FTFA: The New York Yankees and Alex Rodriguez, whose double home run clanked off a television camera in the right-field corner and was ruled a home run in the first instant replay call in World Series history.

Fixed that for you.

the yankees still won

/stupid to put a camera in the Fair section - if they put it a few feet over in the Foul section there'd be practically no chance of a controversy and they'd still get the foul line shots. i say "practically" because in this post-season, who knows what the umps will conjure up

but but but... phillies in 5?!?!?!?!

KrmtDfrog: but but but... phillies in 5?!?!?!?!

He did say "6 if we're nice."

My favorite part of this story (aside from the A-Bomb from A-Rod) is the steady drum roll from sports media who are hankering for implementing some form of instant replay. Some talking head on espn actually said he wanted the Yankees to lose because of the botched Howard trap call that led to the double play in game 2 because costing a team the world series is the only way MLB will learn to embrace the 'modern marvel' of instant replay.

And with that obnoxious camera placement, the media, in their drive to cover the game and have the perfect foul line angle to second guess the umpires, actually interfered with the game more than any umpire.

How is it obnoxious camera placement? They've had cameras running down the foul lines in the WS for years, IIRC. This isn't anything new - the Fox cameramen didn't suddenly discover that there's a better shot right down the line. I suppose next we're going to blame the structural engineers who said to have railings around there? C'mon, enough already.

Well the Phillies wouldn't have to worry about wrong call and bad instant replay if their pitchers weren't giving up 3-0 leads, now would they? Can you guys run Cliff Lee out there fast enough or what?

The angle down the line is fine. Not sure if you realize it or not, but pulling the camera back 12-18 inches so it is behind the wall would not alter the angle whatsoever.

The two run homer hardly settled the matter. The bigger problems were that Cole Hamels demonstrated that he's easily flustered whenever something goes wrong, the bullpen has returned to suspect form and big guns like Howard and Ibanez are firing blanks.

CrackedEgg: How is it obnoxious camera placement? They've had cameras running down the foul lines in the WS for years, IIRC. This isn't anything new - the Fox cameramen didn't suddenly discover that there's a better shot right down the line. I suppose next we're going to blame the structural engineers who said to have railings around there? C'mon, enough already.

It seems a little suspect to have the camera sticking out past the railing. If the camera was 6" behind the railing, there would have been a lot less controvesy. I have no problem with the camera in the fair side of the foul line, but hanging over the railing was idiotic.

I agree that it was bad camera placement......what happens if the RF goes up to catch a ball and hits the camera on the inside of the fence (I know, it was too damn high for this to happen)? Is that "fan" interference, and everyone watching Fox has to turn off their TV?

I thought it was a HR before the replay, though. I'm glad they got the call right.

Stoopid Jankee.

Nefarious: Apparently according to the crew chief and Charlie Manuel. It is in the ground rules that if a ball hits a camera it is a home run. Sorry Phillies fans it wasn't a judgment call it was a clear ground rules call.

While you are correct, in my opinion there is no reason to allow cameras on to the field of play. They don't need to be there to get good coverage.

Man, I want the Phillies to win too, but saying that HR is disputed is the least of my worries. Hamels again failed to control himself after giving up that HR. Even though it's only 2-1 right now, it almost feels like it's over the way the Phils are playing.

And it was sad to see Chase end his streak last night too. He was close to a walk a few times, but oh well.

It's rally time now! Hopefully they'll come back and win tonight.

That game was the first time in a long time that I listened to Buck & McCarver. I was fooled for a few innings, as McCarver actually seemed to have decent insight. He had interesting and informative points about Hamels' curveball, Swisher's batting practice (and surprise placement in the lineup) and how Pettite was almost always pitching lefties away.

And then they spent two batters talking about how a couple of the Phillies liked bowling, and how one of them had bowled a 298. The illusion was finally broken.

/facepalm

Wow this thread seems full of stupid.

The ball was going to get over the fence withou tthe camera when you look a tthe side angle. It was close, but I think it woulda made it.

That said, the Phillies need to get that camera the fark out of there so this bull shiat doens't happen anymore.

Instant replay is a good thing when it's used right, but has anyone else noticed that with the rise of instant replay has come a steady decline in the number of available USEFUL camera angles? It's like they want us to think replay doens't do much when in relity they're putting the camera in stupid places (ie: NOT the goal line, or hanging over fair territory) that don't help to make the judgement call they're there for!

MrCab covers it. The ball was close but it probably would have cleared. Oh well, on the home run.

The issue I have with it is the whole 'We discussed it and knew we'd count the camera like that.' I'm sorry but based on the great umpiring we've seen, I'm supposed to believe that they planned for that (with the exception of telling the coaches about how they were going to rule until the fluke happened).

/why can't they just admit that they made up the rule on the fly
/Go Phillies

MrCab: Wow this thread seems full of stupid.

