Derek Jeter Umpire Call, Girardi

Derek Jeter was called out trying to steal 3rd with no outs. He was clearly safe. When Derek questioned the call: “He didn’t tag me,” Jeter told umpire Marty Foster.

“He didn’t have to,” Foster said. “The ball beat you.”

JETER: “I was baffled by the explanation. I was told I was out because the ball beat me and he didn’t have to tag me. I was unaware of that change in the rules.”

Veteran crew chief John Hirchbeck:

“The best way I can answer it is to talk to Marty about it. Not here at the ballpark, but if I see him tonight, or if not, we’ll have lunch tomorrow and we’ll discuss it. Getting a play right is one thing, but how you handle it is also important. Nowadays, with the cameras, ESPN and the reporters, I say the media, I actually mean television – it used to be if the ball beat you, you were out, but it isn’t that way anymore. It’s not a reason to call someone out. You have to make a good tag.”

Believe it or not, Yankees manager Joe Girardi is not on Derek’s side completely; he said Jeter should not have attempted to steal with no outs in a close game. Seems like Girardi was tapping into the Tim McCarver/Willie Randolph/Buck Showalter Book of Enneagram Average Type Ones. So..Girardi preaches aggressiveness, and then lectures Derek for not making sure he made the steal…even though he was technically safe.

Kinda, LaME, Joe…two thumbs down for that one.