Look at the screenshot above of Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim as Chicago White Sox infielder Elvis Andrus is getting ready to slide into home.
Do you see Heim impeding Andrus’s path? I see his foot on the plate, but he’s standing back. There’s plenty of space for Andrus.
That’s what the home plate umpire thought in the Rangers’ eventual loss on Tuesday. Andrus was initially called out. But the replay center overturned the call. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was rightfully furious, got ejected and talked about it after the game.
To me, it was questionable enough not to overturn. But that’s not what officials saw:
The call on the field was an out, but the Rangers gave up the go-ahead run because Jonah Heim was called for blocking the plate after review.
This turned out to be the game-winning run pic.twitter.com/xO97bs5pTw
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 21, 2023
The White Sox take the lead after it's ruled — after review — that Rangers catcher Jonah Heim didn't give Elvis Andrus a lane to home plate. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was ejected.
Even the NBC Sports Chicago crew — Jason Benetti & Steve Stone — couldn't believe the ruling. pic.twitter.com/eRAoqFqoZU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 21, 2023
outfield view of jonah heim's plate-blocking violation 👀 pic.twitter.com/sAlfND2Ji0
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) June 21, 2023
"For that call to be made… I'm dumbfounded. It's absolutely one of the worst calls I've ever seen and it was done by replay, I just don't get it."
Bruce Bochy shares his thoughts of the call and the explanation in the 8th.
@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/HWpg9X1yFs— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) June 21, 2023
