but, if you want the ball, it only hits the glove and bounces off. There was no control of the ball until it landed in the throwing hand and foot was no longer on the bag. Here is the rule: Legal tag A fielder must have complete control of the ball during and right after tagging a base or another fielder. If the fielder drops or fumbles the ball during or after the tag, it's not a legal tag. However, if the fielder tags the ball and then intentionally releases it while throwing, the tag is considered legal. He did not have complete control of the ball while his foot was on the bag.

[@MwD676]

The problem is with this interpretation of FPSR is that it is supposed to be a safety and interference rule. While the runner did not abide by the letter of the law and protect himself from being liable for FPSR violation (assuming he was actually out of the baseline and toward the fielder), he did nothing that would constitute interference or cause a safety concern. The broadcaster’s claim that he did not “make contact or affect the play” is very much part of NCAA’s FPSR. It’s just that it is part of the caveat of the illegal “rolling or cross-body” slide rule in 8-4c2. So, it doesn’t necessarily apply to simply being out of the baseline.

[@michaelstrauss3982]

Nice explenation. But unfortunately, the spirit of the rule is not fullfilled. No chance safety is an issue here. Terrible call by officials excersizing their ability to officiate. When common sense is ignored, everybody loses.

[@Briansgate]

I still dont see where he slid in the gray. I swear he looked like he went straight into the base.

[@tomciccarone]

If I’m seeing the diagram correctly, he slid within the designated path. There was a mention of the baseline - where is that in the diagram? I have zero skin in this game other than being a former player myself at Marist College. The most amazing experience in my baseball career was playing against LSU to open the regionals in 2005 in front of 10,000 people. This is insanity and Iowa’s coach has every right to be fired up.

[@rj7411]

So much better rules information than that drama channel with the lip reader. Hilarious but, we don't get the good stuff like we do here. Thanks CCS.

[@rayray4192]

He’s a clown.

[@Joe_Okey]

Can somebody please tell me how you can slide any more DIRECTLY to the base than this runner did??? This rule needs some MAJOR revisions obviously.

[@rickysampson8759]

Bad camera angle. They should release the ump camera

[@drdotter]

@@rickysampson8759 The ump had a bad angle, too.

[@zachansen8293]

even if other angles show it a bit more off, I'm guessing that they could look at just about every slide and find that a pinky toe goes outside the base line + base width.

[@Subangelis]

He was halfway off to the left side.

[@MwD676]

He must slide within the width of the base, or AWAY from the fielder. That is how the runner would not be liable for FPSR violation.

[@toddphipps5496]

Great job on this breakdown and explanation!

[@timothypalm4403]

Ump who called this just watched a slide rule compliance video and was itching to call it. Technically, he was in the grey area by a few inches but if he sat his butt on the base, he would be in the grey area. BTT elimination game is an odd time to get super ticky tack strict with a rule that is physically impossible to perform.

[@donh6416]

Maybe 4.a.2 is what U2 applied if the upper body of the runner was not in-line with the direct slide. Perhaps the upper body entered the gray area which the fielder was occupying.

[@busterellis7188]

His butt was literally on the bag. What an awful call. Also some players are bigger than second base. Imagine John Kruk sliding into second with this rule. He would violate both sides of the base.

[@chrisward280]

The very first angle the high third shows the runner going to the fielder side corner of the bag so I can see how his body would have gone into tat grey area.

[@joshnaudi]

Slow-Mo at 1:02 - I think the SS pull his foot early. Question for Lindsay and the CCS team. Could replay turn this into a safe at 2nd if he did pull his foot (Does it negate the slide rule violation) Also High 1st would have shown if he pulled his foot a little better.

[@MwD676]

If they deemed that the foot was pulled because of the interference, they could still call a double play even though no out was actually recorded by the defense.

[@jimlawton4184]

If it’s possible to request a video topic, there was a balk in the Tigers Jays game tonight I believe by gausman. Despite the technical difficulty it showed the balk and I was unable to determine the possible cause.

[@RaleyCreativeTravel]

Dang, I never saw the actual ejection, that’s the fun part 😂

[@nacoran]

I'm an old fart. When I was a kid they let middle infielders get away with phantom tags at the bag, but in their infinite wisdom, despite the fact they helped prevent injuries, one year they cracked down on it. I think it's time to bring it back. If you want to make it look more official, draw a box around 2nd. Make the runner have to touch the bag but let the fielder 'tag' second anywhere in that box. /Maybe get an artist to come up with some sort of way to make it look nice.

