1) No.
2) No.
3) Yes.

I guess we know why Huckaby made the roster ... secret weapon to knock Jeter out. I'll have more when we find out long DJ is out.

What Gitz said.

I would've really loved it if Hinske could have managed to make Clemens pay for plunking Phelps.

No.
No.
No. Well, yes given that time was not called (see Rule 7.08(c)). But "Time" should have been called immediately... see Rule 5.10(c). Jeter had become entitled to third base and would have remained there.

The incident has been a perfect demonstration of a "missing rule" that has been remarked upon before... a fielder in possession of the ball should not be allowed to use force to remove a runner from a base to which he is entitled. Since the fielder is in possession, it is not obstruction (see the definition of "obstruction") but in such situations the runner should be entitled to the base.

Craig, you're putting me to shame by doing the lawyerly thing and *looking up the rules*. Sheesh. Can't I get away with not doing so before I land articles somewhere? :)

A low-down dirty lawyering trick, Sean, that I learned from a master practitioner of the bar (or is that at the bar?)... looking up the rules.

It does always help to look up the rules first. That way, you'll know when to ignore the law and concentrate on the facts.

Mike Moffatt, incidentally, is an umpire I believe and so can give us an ump's-eye view when he checks in.

http://economics.about.com
I am... or atleast, I used to be. How the heck did you know that?

I didn't see the play, though, so I really can't comment.

On your homepage, Mike.

http://economics.about.com
Oh.. Didn't realize I had anything mentioning it there, other than on my CV.

Yeah.. I umpired for about 7 or 8 years, until I moved to Rochester. Best job I ever had... it paid my way through Western, plus it taught me how to deal with all types of people. I swear it's the best training you can have to become a teacher.

My first thought on the collision was "Baseball North... it's a different kind of game up here!".

While the rest of us celebrated the 7th inning stretch with that classic trifecta, God Bless America, Okay Blue Jays, and Take Me Out To The Ball Game, the nurses comforted Jeter with a simple but moving version of Take Me Out At The Ball Game.

I'm waiting for the New York papers to accuse the Jays of planning a takeout of Jeter - it was obviously a practised play, utilising Delgado's pinpoint throwing accuracy and Huckaby's patented "jump-catch-kneedrop" sequence.

S.K.

Don't forget the shift, obviously a diabolical ruse to justify the third baseman not being near the bag.

You know, I'm not sure I ever realised it before, but the catcher busting it down the line to cover a bag is one of my favourite images in sports.
It's just so fun to watch.

So what does this mean for the Yankees' SS situation? I read that Almonte would be called up, and Wilson should stand to see an increase in playing time. When I was playing a couple years ago, I was benched for a game for not listening to the coaches and always sliding headfirst on steals into second; the main concern being finger and wrist injuries. Being 17 though, my main concern was impressing the chicks ;) ...probably didn't work!

My companion last night, who has been my Zimmer in many a dugout but is much better looking, also referred to the "diabolical ruse" as a set play -- trick the runner into taking third by leaving it unprotected, then clobber him. I don't think I'll be teaching it to the high schoolers, but they will be warned -- again -- about head-first slides. If I had a research assistant, I'd commission a study about man-games lost to such foolishness. Injuries suffered diving into first base (Kenny Lofton comes to mind) should count double.

So what does this mean for the Yankees' SS situation? I read that Almonte would be called up, and Wilson should stand to see an increase in playing time

The early assessment is Jeter will be out 2 - 4 months

Maybe they will demand Mike Bordick as compensation.

Well first of we couldn't believe Jeter went to third with two outs and that he slid head-first. Apparently because Hinske was shifted over for Giambi and neglected to sprint for third base once the groundball was handled by Halladay who took his sweet time throwing over to first. We were seated in the right field bleachers so we didn't get the best view but it didn't look like a dirty play...just Jeter slid right into those armor-like shin pads.

I think time should have been called because it was clear he was safe and that he was injured. The Jays were fortunate to get that out and get out of the inning. What I couldn't understand after that is why it took so long to get a stretcher or something to get Jeter out of there...and why they didn't have something for him to lie down on. Sitting up and leaning forward can't be the best feeling for a guy in that situation.

No.
No.
No.

I was on the 3B side at field level. Jeter clearly got there first and only came off the bag after Huck nailed him. From my perspective it did seem a little like a WWF move.

I don't think Huck realized Jeter had already got to the bag because he was concentrating on catching the ball.

Huck should have realized the play was going to be close, and that there would be no room for him to come to a stop near the bag. IMO not intentionally dirty, but a little reckless.

As for the head first slide, I think Jeter was lucky -- if he had gone in feet first, Jeter might have ended up with a broken leg or ankle (or maybe blown out his knee).

jc

Hey Mick, if you're reading this thread, I for one would really like to hear a Yankee fan perspective on this.

I'd also like to know what you think of Clemens in general and the Phelps beaning in particular. I'm with all the other Jays fans in thinking that he's a classless, spineless snake and that beaning Phelps was completely intentional and premeditated. I'm confident that Red Sox fans would agree, but what's the view from Yankee-land? Do you like him for his baseball talents and ignore the garbage (mea culpa when he was a Blue Jay), or do you disagree with our assessment of him as a low-grade individual?