The No Hitter: Was Byrnes Really Safe?
It's hard to say, given the camera angles. I thought that he was, given the behind-the-back shot of him running down the line. Confirmation of that opinion might have come from the camera angle from behind the shortstop, where one would have gotten a better view of when the ball got to the first baseman's glove. But when that camera angle was played, it only showed Sanchez' reaction to the call, not the actual play at first.
The author of Red Sox Nation Daily thinks Byrnesie was safe. It sure was close.
I think that that umpire was, and any other umpire would have been, reflexively ready to call the runner out on anything really close. The mental energy throughout the stadium was set for out No. 3...in all but Byrnesie's head.
This is why I think he is so special. Doubtless there are others in MLB who would not have run so hard on an infield grounder trying to break up a no-no with two out in the 9th. But Eric Byrnes never gives up, no matter what the situation. And Anibal Sanchez knew that. He was trying to tell the reporter in the post game interview that he was worried about Byrnes, but then his stupid teammate interrupted the interview with the shaving cream nonsense.
The bottom line is that Anibal Sanchez was lights out, his defense did not let him down--I especially admire the Hanley Ramirez stop of Stephen Drew's ground ball in the 7th--and the game goes into the books as a no-hitter, even if Byrnesie was safe (and I couldn't swear in a court of law whether he was or not, without the confirming camera angle from the infield).
But Byrnes fans who saw the game can be proud of the fact that our guy busted tail in an effort to get an infield hit with two out in the 9th inning of a no-no.
Thank you, Eric, for your refusal to raise the white flag.
Kéllia "145+ STARTS for Eric Byrnes in 2007" Ramares
Oakland, CA
Byrnes was safe to the naked eye, and not one SLOW MOTION replay was shown. I was so incensed with the news coverage that I had to write about it.
http://bestblog.mlblogs.com
Cabbie
Report any abuse or spam
He was out , wasn't even that close. Take another look buddy!
Report any abuse or spam
Apart from whether he was safe or not, I was astonished that Byrnes made it such a close play.
Sure, Ramirez double clutched, but it was still a routine grounder to medium short. For a right handed batter, I was very impressed.
http://azdiamondhacks.mlblogs.com
Report any abuse or spam
He looked safe to me. I agree with you about Byrnes... he ALWAYS hustles. Just like another player that I used to idolize.
Rick
http://munsonshouldbeinthehall.mlblogs.com/
Report any abuse or spam
"For a right handed batter, I was very impressed."
He hasn't stolen 20 bases running like a snail.
Of course, the issue now is his getting his hitting together again. He's bageled three out of his last four. Can't blame the no-hitter on everything.
Report any abuse or spam
In his own words:
BANG-BANG PLAY
Another millisecond and Eric Byrnes might have spoiled Anibal Sanchez’s no-hitter Wednesday.
Byrnes appeared to arrive at first base almost exactly when the ball did after his groundball to shortstop on the final play, but he did not argue umpire Jerry Meals’ lukewarm “out” call.
“I’m telling you, that was close,” Byrnes said. “But in that situation, I really have to be past the bag for him to call me safe. There has to be zero doubt in his mind. If it’s a bang-bang play, it has to go to the defense at that point.
“I tell you what, if I’d hit the ball any softer and (shortstop) Hanley (Ramirez) took his time like he did, there’s no question I would have been safe.”
Florida first baseman Wes Helms said: “It was bang-bang, but he was out. “If the umpire would have called him safe, those few fans we had might have rushed the field.”
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=73534
Report any abuse or spam
“I’m telling you, that was close,” Byrnes said. “But in that situation, I really have to be past the bag for him to call me safe."
Byrnesie, ever the realist, described it correctly. Even if it was a tie, and the rules say a tie goes to the runner, an ump is not going to cost a pitcher a no-no on a play like that.
But my point is that he tried his best, as he always does. That people have even raised the possibility that he might have been safe, shows that he did not just give in to the situation.
Report any abuse or spam