[@mikeziegler7008]

Even at the angle shown from 3rd... it seems clear enough to overturn. The runner slid straight into 2nd. For the record, I agree with you when you're correct. But in this case you're wrong so I must agree with me. ;-)

[@coreymadden2596]

This has been a bad year for umpires

[@chriss8981]

It appears that the runner's foot made contact with the bag on the slide which would indicate he was within the width of the bag?

[@rickysampson8759]

Just curious. Who writes all these rules and why don’t they rewrite them in plain English

[@teebob21]

In NCAA, coaches and ADs serve on the rules committee and write the rulebooks. You can quickly Google up the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee yourself.

[@firstname7330]

Bullshit call.

[@mattvorwald]

Actually the call was perfect. The rule sucks.

[@spencerclemens7555]

​@@mattvorwaldActually the call was not perfect and this is clearly a legal slide 😂

[@1NobleGiant]

Tough call. I think some common sense should be applied because his slide didn't affect the infielder (like the broadcast mentioned).

[@DarkLordofDnD]

As is often said in these videos, you won't find common sense in the rulebook. If the runner is even slightly out of that basepath, the umpire is required to make this call according to NCAA rules.

[@zachansen8293]

@@DarkLordofDnD basepath is irrelevant for this call, apparently.

[@CommonSense823]

⁠@@DarkLordofDnDthat’s a funny take. Considering the average base runners shoulders are wider than the base, considering it’s nearly impossible to slide with your legs under you and maintain that perfect 15” wide dimension, there is literally no way for an average or larger base runner to meet the requirements of this rule. Every force play slide would end up with this result in NCAA if umpires were actually “required” to make this call.

[@DarkLordofDnD]

@@CommonSense823 The rule is a crap rule. No argument here. I'm all for changing it. As an umpire, I don't get to change the rule on the field. Neither did these guys.

[@DarkLordofDnD]

@@zachansen8293 The problem is that the basepath is really to narrow for the rule to be written the way that it is. The rule needs adjustment, but the umps on the field don't get to make that call.

[@chipirwin6891]

Routine play. As usual umpires are always placing themselves in tough situations. The play was simply a no call. Let the players play. If it was obvious, then make the call. Umpires always have a hard time admitting they are wrong. Just keep it simple and know the magnitude the situation. What is terrible is that they look at replay and still make a poor judgement call. Happens all the time.

[@roymauler]

I don't care what any rule says. The runner slid into second. He made no contact with the fielder. They used to call that baseball. Baseball has degenerated into a parody of itself. The players on the field should decided the games with their play, not umpires looking for some odd way to fuck it all up. Flush please.

[@1969EType]

As written, the correct call was made. If you want to argue it’s a bad rule and should be re-written, that’s a separate conversation. An umpire is not permitted to only enforce the rules they agree with.

[@roymauler]

@@1969EType You can't explain how the call was correct any more than the original video did. Umpires routinely choose to enforce or not to enforce rules.

[@Jafiveon]

It's pretty clear the runner was in the restricted area on the infield side of second from the high home at 4:28. If he was in the outfield side away from the infielder it wouldn't have been called. I think she explained it pretty well with the exception that she didn't clarify that only the side of the bag the fielder is occupying is off limits. Good call per the rule book.

[@1969EType]

@@roymauler You are correct. I don’t need to explain anything because it’s all there in the video and Lindsay’s perfect explanation. The very nature of umpiring is simply calling what is seen and enforcing the rules as written. Do umpires make mistakes? Sure. Of course they do. But nobody calling a D1 College playoff game and above is “selectively choosing” which rules to enforce.

[@Dmoneyaka]

However, most of these players bodies are wider than the bag in the gray area. Since the base is only 18 inches wide. So technically they are already in the gray area even when running in a direct line. Let’s face it, umpires and refs are running games trying to enforce letters of rule versus spirit of the rules. Letter of the rule says they want players to run in a direct line within an 18 inch border. Spirit of the rule says we want you to run within these 18 inches but we know it’s impossible to do. So if you’re over an inch or 2 it’s ok. Imagine if cops enforced speed limits like the umpires did here and everyone got a speeding ticket for doing 36mph in a 35mph zone 😅

[@bigBEN_44]

Explain the shortstop not even touching the bag then.

[@provincialfish]

You've got to cover the end of the Orioles game tonight. No explanation of what happened, everyone is confused.

