Astros Manager A.J. Hinch Ejected After Awful Missed Call Leads To Two Runs

http://i1.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/foul-ball.jpg?fit=615%2C398
People in baseball widely consider Jim Joyce one of Major League Baseball’s best umpires, but when he gets one wrong, he really gets it wrong.

Joyce had no choice but to eject A.J. Hinch on Wednesday afternoon in Cleveland after the Houston Astros manager argued a blatant missed call on the ump’s part.

Indians infielder Lonnie Chisenhall tried to check his swing on a ball that hit the dirt, took a funny bounce and went shooting away from home plate. Cleveland had the bases loaded, and two Indians runners scampered home, as the Astros just stood there expecting Joyce to rule a dead ball.

That’s because the Astros knew what actually happened. Chisenhall might have checked his swing, but the ball then bounced off the dirt in front of home plate and hit Chisenhall’s bat. A foul ball should have been called, but Joyce (or apparently any of the other umpires) didn’t see it, allowing the runs to come home.

Ultimately, it also led to Hinch’s ejection.

Your browser does not support iframes.

As you can see, the bat clearly hit the ball.



For as good as Joyce’s reputation is within baseball, he’ll likely always be remembered for costing then-Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game in 2010. Joyce blew a call at first base with two outs in the ninth inning.

Thumbnail photo via David Richard/USA TODAY Sports Images

Filed under: Cleveland Indians, MLB, Top Stories MLB – NESN.com
http://wp.me/p59zQO-8lU
#AJ, #After, #Astros, #Awful, #Call, #Ejected, #Hinch, #Leads, #Manager, #Missed, #Runs - #Baseball

Dansby Swanson’s family missed his biggest phone call

http://i2.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Dansby-Swanson.jpg?fit=600%2C344

Like most other young minor league baseball players, Dansby Swanson couldn’t wait to call his parents and give them the life-changing news when the Atlanta Braves called him up to the big leagues on Wednesday. The call, however, did not go as he envisioned.

Why? Because no one answered.

In a recent interview with Cory McCartney of FOX Sports, Dansby revealed that he was unable to get in contact with his mother, father or sister after getting “the call” from the Braves. Swanson admitted that he probably should have called his brother next, but he was too steamed.

“I was mad at my family for not answering,” he said. “Called my agent and then my mom texted me and she’s like ‘Hey, honey. I’m at church doing some community service.’ I’m like ‘Mom, pick up your phone right now and call me."”

As we learned on the Braves broadcast Thursday night, Swanson’s father missed the call because he was at Costco. It sounds like the Swansons are a pretty average family.

Of course, Swanson did track down his loved ones eventually. When he arrived home at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday (he lives just 30 minutes from Atlanta), Swanson’s dad was waiting up on the couch and told the 22-year-old it was like waiting for him to get home on prom night all over again.

When asked what he said to his parents, Swanson said he surprised himself with how emotional he was and that he couldn’t say it again.

Swanson had two hits in his MLB debut Wednesday. He went 0-for-4 on Thursday, but Braves fans have already been showering the hometown boy with praise. Considering the trade Atlanta pulled off to acquire the young infielder, it’s no surprise the fans have already taken to Swanson.

Photo: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Baseball – Larry Brown Sports
http://po.st/hqGbaa
#Biggest, #Call, #Dansby, #Family, #Missed, #Phone, #SwansonS - #Baseball

Justin Tucker says he just missed 85-yard field goal during warmups

http://i1.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Justin-Tucker.jpg?fit=600%2C326

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is one of the best in the business at his craft, but does that mean he could shatter the NFL record for longest field goal by about 20 yards?

If the conditions were perfect, Tucker believes he could pull it off.

In an appearance on the NFL Network this week, Tucker was asked about Sebastian Janikowski’s horribly failed attempt at a 76-yard field goal during a game years ago. If the situation called for it, Tucker believes he could boot a field goal almost 85 yards. In fact, he says he once hit the crossbar on an 85-yard attempt during warmups in Denver.

"If the situation is prime then maybe 84.5 yards" @jtuck9 on the longest attempt he would be willing to try https://t.co/hIIMsXtrrp

— GMFB (@gmfb) August 4, 2016

“If conditions are prime — like last season we opened up in Denver, the weather was warm, the field was nice and you’re up in altitude, so the ball just carries,” Tucker said. “In pregame I think I hit the crossbar from 85. So, if the situation is just prime, maybe 84.5 yards.”

Tucker seemed serious, but we have to assume he was joking. The longest converted field goal in NFL history was a 64-yarder by Matt Prater — in Denver, of course — back in 2013. No one is kicking one 20 yards further than that. However, if Tucker thinks he can, perhaps we know why he recently gave the Ravens these demands.

Football – Larry Brown Sports
http://po.st/mYQikN
#85Yard, #During, #Field, #Goal, #Just, #Justin, #Missed, #Says, #Tucker, #Warmups - #Football