Dave Roberts’ first ejection of the 2024 season was well warranted.
The play that triggered Roberts’ argument with umpire Hunter Wendelstedt led to a five-run Philadelphia Phillies outburst and changed Wednesday night’s game.
dThe Phillies trailed 4-3 when Brandon Marsh squared to bunt with none out and a runner on second in the top of the sixth. Dodgers third baseman Kiké Hernandez charged to field the ball, spun, and threw to shortstop Miguel Rojas, who was sprinting to cover third base.
Rojas’ glove tagged Alec Bohm’s sliding left foot before he reached the bag, but third-base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt called the play dead for obstruction. Bohm was ruled safe.
The Phillies scored five runs that inning and took a 7-4 lead.
“He got it wrong,” Roberts said after the Dodgers’ 9-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. “That’s just a fact. Umpiring is hard. They do a great job. Tonight, that play affected the game.”
The crew on Wednesday night had three calls challenged by the Phillies and each one was overturned. Unfortunately, obstruction is not a reviewable play.
Roberts was furious after the game telling reporters it was “an egregious missed call.”
Rojas had a similar opinion about the play. The 11-year veteran claimed Wendelstedt was “looking to be the hero.”
“I think this guy has seen this play a million times, and he just wanted some part of, I don’t know, part of a moment in the game,” Rojas said . “And it’s really sad that it changed the whole context of the game for us, especially the way that we’re playing right now, trying to win games. It’s unfortunate that an umpire can change the narrative of a game and a series.”
Major League Baseball asked umpires over the offseason to re-emphasize Rule 6.00(h) and call obstruction if they determine the fielder positioned himself to impede or hinder a runner’s path to the base before receiving the ball.
During this specific play, Rojas provided a clear lane for Bohm to slide into third but Wendelstedt interpreted the play differently.
“We’re still playing baseball and you have to let some of the greatest athletes in the world make plays,” Roberts said . “The rule was to deter guys from blocking the bag to potentially harm a baserunner who’s going in head-first. That’s the genesis of the rule.
“Miggy’s legs are spread wide once he secured the baseball. So there is a lane. If he was there in time. The ball beat him. There was a lane. He doesn’t know where the runner is going to be sliding. He’s trying to secure the baseball to then turn and make a tag. That’s it. It’s a baseball play.”
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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