We touched on the changes to the “transfer rule” last week and it reared its head again during the sixth inning of tonight’s game between the Mariners and Rangers.
Mariners shortstop Brad Miller hit a comebacker to Rangers left-hander Pedro Figueroa, who threw to catcher J.P. Arencibia for a force out at home plate. Arencibia dropped the ball on the transfer and was unable to make a throw to first base to double up Miller, so Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon emerged from the dugout to challenge the call of the force out at home plate. The call was ultimately reversed and the Mariners were awarded another run.
Check out the play below:
[mlbvideo id="32082861" width="400" height="224" /]
Rangers manager Ron Washington came out to argue after the umpires reversed the call, which is an automatic ejection. Many have said that the new replay system will result in fewer manager ejections. And that’s probably true. Still, the new interpretation of the transfer rule will continue to provide plenty of controversy and frustration as the season moves along.