[@mrgold714]

With some angry Hawk sound bites 🤬

[@philshelton1828]

Is there a rule that umpires can use common sense? This call and the infield fly call between the White Sox and Orioles are clearly not the intent of the rule.

[@charlesbarber5157]

It’s a horrible rule, the fact that the batter/runner can be punished when there is no ability to get him out is ridiculous. The window rule is dumb and needs to be reworked

[@tsnide34]

Probably the right call per the rule. Just a very, very bad rule that should be embarrassing to anyone involved writing it.

[@johncaccamo]

So basically they got the call right because it was confirmed.

[@snakester9879]

This channel can always be renamed to: Broadcaster's class 101 and 102 HAHA

[@grife3000]

That's the dumbest rule I've seen yet. And I've seen a rule that allows designated hitters to hit for pitchers. You could call an automatic DP on every play.

[@OldManSurvival]

Agreed!

[@justinmartin9000]

It’s a safety rule. If you feel protecting the fielders from injury is dumb then tell that to Posey and Utley.

[@Jafiveon]

This is also college. Amateur athletes. I would expect some rules aimed at safety that go beyond the pros. All college sports have that kind of thing, no? Runner had the entire outfield side to utilize.

[@grife3000]

@@JafiveonAre you saying he only is blocked out of one of the gray areas? If so I take everything back. I was under the impression from the video he had to be inside a 15" lane through the middle of the bag which seems impossible given the size of a man's body.

[@Thanatos2k]

If you require a perfect view down the basepath to construct this thin "legal" line for a slide such that any camera angle that is not directly down the first base line insufficient to judge the legality of the play, why is the second base umpire who is clearly viewing the play from an angle as flawed as any of these TV cameras making the call? Shouldn't the first base umpire be the one required to stare down the line then? It's just a terrible rule and a bad call.

[@1969EType]

Great question but…no. This is U2’s call all the way and he gets a very good look at this play because he is right where he needs to be to see this and potentially the putout. Again, replay confirms this and it’s just a terrible technical gaff by the Big10 network that we don’t get that angle.

[@randominternet5586]

@@1969EType They also don't know the rule. Runner can slide on outside of bag, but cannot cross to the inside. He pretty clearly does here even in this view.

[@1969EType]

@@randominternet5586 They know the rule. No umpire working at this level doesn’t know that rule. I’m a high school umpire and I work private school leagues who have adopted the NCAA Force Play Slide Rule as a local modification to NFHS and we talk more about this rule than any other so, those guys up there working NCAA full-time know this rule or they are not working those games and certainly not a conference playoff game. You can say he didn’t use good judgement but, we don’t have his angle so, it’s moot.

[@Thanatos2k]

@@1969EType "he gets a very good look at this play because he is right where he needs to be" But he's not. He's at a 45 degree angle to the baseline, and according to this video any angle other than 0 degrees off the line means a viewer can't tell whether the runner slid perfectly straight or not.

[@Jafiveon]

@@randominternet5586 They were referring the the person you replied to I assume.

[@zachshaw951]

This is 100% an ump show call. If you want to be technical, you could make this call on every single double play. But you don't because the rule is SUPPOSED to be about safety. This umpire is dumb and applied the rule incorrectly. He earned his 5 minutes of fame for this one.

[@karenalfers1700]

Bullshit call. And what about the short stop player, he didn't even have his foot on the base. How much $ did Illinois slip the umpires. But Karma visited last night sending Illinois home. Kudos.

[@joshswanstrom5849]

How skinny do players need to be in order to stay out of the grey area?

[@OfficiatingBornVideos]

You slide away, you are just fine. He did not do that, it is a violation. Used to be a common rule that was enforced. And it usually was not this close when I umpired.

[@rayplaysgolf]

Iowa third baseman here, it gets crazier. In this video you can’t hear it but on the field, the umpire who made the call reviewed it, and said the call sta- I mean is confirmed during the actual game. Heading back home, my family had recorded the B1G tournament, the only game not available for rewatching was Illinois vs Iowa. 100% an ego call

[@suedesweffervescent]

Tough call man. Looked good to me 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@CloseCallSports]

This also happened with the Astros game when the pitcher got ejected for an illegal substance early in the game. The game archive video starts in the 4th inning AFTER it happened! Thanks for commenting.

[@rhettblair6186]

Is this guy an Illinois fan?

[@QuovatisPS]

What if the runner weighs 400 lbs and can't possibly keep his body in the base path/base? Seems pretty silly.

[@Thanatos2k]

Rule is awful. Almost every human is wider than that straight line and wider than a baseball base.

