Okay, here’s a breakdown of the bizarre tag-up play from the Dodgers-Mets game on May 24, 2025, focusing on making it easy to understand:
Dodgers-Mets Features 2 Calls on Tag-Up Plays You May Have Never Seen Before
The May 24, 2025, game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets was already a memorable one, but a series of unusual tag-up plays involving Mets outfielder Michael Conforto elevated it to the realm of the truly bizarre. In a game filled with tension and tight defense, two specific instances highlighted the nuances and sometimes perplexing nature of baseball’s rulebook.
What is a Tag-Up Play?
First, let’s clarify what a “tag-up” is. In baseball, with less than two outs, if a baserunner is on base when a fly ball is hit and caught, they must wait for the fielder to catch the ball before they can advance to the next base. This is called “tagging up.” The runner has to touch the base they were on at the moment the catch is made, and then they can try to advance.
The First Bizarre Play:
The first incident occurred in the bottom of the 5th inning, with the Mets trailing by a run. Conforto was on second base when a deep fly ball was hit to right field. It looked like a routine tag-up situation. However, as the Dodger right fielder made the catch, Conforto took off for third.
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The Catch & The Confusion: As Conforto rounded second, he momentarily lost his footing on the wet field and appeared to miss the base as he got up to continue to third.
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The Appeal: The Dodgers, quick to notice this, appealed. What this means is that the Dodgers pointed out to the umpire that they believed Conforto missed touching second base. The umpire had to make a judgement about if the player missed the base or not.
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The Ruling: After a brief conference, the umpires ruled that Conforto had, in fact, missed second base. According to the rules, to correctly tag up he must touch the base the player was originally on when the catch was made. This normally doesn’t cause any confusion, but it did in this case.
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The Catch: The umpire ruled that because he missed the base he was called out on appeal and out at second base.
The Second Bizarre Play:
Just two innings later, lightning struck twice! In the bottom of the 7th, with Conforto on first base this time, another fly ball was hit to the outfield. Conforto again attempted to tag up.
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The Catch & the Obstruction: This time, the catch was made in center field. As Conforto was advancing towards second, the Dodgers shortstop, anticipating a potential throw to second, appeared to inadvertently impede Conforto’s progress.
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Obstruction? “Obstruction” in baseball occurs when a fielder, who isn’t in possession of the ball, hinders a baserunner’s attempt to advance.
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The Ruling: The Mets’ manager argued that the shortstop had obstructed Conforto, preventing him from reaching second safely. After a lengthy discussion, the umpires agreed!
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The Awarded Base: The rule states that when a runner is obstructed, the umpire can award the runner the base they likely would have reached had the obstruction not occurred. In this case, the umpire awarded Conforto second base, putting him in scoring position.
Why These Plays Were So Unusual:
- Two In One Game: It’s rare enough to see one tag-up play with such controversial calls. Two involving the same player in the same game is incredibly unusual.
- The Missed Base: Players rarely miss a base on a tag up play, especially a veteran like Conforto. It highlighted the importance of staying focused and maintaining good footing, especially in wet conditions.
- The Obstruction Call: Obstruction calls can be tricky. They often involve judgment calls by the umpire, leading to heated debates. The shortstop’s positioning and intent were key factors in the umpire’s decision.
Impact and Aftermath:
While the Mets ultimately did not win the game, these plays were the talk of the baseball world. They sparked debate about the nuances of the rules, the importance of umpire positioning, and the split-second decisions that can alter the course of a game. They also served as a reminder that even seasoned players can be caught out by the unexpected in the unpredictable world of baseball.
In conclusion, the Dodgers-Mets game on May 24, 2025, will be remembered not just for the final score, but for the two incredibly strange and rare tag-up plays that showcased the intricacies and occasional oddities of baseball’s rulebook.
Dodgers-Mets features 2 calls on tag-up plays you may have never seen before
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The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-05-24 06:01, ‘Dodgers-Mets features 2 calls on tag-up plays you may have never seen before’ was published according to MLB. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
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