BP Unfiltered

MLB official rules contain no definition for a checked swing, it's a judgment call for the ump. Seems from this photo that Ryan's bat crossed the front of home plate, regardless of whether it ever went past parallel with it or whether he broke his wrists, and that's an oft-used standard. So it's a more than defensible call. Plus, Ryan deserved no benefit of the doubt after obnoxiously taking his time getting into the box on those last few pitches (if you watch the replay, you'll see the ump clap his hands twice on the first of the two 3-2 pitches while Ryan grabs dirt and adjusts his batting gloves).

Yep... there's no rules for bat location, half way, etc. It's all 100% based on "umpire judgement"

This probably as disputable as half a dozen balls and strikes calls that could have changed ABs. There is nothing blatant therefore it has to go to the call on the field. I think it is good that there is a level of gray in baseball and everyone knows it, this isn't football where they make a judgement call then review it and make a video judgement call and then measure exactly on the field.

The bat is through the hitting zone - looks like a strike to me. Heck a lot of guys with inside out swings never break their wrists past the point shown here.

Another interesting aspect of this photo is the large gap between the 3B and the SS.

Armando Galarraga called to say "Yer out!"

I was watching it live with my 14 year old son. We both immediately said "ball four." No way Ryan swung at that pitch. As much as I wanted to see Humber get the perfect game, it seems a bit tainted to us.

Baseball could end a lot of arguments by writing the rule so that there is no checked swing call. MLB could say, If the hands go forward, that's a swing.

Of course, then where would Kevin Youkilis be?

Could not agree more with Jivas above. Tie goes to the guy making history. You could say this makes up for the Jim Joyce fiasco, but it doesn't. Still, if it's close, you're out in these situations.

Close wasn't good enough for Milt Pappas.

I'm with Jivas and Nacho999 - if it was good enough for Don Larsen and the Yanks and Dodgers in '56, it's good enough for me. Tie to the guy making history.

Seriously, have you seen the footage of the last pitch in Larsen's perfect game? Questionable for sure, but the call was "strike three" and that's that. Ditto here.

As Dale Mitchell can tell on a 3-2 count for the final out of a perfect game you had better be hacking.

Let me ask you all this question....

What if the picture above illustrated the bat position of a bunt attempt?? .... the bat is clearly over home plate and the right elbow is far from the body - which only happens during an attempt ...

Not only was this the right call - it wasincredible umpiring by Runge to have the courage and wits about him to make the call quickly and decisively so that the play could unfold...

Had the hitter, who has a reputation as a bad attitude guy, sprinted to 1st base immediately upon the call instead of whining and showing up the umpire - it would have been an interesting play at 1st base.

The hitters hands are actually over the plate and the ball passed directly under the bat - albeit 20 inches under. But then again thats the venerable Brendan Ryan hitting.

I've seen base hits occur on lesser checked swings.

Not sure what the debate is. He struck at the ball. Moving along...

I've got no dog in this fight, but that photo shows clearly that it was a strike.

If the bat is in a position where, if the ball was struck, it could have resulted in a base hit, it is more than defensible for an ump to rule as a swing.

I know that also isn't the "rule" but seems to be a fair standard for this particular judgment call. It would be nice to see more guidance on check swings - one of my few pet peeves about the game.