[@codnewbgamer]

You can miss on the open side of the bag…

[@FUGP72]

So many sports rules need to be looked at again and have common sense applies. People don't watch baseball to see calls like this. And this in no way protects a player. What if the shortstop was playing deep up the middle and is running directly at the bag in line with first to second base line as he is receiving the throw from the second baseman? Is the runner supposed to guess which side he is going to come off the bag on when he begins his slide?

[@CommonSense823]

Size discrimination. Grown men, running and sliding into a base, don’t fit in a 15” wide box at the bag.

[@Jafiveon]

It's a good thing he had the whole outfield side of the bag too since the fielder was on the infield side.

[@tloger]

But he did slide directly to 2nd bases…………

[@Jafiveon]

But that's not the rule. Half his body and arm were in the restricted area on the fielders side of the bag.

[@tloger]

@@Jafiveon Thats the problem. The area is so finite that no runner is that narrower. I would venture top say EVERY runner slinging into second will breach that shaded area. Theoretically you would need to call that every single time a runner slid to second. It needs to be reworded. The area provided to slide is so convoluted and narrow thats it’s literally impossible.

[@tubes-lut]

Haha best drawing ever !!!

[@jamesbillington9280]

Good freeking job! You are so smart, and thanks for posting!

[@jeffreymanestar5319]

Did he drift out of the baseline so he slid kinda at an angle out of the slide box? I dont get that at all. I didnt get the infield fly double play either because i dont teally know what the runner at second base should have done. He literally finds the ball, reacts and goes directly to the bag. . At the beginning u stated that Vaughn made a mistake. Im usually right with u on every single thing but im scratching my head at those 2.

[@jamescharles8663]

Terrible call! That was not sliding interference.

[@StevenBLevy]

The ump was right there, in position, and called the out fairly quickly (and sold it!). So I think it's reasonable to believe the ump saw the slide as more than an inch or two into the gray area. It may not be a wonderfully written rule, but it is the rule, and calling the violation - or not calling it - both seem supported by the rule.

[@randominternet5586]

You can slide in the grey area - I'm not sure why CCS didn't say that. You just can't slide on the FIELDER side of the bag. Seems pretty clear he was fielder side.

[@jeremysheppard4137]

It's not really talked about, but since this was a clear judgement call on the part of the 2nd base ump, positioning for the most proper judgement on that call, would be incorrect in the first place. It seriously took some walnuts to make that judgement call from a bad position... I guess he'd probably been through it before at some point and did it differently...

[@basedad]

Looked like the runner stayed in the base path to me. Can't believe that call on the field

[@carlsmith5749]

Either way, this is not a force play slide rule!! He slid in to second in a straight line and did not hinder or impede the throw! Bad call! Picking boogers at the wrong time!!😂😂⚾️⚾️

[@thedoctor7949]

I am more wondering if the SS or 2B actually had their foot on the bag when they caught the ball as in slow motion it looks like he pulled his foot just before the ball was in his glove as to try and get rid of the ball fast. Now he had his glove open and it HIT the glove but by the time he had actual possession of the ball after it bounced off the glove to his throwing hand, his foot was off the base. The glove never closed around the ball, it just bounced off and into his throwing hand and by that time, foot was off the bag.

[@jimwilliamson2120]

It’s hard to see the violation here and the ump who made the call didn’t appear to be have a better angle than us. It really looks like the runner went over the base and since he is more than 15” wide, some of him was in the gray area.

[@gturcott1]

These videos are great!! She is great

[@drdotter]

Petty AF call by the ump. It was too close to being a correct slide AND it didn't impact the play in the least. Sometimes, the best call is no call.

[@terryrose4804]

Who won?

[@gregarious119]

I disagree with the interpretation that “fielder is protected in the gray area” is equivalent to “runner may not enter or exist in the gray area”. Especially with the language in the rule that gives an exception for when the safety of the fielder is not an issue.

[@detroitrockcity8]

From the angles alone…all I can is; that’s tough. But it’s hard to say he mis saw when the play was maybe 8 feet in front of him. He’s RIGHT in the best keyhole for that slide to see everything. Replay confirmed i so have to give him credit for seeing it. Otherwise, this is a whole OTHER can of worms.

[@EvanEscher]

Seems like a bad rule more so than a bad call. The runner did slide slightly to the left of the bag, but his feet were pretty much aimed at the bag. NCAA should really use the MLB rule on this one.

[@1969EType]

Thank you for saying this. You are the only person who understands this…thank you.

