Bucknor (S, 1): Interference call preserves Phillies win

With one out and men on the corners, Marlon Anderson's takeout slide was correctly ruled interference by second base umpire C.B. Bucknor, resulting in the third and final out in the Phils’ 3-2 win over the Mets.

In what's turned into the wildest series of the season, the Force was again with the Phillies. Endy Chavez would have scored from third and Tadahito Iguchi’s throw would have never been in time to double up Shawn Green's slow roller. Replays showed Anderson did in fact cheat and go up high with the body. The actual save went to Brett Myers, his 13th and possibly 13th best, but Bucknor earns the Beerleaguer save for making the correct call in the heat of battle.

Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins both homered. The wacky ending overshadowed a solid night of pitching by Jamie Moyer (12-10), who allowed eight hits, two runs and stuck out four in six innings of work. J.C. Romero, Tom Gordon and Myers each worked scoreless frames, with Bucknor earning the assist for the last one.

With the win, the Phils drew to three back of the Mets in the NL East. They try for the four-game sweep tomorrow afternoon. More tomorrow ...

Note: Bucknor was involved in an identical game-ending, first-and-third, one-out interference play at second in a 2004 game between Detroit and KC. Thanks to alert reader Burt for the heads up.

Comments

[Ben Rivera]

So that makes 1 game saving call for us and 1 against us by Bucknor this year correct? Wasn't he the umpire who called Carlos Lee safe at first in Houston?

[Billy Mac]

That was clearly interference. Stupid baseball by Marlon Anderson. This wasn't a gimmee by Buckner.

[Sad Panda]

Barksdale made the Lee call.

[RutgersESQ]

Willie was interviewed after the game. He kept saying that Anderson swiped his foot with the bag. When he was asked about Handerson having his hands up, Willie deflected the question by stating that Anderson had a foot on the bag. However, a little research on baserunners interference shows there is no language in the rulebook that is available to the public that prohibits a runner from using his hands to avoid a tag or any other reason. It is, however, outlined in the supplemental rulebook given to umpires in section 6.1. It reads: "While contact may occur between a fielder and runner during a tag attempt, a runner is not allowed to use his hands or arms to commit an obviously malicious or unsportsmanlike act--such as grabbing, tackling, intentionally slapping at the baseball, punching, kicking, flagrantly using his arms or forearms, etc. to commit an intentional act of interference unrelated to running the bases."

Anderson all but tackled the 'gooch. Umpires made the right call.

[Ben Rivera]

Oh right, my fault.

[Billy Mac]

Good research RutgersESQ. Again, Buckner didn't "save" this game. He did his job.

[Crazy Jon]

Marlon Anderson's "slide" was as egregious a play as the one where A-Rod slapped the ball out of the 1st baseman's glove in the playoff against the Red Sox.
In both cases, the boys in blue got it right.

[Mr. Mac]

That ending could be the Met's version of the Chico Ruiz play. That may be the thing they end up looking back on, where it all went wrong. Wouldn't that be ironic.

Might be the strangest play I've ever seen that ended a game. Strange occurances at CBP the last 2 nights. Rowand's swingin nubber staying fair, and now this. The Met's are doing their best Phillies impression. Couldn't have come at a better time. Could be the full moon.

I guess it should go under the heading: Walk Off Interference.

[Ben Rivera]

Can someone inform the young folks about the Chico Ruiz play?

[AFish]

My understanding is that the issue with Anderson was not that he went outside the line. Rather, it is that Anderson went into Gooch with his upper body and his extended arms. It was very similar to the Ruiz call.

[Glennbo]

Quick question... anyone know how many roster spots are added in September?

[J. Weitzel]

AFish: I thought I read he was outside the line. I'll take your word and clarify.

[RSB]

Terrific and timely find by Burt on the previous thread, about Bucknor being involved in an identical game-ending interference play in a 2004 game between Detroit and KC. It also features an ironic historical twist: that same interference call 'gathered steam' largely thanks to roll-blocks by Hal McRae in the '77 ALCS. The second baseman he went after twice in that series? Willie Randolph.

[timr]

he was outside the line AND he reached out and pushed Iguchi.

the pushing motion of the arms put it over the top--it was obviously the right call.

[Phillieanthropist]

Totally the right call on the slide, as impartial and honest observers alike are attesting.

Two thoughts, though, on the umpiring over this series and the over the past year against the Phillies.

1. The Phillies have been subject to some pretty bad calls over the past two years, and they've not really complained to the degree we're seeing from the Mets. Last September, if I recall correctly, Utley got robbed of that homer and there was little, if any, argument. The non-call dealt a serious blow to their pennant hopes, and they basically took it in stride. They seem to understand that bad calls are an unfortunate part of the game.

