WHITE SOX CATCHER A.J. PIERZYNSKI SWINGS AND MISSES AT STRIKE THREE AND THE THIRD OUT OF THE NINTH INNING IN LAST NIGHT’S 2-1 WHITE SOX VICTORY…OR WAS IT?

Rule 6.05(b) in the Official Rules of Baseball state “A batter will be out if…A third strike is legally caught by the catcher; “Legally caught” means in the catcher’s glove before the ball touches the ground. It is not legal if the ball lodges in his clothing or paraphernalia; or if it touches the umpire and is caught by the catcher on the rebound. If a foul tip first strikes the catcher’s glove and then goes on through and is caught by both hands against his body or protector, before the ball touches the ground, it is a strike, and if third strike, batter is out. If smothered against his body or protector, it is a catch provided the ball struck the catcher’s glove or hand first.

And most importantly, in Rule 6.05 (j): After a third strike or after he hits a fair ball, he or first base is tagged before he touches first base;

I don’t know whether Angels catcher Josh Paul cleanly caught that third strike after A.J. Pierzynski swung and missed. That was never really the basis of the Angels argument. Rather, it was home plate umpire Doug Eddings clear and unmistakable hand signal that A.J. was out and that the inning was over that has both Angels players and fans in such an uproar.

Eddings raised his right arm and cocked his thumb in the traditional “out” signal that umpires make to indicate an out has been officially recorded. At that point, the Angels contend the inning was over, which is why they ran off the field. Angels classy manager Mike Scioscia explains:

“It was a swing; our catcher caught it,” Scioscia said. “Doug Eddings called him out and somewhere along the line, because the guy ran to first base, he altered the call and that’s disappointing.”

Mr. Scioscia has it exactly right: White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski faked out the umpires and was able to make it stick as a result of stubbornness and tradition in the brotherhood of umpires.

As legendary umpire Nester Shylock once said “Umpires are expected to be perfect on opening day and improve as the season wears on.” Umps are under enormous pressure and this has bred a kind of insularity that has fostered a rock hard wall of solidarity with other umpires on their crew. Baseball managers are like little children seeking a parent’s permission for some adventure or other; if mommy says no maybe daddy will say yes. So they sometimes go from umpire to umpire seeking to overturn the obvious mistake of one of their brethren.

They may as well be talking to a baseball bat. It isn’t going to happen.

This is part of the tradition of the game, as much as the argument or “rhubarb” that takes place on the field as a result of such a poor decision.

The origin of the term “rhubarb” to describe a dust-up with umpires goes back to the 1940’s and is one of those fascinating little tidbits of info you can find on the web:

It may come from radio jargon. During early radio dramas, when the noise of an angry crowd was needed, actors in the studio would repeatedly utter the word rhubarb, which provided the appropriate effect. The hubbub and din of a radio crowd was somehow transferred over to the noise of a fight or argument. This use is documented as early as 1934.

The use in baseball dates to about 1943. Red Barber, the famed baseball broadcaster for the Brooklyn Dodgers, is often cited as the one who introduced the term to baseball, but while Barber is largely responsible for popularizing the term, he never claimed credit for originating it. Instead, Barber says he learned the term from fellow reporter Garry Schumacher, who got it from another sportswriter, Tom Meany, who learned it from an unnamed Brooklyn bartender. The bartender used it to describe a bar room altercation where a Brooklyn fan shot a Giants fan. (They used to take their baseball very seriously in New York.)

I thought that the Angels showed a lot of class by not making too much of the blown call. Scioscia even went so far as to say that his team didn’t play well enough to win anyway. That said, White Sox fans know damn well that they got a lucky break. And as is also tradition in baseball, look for the umpires to find a way to “even things out” when the series moves to California on Friday night.

Pierzynski’s deke of home plate umpire Eddings was the catalyst that propelled the White Sox to their series tying victory. But only after a game that witnessed some of the most beautiful pitching seen in any post season series in quite a while.

First, Jarold Washburn who two days ago was suffering from strep throat and running a fever of 105 degrees, gave a gutty effort. He pitched extremely well, understandably tiring in the 5th inning at which point he gave way to a succession of Angels relievers who stopped the White Sox cold.

On the other side, Sox hurler Mark Buehrle pitched one of his best games of the season as he shut down the Angels on 5 hits. His only mistake – a home run to reserve infielder Robb Quinlan. Quinlan’s blast knotted up the score at 1-1 in the fourth and there it stayed until the eventful 9th inning.

Something that should be extremely troubling to White Sox fans is the teams lack of execution on the base paths and the dearth of big hits with runners in scoring position. The former is probably a case of nerves and may get better away from home. After all, the Sox have the best road record in the major leagues. As for the latter, give the Angels pitching staff – especially their bullpen – a lot of the credit for choking off the White Sox offense. Last night, that bullpen was unhittable as they allowed only one hit prior to the 9th inning.

And in the ninth, Ozzie Guillen made his first really inspired move of the playoffs by sending in Pablo Ozuna to pinch run for Pierzynski following A.J.’s little deception. Ozuna, a true liability in the field but an excellent hitter and base runner, promptly stole second. And then big time clutch hitter Joe Crede came through with a shot over the head of left fielder Garret Anderson that scored Ozuna and ended the game.

The Sox should consider themselves extremely fortunate to be tied at this point in the series as they have not played well at all. They appear tentative at the plate and in the field and are trying to force things rather than have the game come to them. They have made 4 outs in two games on the basepaths. Aaron Rowand getting thrown out at home plate in the second inning last night with no outs was just plain stupid. And Crede’s double made up for his baserunning gaffe in the 6th inning where he was doubled off second after a liner to left. Coupled with the Sox not able to steal off Angels pitching and catching, getting thrown out twice in Game 1, and you have a recipe for defeat for the Sox.

Unless they can find a way to settle down and play their game, Sox fans may have seen the last their boys at home this year. The Angels are perfectly capable of sweeping the Sox in California which would end the series and the dreams of the Pale Hose to make it back to the Fall Classic for the first time since 1959.