[@rickikammerer9729]

Your basis for this call is flawed in one way very important way. Replay had High First and chose not show it to the public because it doesn't support their call or your argument. It's the only reason that camera angle would be withheld...the most important camera angle. Please don't try telling me they don't have it. Let's face it...we're looking at the same angle from High Home as the umpire on the field that made the field call....he's standing dead, smack in the middle of field.

[@RadianIndustries]

Rick Heller talks like someone who is always confused.

[@TeamHenson]

The problem with your assessment, well defined as it is. You make an assumption about a video you haven't seen and then enter it into the record as if it's fact. Unless make mistakes and it's okay to acknowledge that! This is one of them.

[@rogerszmodis]

Baseball has the dumbest set of rules in any sport. It’s not even close even football makes more sense.

[@garymorris1856]

I will be perfectly candid, I do not like Iowa, However, I am VERY knowledgeable about baseball, a former umpire and a graduate of umpire school, taught by major league umpires, and I have watched this played six times, and I do NOT see any interference. The Iowa baseball coach was correct in being angry about this. The baserunner going into second did nothing wrong, there was no contact with the infielder, and he made no attempt to interfere with the throw to first.

[@DylanFoxy]

neither of those things matter

[@garymorris1856]

@@DylanFoxy Yes, they do matter, the baserunner went straight to the bag, what interference did you see? (there wasn't any).

[@DylanFoxy]

@@garymorris1856 he was assessed not to have gone straight to the bag and the call was confirmed (likely with video we don't have), but that looks correct to me in the video. And my point is that your points "there was no contact" and "he made no attempt to interfere" do not matter. They are not part of the rules. The video clearly states that.

[@garymorris1856]

@@DylanFoxy I will not waste any more time with you. You are wrong.

[@DylanFoxy]

@@garymorris1856 lmao

[@mwconservative]

did the umpire get the high camera angle when he made the call? umpire inserted himself into the game….TERRIBLE look on his part…no matter what the so called camera shows.

[@cbets]

Oh this is a tough one, and I think perfectly illustrates the way baseball has trended in recent years. I really don't like this call, but is it the correct call by the letter of rule? Yes. And therein lies the rub. In the age of replay and everyone demanding absolute robotic type accuracy from umpires, this is the type of call you get. 100% correct by a literal accuracy standard, 100% wrong from a common sense game management perspective. But hey kudos to the umpire for making it and I mean that sincerely, as they are evaluated on a robotic literal accuracy standard. That said, I hate that we have lost the human and game management element of umpiring.

[@aaronbrown8083]

There was no reason to make this call. How could the umpire even see that angle clearly from his position? Absurd call.

[@bnegs521]

These incompetent umpires and replay officials do not need any more judgment calls when their 'judgment' is HORRIFIC

[@krusej23]

Everyone watching this game can tell you this call doesn't make any sense. The fact that the ump decided to make this call tells me he's an idiot because it's at the umps discretion and he should have seen that the defensive player wasn't making a play on the base so you don't make the call. The runner didn't cause any issue with the play in fact the player covering second base didn't even come close to touching 2nd base. Dumb call by a dumb ump and a dumb rule that is made by people that don't play the game. Simple as that.

[@CommonSense823]

More likely he had money on the game.

[@paulready8897]

What is the runner supposed to do, not slide and run over the fielder. Terrible call.

[@chrisjones3791]

The runner didn't even touch the 2nd baseball and the throw was not affected. The umpire and replay judge needs glasses. The runner slides into the baseline and touch the base. Illinois got help to beat Iowa and Illinois will be called cheaters because of the 2nd base umpire along with replay judge.

[@bnegs521]

That umpire and rule are RIDICULOUS.

[@bryceorcutt90]

Way to 100% blow this call. But when you have money riding on a certain outcome, I guess call it as is required to get your money.

[@RobZelinka]

I agree, the camera angle is very poor. That aside, you give the umpire the benefit of the doubt for what he saw and why he made the call he did. I would submit the real problem is the head coach also doesn’t understand the rules. He should read the rules just like the umpires are required to do.

[@bradylund2208]

The problem is it’s a shitty worded rule. The body is wider than the bag so every single slide ever could be called interference

[@CommonSense823]

Replay exists because giving umpires the benefit of the doubt has proven to be a bad idea.

[@kevinhamlin1561]

How do you know the coach doesn't know/understand the rule. Heller is one heck of a coach that knows baseball inside and out. My guess he does understand it, but is confused how his runner could be anymore in the basepath. Remember he has the 1st base dugout there, he was looking directly down the line.