2. Within this series, there have been some pretty bad calls and some unusual calls going both ways, but the Phillies generally seem to disagree and go about their business. The Mets, on the other hand, start chirping and displaying disgust. Wright, Delgado, LoDuca, Beltran and Perez have all been big offenders in that regard. And of course Anderson and Randolph on that last play started crying, and I thought the umpires were going to convene and overturn (smart move by our boys to shake hands and hit the dugout).

At any rate, the Mets' conduct this series in regard to the umpiring suggests to me a team running scared and looking to scapegoat. I am trying to stay balanced and optimistic with regard to the Phillies' chances, but I feel like we're in a good position with a month left. I'll feel that way until we're in or mathematically eliminated.

[J. Weitzel]

Thanks RSB for the relay. It's going in the header.

[J.R. King]

This stat might get lost in our euphoric haze, but it deserves to be mentioned:

Reyes and Castillo are 2-for-25 in the series.

Weitzel called it before the series began: As Reyes goes, so go the Mets. Lets see if Kendrick can keep him off base tomorrow.

LET'S GO PHILS!!

[The Theory]

also lost in the shuffle is how the last post also topped 700 posts... the second game in a row to do that.

[Jon]

Awesome, awesome, win!! You need these kind of things to happen in order to win a division. The 40 footer last night, and now the Anderson take out slide tonight! It's amazing that this is the same team who coughed up 2 of 3 to both San Diego and LA.

Interesting insight, RSB.

The blood is in the water. The Muts seem uninspired. Unprepared. Almost dead. Let's go for the kill!!

[Mike H.]

Give me a few seconds for the Chico Ruiz play, please.

[Chstk of Sffrng]

Just to continue my current obsession, SportsCenter must have reviewed the frakking Yanks-Sox game about four times. Yes, of course, they showed the Phils-Mets highlights, and Stuart Scott got a little excited over the ending, but they barely gave it that much more attention than your average Royals-Rangers game. Ugh. ESPN has more and more turned into the Yankees Home Network.

[J.R. King]

I mean "Let's hope LOHSE can keep Reyes off the basepaths tomorrow"

Either way, this is the most exciting/anxious/fingernail biting/thrilling team I've ever seen. LET'S GO PHILS!

[BENTZ]

You actually have to wonder in a way if (and I don't know if the umps across baseball actually do this) the play with Ruiz was noticed across the league and something was said for umpires to keep an eye on this sort of thing? In a way, the Ruiz play could have helped the Phillies in this game? Or am I just trying to not give Bucknor credit for making the right call...haha.

[BENTZ]

SD and Arizona tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 7th...

[RSB]

Glennbo: rosters expand to 40 on September 1. Any predictions for likely call-ups?

[Ira]

i dont even know who i want to lose Pads or Snakes. Snakes have been sinking, but Pads are slightly closer.

[MG]

Honestly, the last two nights the Phils really haven't outplayed the Mets. Both games could have easily gone either way but the Phils have just had good karma.

I mean how many times does Rowand's dink hit down the line last night roll dead like that? Maybe 5 or 10 out of 100?

Then tonight - I know the ump made the correct call but what are the chances the game ends like that?

Not knocking the Phils. They have gotten some great pitching from unlikely sources (Eaton and Moyer) but as the old saying goes, "Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good."

[Art Vandelay]

mets suck, i hate those idiot bastards, reyes sucks, castillo sucks, wright sucks, delgado, sucks, beltran sucks, perez sucks HAHAHHAHAH WE GONNA WIN THE EAST!

[harflan]

Leading into LA and SD, the talk was just take 2/3. If the Phillies can complete the sweep tomorrow, we don't need to worry about anybody else but the Mets.

On the other hand, is Mathieson, a week from now, better than Mesa, right now? This bullpen will be better a week from now. I don't know why a week makes a difference but if CHolly is being mentioned as MOY, no wonder Sir Alden doesn't post anymore.

Jimmy Rollins for MVP.

[AWH]

Good win. Good night.

[Mr. Mac]

Sort Of Not Mentioned Dept: The 2 pick offs of Reyes were huge. Twice on base. Twice picked off - 2 different pitchers. I wonder if the Phillies coaches didn't pick up some sort of tip off on Reyes's part when he is about to take off?

[Mike H.]

Why the Chico Ruiz play is so infuriating, in three parts. Long, but important for Phils fans to understand.

Part One: This is the city. Los Angeles, California. It is Saturday, September 19, 1964, and going into the game, the 1964 Phillies were up 6 games in the National League. Kids, there was only one division back then. It was literally every team for itself.

