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Saturday, April 14, 2012

Fox Sports Detroit: Cabrera catches batter’s box gaffe

As Cabrera stepped into the box against Chicago’s Jake Peavy [with two outs in the first inning], the Tigers’ right-handed slugger did what he’s done 5,062 times in his career; he walked up to the plate, toed the back line of the batter’s box and adjusted his helmet.

But there was a problem. Cabrera’s back foot was about six inches behind the back line as he he dug in. His right toe was searching for the back of the box but there was no chalk—something wasn’t right.

He called timeout and proceeded to plead his case with home plate umpire Adrian Johnson. He drew lines from the bottom of the plate to display proper angles as he absorbed the boos of the Opening Day crowd at U.S. Cellular field.

And he convinced Adrian Johnson. ...

The grounds crew corrected the mistake before Cabrera stepped back into the box.

bobm Posted: April 14, 2012 at 09:03 PM | 17 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: groundskeeping, tigers, umpires, white sox

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1. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: April 15, 2012 at 01:12 PM (#4107001)

This looked so amusing to me on MLB Tonight that I DVR'ed that portion of the game when FSN Detroit re-aired the game later that night. His little head nod out to the mound in the midst of it all - as if to say, "Oh hey, be right with you" - was great.

2. kthejoker Posted: April 15, 2012 at 01:28 PM (#4107009)

Color commentator Rod Allen proclaimed, "The White Sox tried to pull a fast one on the Tigers. It's a brilliant move if you can get it away with it."

How is this possibly true since it affects the White Sox as well? Unless they've been practicing batting up in the box all year.

3. Slivers of Maranville (SdeB) Posted: April 15, 2012 at 01:52 PM (#4107031)

Here is the video of the incident. Interesting because I never knew how they drew the batter's boxes, and this shows them doing it.

4. Eric P. Posted: April 15, 2012 at 02:38 PM (#4107086)

How is this possibly true since it affects the White Sox as well? Unless they've been practicing batting up in the box all year.

Well, their leadoff hitter could 'discover' it to start off the bottom half of the inning. It seems like way too much hassle to bother with for just three outs, though.

5. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: April 15, 2012 at 02:43 PM (#4107093)

This seems like as fine a spot to bring this up as anywhere else: I'm surprised and a little disappointed how competent Cabrera has looked at third so far. He hasn't embarrassed himself yet and has actually made a few really tough plays.

6. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: April 15, 2012 at 02:59 PM (#4107115)

Here is the video of the incident.

For perhaps the first time ever, I wish they had the Sox feed so I could hear Harrelson's take on it.

7. Xander Posted: April 15, 2012 at 03:13 PM (#4107132)

He said Cabrera had every right to do what he did.

8. The Keith Law Blog Blah Blah (battlekow) Posted: April 15, 2012 at 03:17 PM (#4107136)

Interesting because I never knew how they drew the batter's boxes, and this shows them doing it.

It's also interesting because I don't see how they could have possibly drawn it wrong using that chalk box.

9. Guapo Posted: April 15, 2012 at 03:23 PM (#4107139)

Can't wait to see this on MLB Network's "World's Most Incredible Batter's Box Highlights"

10. Monty Posted: April 15, 2012 at 03:34 PM (#4107152)

I like the way they spent all that extra time making sure the lines were correct, followed by Cabrera immediately scuffing the line out of existence.

11. rlc Posted: April 15, 2012 at 03:52 PM (#4107177)

It's also interesting because I don't see how they could have possibly drawn it wrong using that chalk box.

The whole box was shifted forward; I think when they set the reference points, instead of putting the forward block flush with the front corner of the plate, they put the after block flush with the back (obtuse) corner of the plate; it's supposed to be even with the point of the plate.

How is [the White Sox gaining an advantage] possibly true since it affects the White Sox as well? Unless they've been practicing batting up in the box all year.

As I recall, the scenario for wanting to cheat up in the box is when the opponent is a breaking ball pitcher; the hitters want to move up and be able to hit the pitch before it breaks out of the hitting zone. So it would be an advantage if your pitcher had a big fastball and the opponent was a junk-baller. When it's Peavy vs. Scherzer I don't see the White Sox benefitting from hitting closer to the mound...

12. Harold Posted: April 15, 2012 at 03:53 PM (#4107180)

It's also interesting because I don't see how they could have possibly drawn it wrong using that chalk box.

Yeah, they'd have to do it intentionally, I think. Or they were correct all along.

13. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: April 15, 2012 at 03:55 PM (#4107185)

For perhaps the first time ever, I wish they had the Sox feed so I could hear Harrelson's take on it.

I said the same thing to a friend who's an MLB TV subscriber, so he went back and checked it. Hawk was surprisingly calm about the whole ordeal. Then again, he's always been complimentary of Cabrera.

14. Random Transaction Generator Posted: April 15, 2012 at 04:49 PM (#4107246)

What does that say about the previous two batters who didn't notice?

15. Monty Posted: April 15, 2012 at 05:32 PM (#4107263)

What does that say about the previous two batters who didn't notice?

That they probably use the plate to square up, not the boundaries of the batting box.

16. Every Inge Counts Posted: April 15, 2012 at 05:57 PM (#4107268)

Perhaps they did it to mess with Miggy's head because he had a terrible series against the White Sox.

17. TVerik Posted: April 15, 2012 at 06:21 PM (#4107273)

I haven't watched every inning, but so far I think Cabrera has actually been better at third than Hanley.

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Saturday, April 14, 2012

Fox Sports Detroit: Cabrera catches batter’s box gaffe

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