The ball was going to get over the fence withou tthe camera when you look a tthe side angle. It was close, but I think it woulda made it.


TheManofPA: MrCab covers it. The ball was close but it probably would have cleared.

the rule is like the NFL review rule. it has to be 100% CLEAR evidence to overturn the ruling.

"i think" and "probably" aren't 100%, and i doubt the umps saw anything we didnt

if they actually had the supposed conversation where they said "hey, if somebody happens to hit that camera hanging out over the wall, we're gonna make it a homerun" then the ruling is fine, but as some one has already said, with the crappy work of these umps so far, i find no reason to believe they actually had that much forsight.....

regardless, the yanks win 6-5 without that homer, so it isn't game changing, but i still hate the whole thing

What the Phillies and their fans have failed to realize is that Andy Pettitte played in the National League and is no stranger to a nice, fat, slow curve ball. Sorry to say, the bravado exhibited by Lee in game #1 could not be repeated by Hamels in game 3. Not to mention the bullpen coming in and giving up big hit after big hit to the role players. Weaknesses have a way of surfacing in a 7 game series as do trends and last night was a typical Yankee win in 2009.

All year the Yanks have gotten it from a different place. Last night it was Swisher, Pettitte and Matsui. Tonight it will be Gardner, Cano and Robertson.

/Howard is the Philly fail

liquid duane-o: regardless, the yanks win 6-5 without that homer, so it isn't game changing, but i still hate the whole thing

Not to mention it would have been second and third no out even if it was ruled a double.

medic2731: So, can anyone find a bird's eye view of the camera getting hit by the ball? Would be cool to see it!

ESPN was airing one today with the ball lit up like how Fox used to do the glowing puck during playoff hockey.

Here's video:

mlb.com (new window)

If only Cliff Lee could pitch every game.

medic2731: While the camera WAS nice, the Yanks still won by 3, one more than if you disallowed the home run. But the best stat so far has to be this one:

Ryan Howard is the first player to strike out seven times within a two-game span in the World Series.

Gotta love it!

Yanks in 7, although I would prefer 6

Yankees in 6. No way the Phillies win tonight with that beggar Blanton against Sabathia. Phillies will take game 5 with ease with Cliff Lee pitching. Then the Yankees win a close game 6 at home to close the series.

Wise_Guy

One out. Point taken, however.

Please Philly fans, complain about a camera crew error in your own stadium that went in the yankees favor. It would be hilarious. So much for home field advantage.

vinnydoz007: Please Philly fans, complain about a camera crew error in your own stadium that went in the yankees favor. It would be hilarious. So much for home field advantage.

Or biatch about the park like Hamels did after the game. He called A-Rod's homer a "pop fly", but there's no way that's an out in a bigger ballpark. It was a rocket.

Schmee: Wise_Guy

One out. Point taken, however.

Right. My bad.

erupt2001: If only Cliff Lee could pitch every game on three-days rest.

FTFY.

You knew Hamels was done after that 3-2 pitch was called a ball and Hamels barked about it. He is about as cool as the sun and just fell apart after that. When it happened I turned to my buddy and said, "Here comes a homerun." Wish I had that kind of foresight with everything.

/ Phillies need to win games 4 and 5 to have a chance
// Please Please Please

well, not to be over dramatic or anything but tonight is a sort of a must-win for Philly.
If the Yankees win tonight, they'll have zero pressure heading into tomorrow against Lee with the cushion of 2 games at home. Meanwhile, a Philly win tonight would mean Philly winning despite the most lopsided pitching advantage for the Yankees of this series (CC vs Blanton) and would be a HUGE momentum swing.

Bad call. From the trajectory it wouldn't have cleared the wall. But it's the Yankees so they get the breaks.

Bertsura: Bad call. From the trajectory it wouldn't have cleared the wall. But it's the Yankees so they get the breaks.

1) yes it would have
2) doesn't matter. The official call (whether predetermined or made up on the fly as some are accusing) was if it hits the camera, its out
3) the "its a conspiracy to let the Yankees win" line starts over there. Two sheets of tin foil per customer, please

Well, from the trajectory it would not have cleared the wall. But that really isn't the issue, they decided before the game if it hit the camera it would be a homerun. I saw on ESPN this morning that the camera was out of place, and will be fixed tonight. The issue is not telling the managers and allowing the camera to jut out into fair territory.


I think it was bs, i guess the only thing worse then an ump blowing a call is a nameless faceless cameraman being an important factor.

I think it is pretty clear from the side angle shot that the ball would have either cleared the wall of bounced off the wall into the stands. I think the liklihood of it falling back into the field are pretty low.

Either way, as said they decided beforehand it would count as a homerun so what can you do. They can't change their mind later to hurt A-Rod.

mainstreet62: Brostorm: The issue is not telling the managers and allowing the camera to jut out into fair territory.

Totally lame, weak ass excuse.

I completely agree, but it is either this or I throw my tinfoil hat on and buy into the conspiracy.