Phils are up 3-2 going into the bottom of the eighth. Frank Howard, a mountain of a man, six-seven, 255 pounds, homers to tie the game at 3. The game goes into extra innings until the bottom of the 16th. With two outs and none on, Willie Davis hit a line drive off of John Herrnstein at first base. Herrnstein recovered and tried to flip to Jack Baldschun covering first. Willie was fast, and he reaches first at the exact same time as Baldschun. Davis's foot lands on top of Baldschun's. The umpire, Chris Pelekoudas, calls him safe. Gene Mauch, the Phils manager, goes nuts and complains.

Next batter is Tommy Davis. Baldschun went to the Brett Myers school of Anger Management and promptly uncorks a wild pitch. Remember, this is Dodger Stadium - the area behind home plate is gigantic, much larger than today. Willie Davis is still fast, too. He ends up on third by the time Clay Dalrymple, the Phils catcher, gets to the ball. Baldschun intentionally walks Tommy Davis to get the runner on base.

The next batter for the Dodgers is Ron Fairly, a very decent, left handed batter. Mauch goes to the bullpen and brings in Morrie Steevens, 21 years old, fresh from the minors. He throws two strikes to Fairly. Dalrymple calls for the curveball, and as Steevens goes back, Willie Davis on third breaks for home. The third base coach is none other than Leo Durocher, a man who would claim he has balls of steel and would walk through hell in a gasoline suit to win at baseball. Durocher did not give Fairly the sign for the suicide squeeze. If Fairly swings at the curve, he would have killed Willie Davis. Steevens is ready to throw curve and, in mid-delivery, gives it everything he can to go home. The throw is four feet up the line at third. Dalrymple actually catches the ball and dives toward Davis. Davis sees this and knocks the ball loose. Dodgers win, 4-3.

Part Two: Chico Effing Ruiz

It's Monday, September 21. Phils are playin the Reds. Art Mahaffey is pitching for the Phils, a legit #3 (behind Jim Bunning and Chris Short). John Tsitouris pitches for the Reds and was known as a Phillie Killer like Todd Helton, Mike Piazza, and so on, even though Tsitouris is nothing more than a .500 pitcher. Of course, the Phils get three scoring chances. Of course, they blow them three times. It's 0-0 going into the top of the sixth.

Pete Rose grounds out. Chico Ruiz is a rookie playing third base. He singles to left. Vada Pinson follows up with a line drive to right. Pinson tries to go for two, but Johnny Callison nails him at second. On the throw, Ruiz goes to third. There are now two outs and Frank Robinson, the best hitter on the Reds, is up. Mahaffey had good luck in the past with Robinson, even in 1964. Robinson would post .306/.396/.548 this year. Meanwhile, on the first pitch, Chico sees that Mahaffey is paying no attention to him at all. Ball one.

Mahaffey is still taking his dear sweet time on the mound. He winds up slowly and Ruiz just goes. No call from the dugout, or the coach, or doesn't even bother to flash Robinson a sign. If Robinson swings, Chico Ruiz is dead. Now he's 30 feet from him and the ball is just about to leave his hand. Frank Robinson freezes - he can't believe it. Mahaffey's arm tightens up. Clay Dalrymple sees it all coming and things "NOT AGAIN!" The ball goes up the third base line. Ruiz scores. 1-0, Reds.

It's the bottom of the ninth, and still 1-0. The Phils get a leadoff double from Wes Covington, but they don't score the run. Reds win. Gene Mauch goes back to the dugout and screams at all of them "YOU LET CHICO FUCKING RUIZ STEAL HOME!?! CHICO FUCKING RUIZ!"

The Phils are 5 and a half back with 11 to play.

Part Three: The Swoon

Everyone on the Phils - the players, and especially Mauch - starts doubting themselves. Pitchers pitch out of turn. Guys like Joe Torre on the hapless Milwaukee Braves of the mid-60s would see Mauch in the other dugout, screaming and picking fights and they'd laugh, loosen up, and win games. Players doubted themselves. Johnny Callison hits three homers in one game in the swoon. His wife smiles at him after the game and all he mentions is that he lost. They would lose, Mauch would rant and rave and throw things, and blame the players for "cracking under pressure." The players would feel more tired than they did the night before.

They let bad teams beat them and lost their 5 and a half game lead by losing 10 games in a row. The people of Philadelphia had made World Series plans, bought tickets, everything. They were heartbroken in the span of two weeks. For some, it took the next 16 years until we won it all in 1980 to recover. Some are still bitter to this day.

