It was a fake catch, and the ump was none the wiser.
Yankees reserve outfielder Dewayne Wise successfully faked a catch while diving into the seats on a foul ball at Yankee Stadium against the Indians last night - despite not even having the ball in his glove when he emerged from the stands (video below).
"What was I supposed to do, run back to left field?" Wise said after the game. "I saw (umpire Mike DiMuro) looking at my glove so I just got up, put my head down and ran off the field."
Well played.
| Related: Nationals Relievers Keeping Pet Ducks In Bullpen |
As for DiMuro, to award Wise with a catch when he wasn't even holding the ball shows the type of gross incompetance that led Tigers manager Jim Leyland to argue passionately for better accountability for umpires when they screw up.
"I went out on the ball and saw the ball into his glove in the stands," said DiMuro. "He disappeared into the stands, and I believed that the ball was in his glove. In hindsight, I should have asked him to show me the ball since he fell into the stands and out of my line of vision."
What likely happened was DiMuro, like everyone else, got caught up in the seemingly spectacular catch that drove Yankees TV announcer Michael Kay to all but orgasm on the broadcast. If Dewayne Wise hadn't made the fake catch look so good - and perhaps if Wise didn't have the reputation as a spectacular outfielder - DiMuro never would have awarded the out.
Pretty awful umpiring in every way.
Here's the video - note the fan in red on the home plate side of the play who actually ends up with the ball.
--
Follow on Ology: Bison Messink | MLB
Follow on Twitter: @BisonMessink | @OlogySports
Comments (1)