[@RobZelinka]

@@CommonSense823 the replay confirmed the umpire made right call based on how the rule is written. Umpires don’t write the rules

[@RobZelinka]

@@kevinhamlin1561 in my experience working ball, the players, coaches do not have a good grasp of the rules or how they’re applied. In this instance he acknowledged not understanding how the umpire could make that call. The umpires call was evidently confirmed by a replay that wasn’t available in this video. All this aside, I think the college rule is poorly written. Just my opinion. I prefer the rule where as long as you can reach the base with your arm, leg, that is good enough for me

[@mwconservative]

ok, here is what we are actually looking at and you conveniently leave out. if you are going to apply the rule you are showing, then you would need to do it in 90% of all double play attempts. the focus of this rule is to prevent the runner from sliding to either side of the base as is allowable in other venues. this runner slid directly into the base….this rule was not meant to decide game outcomes…..it is physically impossible to get your entire body within the area of the base. people making rules who have no clue…..but umpires need to use their discretion in making calls….this umpire did not.

[@billredman]

The only high view of this call is that you must be high to think that this was interference. What it actually was did refs getting bribed.

[@danielcastiglione5328]

I think this a BS call, and your defense of this call is a joke. Tell me one college athlete that is only 15” or 18” (size of the base) wide? My shoulders are 24” wide. So you are telling me, it is physically impossible for me to slide in the safe zone. Part of your body is always going to be outside of the bag. This is why good umpires will say as long as part of your body is within the bag (safe zone) you are good. Common sense. Otherwise the rule is impossible to meet.

[@1969EType]

So, if I drag my pinkie finger through the edge of the baseline and in doing so wipe out the fielder than as an umpire I should allow that because after all “he kept a portion of himself in the baseline”? I agree the rule needs to be re-written but, your logic is not logical.

[@randominternet5586]

Your comment is the total joke. This is both an interference rule, but more importantly at the college level a safety rule. It's pretty simple. Slide at the bag, or you can go into the grey zone and totally miss the bag as long as you do it AWAY from the fielder. How fat are you that you can't slide with the bag to one side? NCAA *does not* want runner sliding into / near the fielder in these situations to avoid injury. Very few of these players will go pro, it's not worth the injury cost to have them smashing into each other. You and others pushing for the crash style play in lower levels of baseball have no clue as to the cost (very high in terms of injury) and benefits (very low) by just asking folks to stay away from the fielder.

[@danielcastiglione5328]

@@1969EType yes, that is correct. As long as part of your body is in the safe zone, you are legal. The rule does not say the full body must be in the safe zone. Just says you must slide in the safe zone. The way I was taught when I played in college and the way the umpires called slides, as long as part of your slide was in the safe zone you were good. This allowed for hook slides. For example, sliding into second on a SB we would slide to the outfield corner. Throws from the outfield we would slide to the home plate corner.

[@danielcastiglione5328]

@@randominternet5586 I understand why the rule is what the rule is. I am not questioning why the rule is put in place. What you are saying is every slide is in the gray zone. You cannot dispute the fact human bodies are wider than 15” or 18”. (I do not know if college has expanded the bags like the MLB.). When I played they were 15”. So my shoulders were 9” wider than the bag. Tell me with that fact, and how the rule is written, how can I physically do a legal slide?

[@randominternet5586]

@@danielcastiglione5328 Simple. You have the entire width of the bag, and you have all the space beyond the bag AWAY from the fielder. So when you slide in, instead of trying to slide into the fielder, slide on the other side and reach out to touch the bag from that side. This is 101 stuff. Why do you have to stay only in the 15" bag width. You get all of that PLUS all the space away from the fielder. What they don't want is folks like this guy sliding into fielder on fielder side. That is a no no.

[@Mr1soccerboy]

Umpires allow the play AS IS... NOBODY bats an eye. PERIOD!!

[@TheCpadron19]

It doesn't matter what the rules are, that was a horrible call. He slid straight into the bag, the runner would have been safe regardless of any of it. You trying to defend these umpires is a complete joke.

[@teewertz]

Another awful rule. They really need to add more space for leeway or bigger bags.

[@ModernCowboy78]

Broadcasters are the worst. Also that coach was to busy throwing a fit to understand the explanation.

[@tombarbee7669]

Terrible. Complete misrepresentation of what the rule was installed to do, which is protect the defensive player. It was not put in to gift an out on a non competitive play. This was bad on every level.