If you want to read more, pick up "September Swoon" by William C. Kashatus. It's definitely on Amazon. Most of the story I just wrote is paraphrased heavily from that book.

[elliott]

padres have just defeated the d-backs. they are tied in the nl west, each 3 above the phils.

if the phils can hold off la and atl, and catch either the mets, dbacks, or padres, the playoffs will be ours.

[Mike H.]

Padres 3, DBacks 1.

Three back in the division, three in the wild card.

[ross]

to me, it's just nice to see former crappy phillies still being crappy somewhere else (especially ny). i can just see marlon doing the same thing in phillies pinstripes

[ajc1]

some guy on metsblog wants his team to tank - lose tomorrow and get swept by the Braves - all so Randolph will get fired this off season. Sound like anyone we know?

[MG]

I can't remember a Phils' season with so many games that had ridiculous endings both for and against the Phils. A crappy bullpen and an explosive offense probably contribute greatly to the wild endings.

A great Beerleaguer post would be a highlight to date of the Top 5 best comeback wins and the biggest implosions.

My early nods for best comebacks wins -

1. Last's night game vs the Mets

2. July 25th vs. Fish - JRoll tied the game in the bottom of the 9th against the Fish with the crazy 0-2, 2 out triple, error combo and Phils went on to win in extra innings

3. May 14th vs. Brewers - Down 6-2 in the 8th, the Phils precede to rally against Turnbow and win the game. Sparks the Phils to take 3 of 4 against what was the hottest team in baseball at the time.

My early nods for the most crushing defeats:

1. April 4 vs. Braves - One of Hamels best outings of the year was wasted as Gordon coughed up the lead and Madson lost it in extra innings. Set tone for the first 3 weeks of the season.

2. Aug 4 vs. Brewers - Gordon gives up a 2-run go-head bomb to Fielder in the 8th; Iguchi robbed of a game-tying HR in the 9th by Hart.

3. July 3 vs. Astros - Alfonseca blows the game in the 9th and Mesa gives up a walkoff HR as the Phils lost 2 out of 3 to a weak Astros team and continued to sputter into the All-Star break.

[Mr. Mac]

Thanks for that Mike H. I just relived the whole '64 season. I won't sleep for nights on end now, cold sweats, the works...

Now when I say my prayers it'll go something like this...and please God, let that interference call, be the Met's Chico f***ing Ruiz. I promise to say 5 Hail Mary's and 10 Our Father's for the rest of my life on the hour, every hour. Amen.

[No time to panic]

tonight was rock bottom for the mets, but as we all know, baseball is a game of ups and downs. the phils picked up 4 games in 4 days, i expect things to turn around and it'll be the same old story - mets in in october, jroll and howard watching at home. jroll has gotten the best of jose in this series, but talent will win out. i'd always rather be 3 up then 3 down - see you on the other side

[elliott]

thanks mike h. i know what i'm reading on the beach this weekend: september swoon. just checked and my library has it.

[king myno]

I hope that, if the Phils proceed to drop a few close ones next week and push us all to lose hope yet again, we can pause for a second, look back and remember these games. Say what you will about the team and its manager, but they're putting up a noble fight this year. In 2005 or 2006, it felt like we were just hoping they'd back their way in, but this year, despite all the injuries and setbacks, they're really busting their asses to make something happen. Maybe I'm just overwhelmed by these last two emotional wins, but I think you really have to get behind this team. Weitzel is right, a sweep will be tough, but after these last two games, the return of Chase and the impending return of Cole, it's hard to be anything but optimistic.

[Mr. Mac]

Reyes was CS only 15 times this year going into tonights game vs 71 SB. I would like to know how many times was he picked off as opposed to being thrown out by the catcher. I would also be willing to bet he has never been picked off twice in the same game.

[Ben Keeler]

MG - That game on the 25th was against the Nats

Another crushing loss was the game in Cincy where we led 1-0 with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th and gordon gave up the HR to hatteberg. A great comeback was when Burrell homered off Wagner at Shea. That has to be included.

It will suck to lose tomorrow, if it happens, but taking at least 3 was almost mandatory. F-in Padres.

[Mr. Mac]

If my calculations are correct SLINKY + ESCULATOR = EVERLASTING FUN. That's sort of how I feel this series. I don't want to go to sleep because I want to savor this after all the complaining we heaped on this team after last week. Man is this fun or what? I don't know what's more enjoyable, the Phillies winning or watching the Met's fans being miserable. Either way, you gotta love it.

[Ben Rivera]

Thanks for the info Mike H. That's a 22 years before my time, but I've heard about the 64 Phils from my dad and my Phillie-hating, Giant-loving grandfather. I never realized that Pete Rose came up as early as 1963.

