In the ninth inning of Friday night’s Game One of the World Series, a 4-6-3 double play appeared to end the proceedings in favor of the Brewers. After further review, the super slow-mo multi-angle instant replay review showed that shortstop Cooper Pratt’s foot was off the base by a smidge, scoring a run and extending the game. The Brewers ultimately won 3-2 but it’s a reminder that a genuine celebration after a huge win often now needs to be tame. Next week, we could see the World Series come to an end, just for the batter to tap his head for an ABS challenge. We will collectively wait for the centerfield Jumbotron to confirm the call before Joe Davis delivers his pre-planned call that will be part of montages for eternity.
This play also reminded me of how much the game has changed on the play at second in the past decade. Beginning in the 2016 season, the play at the second base bag became reviewable and slides became more heavily monitored. Prior to that, the middle infielder just needed to be “in the neighborhood” of the bag to tally the out. Having your feet straddling second base would qualify.
The “neighborhood play” is a colloquial term used to describe the leeway granted to middle infielders with regards to touching second base while in the process of turning a ground-ball double play. Though it is not explicitly mentioned in the rulebook, middle infielders were long able to record an out on the double-play pivot simply by being in the proximity — or neighborhood — of the second-base bag. The maneuver had been permitted for safety purposes, as it allowed the pivot man to get out of the way of the oncoming baserunner as quickly as possible.
Rewind a quarter-century and things were even crazier. Look at this stillshot and imagine this being a legal slide at second base in a playoff game.
In Game 2 of the 1977 ALCS, with runners at first and second, the Royals’ George Brett (who, one way or another seemed involved in every chaotic scenario of the 1970’s) hits a ground ball to third base. A throw is made to second base to start a double play. As Yankee second baseman Willie Randolph tries to make the turn, he is bowled over by baserunner Hal McRae. As Randolph is, quite literally, rolling into left field, the ball goes to the ground (don’t worry, the runner is out … the ball fell to the ground on the transfer!) The tying run scampers home for the Royals. Billy Martin’s protest to the umpires falls on deaf ears. If you’ve never seen the highlight, it’s a must watch.
You also could run over, and probably concuss, the catcher at home plate in The Neighborhood Play days. It’s probably for the best that we got that out of the game. Which part of baseball do you miss most from the “good old days?” Discuss in the comments and be good to each other.