[Mike Cunningham]

As for Reyes... isn't this the 4th time he's been picked off by the Phillies this year??? I believe he has at least one caught stealing (third)....

[Ben Keeler]

Bullpen will be short tomorrow. Doubt Gordon (whatever), Romero (3 days in a row), and Myers (3 innings last 2 days) will be able to go. Critical for Lohse to go deep. Not much left outside of Alf - Mesa, Condrey, Geary. Phillies, by my count, are 1-8 in home weekday games this year:

1. Opening Day loss to ATL
2. 4/5 to ATL
3. 4/27 to WSH
4. 5/17 to MIL
5. 6/4 to SF
6. WIN 6/13 vs. CWS
7. 6/29 to NYM
8. 7/26 to WSH
9. 8/9 to LAD

Tomorrow is the last scheduled day game for a weekday. Team needs to get a win tomorrow based on that alone.

[Tray]

I'm actually glad the Padres won, I'll take my chances 3 games behind the Diamondbacks. By the numbers we have every chance in the world of catching them. And look at their schedule - six against the Rockies, six against the Dodgers, four more against the Padres - all the rest are against the Giants, Cards, and Pirates, and they're not cupcakes. You can talk about their bullpen all day and the managing genius of Bob Melvin (sticking a guy with Rob Deer numbers in the leadoff spot, that's real smart) all you want, but their offense is the second worst in the National League after the Nationals. That's not a product of a few blowouts distorting the run differential, that's a really bad offense. On top of that, they allow more runs than every team in that division but Colorado. So they have no business being where they are.

[Sophist]

Dusty Baker on Baseball Tonight thought the call at 2nd was incorrect. I didn't hear much of an argument though. Someone e-mail those guys a rule book. What do they do in Bristol? Kick back and watch 8 games at once, get on the air with no preparation, and just say whatever comes to mind? Lousy. Can't they at least reference the rule and make a case?

[denny b.]

Lost from the euphoria of the Wednesday night win (one of the strangest and biggest Phillie wins in a long time) was the news that Rockie closer Brian Fuentes has cleared waivers (according to Gammons). It was briefly mentioned at the end of the Wed. game report blog by someone, but nothing else was said about it.

Folks, this is EXACTLY the guy the Phils need, that could (fingers crossed) put them finally over the top. As I see it, there is 1 glaring weakness with this team right now (provided Hamels comes back healthy for the rest of the season). The 8th inning is the weak spot. Myers is solidified the closer role. Alf is doing the job in that 6th/7th inning role. Romero has been solid as a lefty specialist. But, you CANNOT rely on Flash Gordon as your 8th inning guy, and expect to get it done this year. He might be able to give you a good inning here and there, but he can't pitch in consecutive days, and he really is a 'shot in the dark' every night he pitches now.

Fuentes would solve SEVERAL different issues in 1 guy. He is another lefty for the pen (which is desperate need for another lefty down the stretch; you can't pitch Romero every night). He has recent closing expereince (20 saves this year), so you had someone else should Myers need a break (like he needs right now). He can strike people out (which most in the pen cannot do). He is relatively young (just turned 31 years old) and signed through 2008 (which was said to be a sticking point at the original trade deadline for Gillick). He has pitched well and has a good numbers, despite pitching at Coors Field. And, he seems to be healthy.

This is the guy you have to get if you are Gillick. The pen (all jokes aside) is 1 good guy short right now. Madson would be that guy, but you don't know when he comes back, if he comes back at all this year. Fuentes is out there, available. Get him, and I think this team makes the playoffs.

If they can't get Fuentes, they HAVE to get another reliever, preferably a lefty. With games left against teams like Atlanta, Colorado and New York, quality lefty relievers can neutrailize some of the best hitters on each of these teams. Romero can't be called on every night. I haven't seen the list of who has passed through waivers, but there have to be a few decent relievers on that list. I mentioned a guy like Mike Stanton yesterday. He is old, but Cincy doesn't need him and he can still get lefty's out (Howard, for one, can't hit him). Plus, he plays for 1 of the 4 teams that Gillick seems to always make trades with (White Sox, Reds, Rangers and Yankees).

Gillick has to make a move. You are going into a game on Thursday, where if you win, you can be 2 games behind the Mets going into September. And, you are doing it with a bullpen (likely) of Alfonseca, Mesa, Geary and Condrey. 3 of those 4 are just lucky to still have major league jobs, yet if Lohse doesn't pitch deep into the game, they will be in there, trying to sweep the Mets.

Get something done Pat. Its there for the taking.