MLB has reached out to the White Sox to explain the bizarre game-ending interference call originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
Major League Baseball reached out to the White socks About controversial late-game interference call in Thursday’s 8-6 loss to the Orioles.
ESPN insider Jesse Rogers reported Friday that the league “essentially” told the White Sox the call should not have been made.
League has reached out to the White Sox, per source. Essentially, he told them that the obstruction call to end the game should not have been made. There is some discretion there. https://t.co/gxCSWcXwb2
-Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) May 24, 2024
White Sox general manager Chris Gets confirmed Friday that the team spoke with MLB, but did not disclose what was said other than he was told that an umpire’s ability to call interference, in general, it is a judgment call.
“There is discretion,” Getz said.
This means that the umpire wasn’t obligated to interfere with Vaughn for accidentally (not to mention just) stepping into the shortstop’s path to the ball, but he also wasn’t technically incorrect in doing so, no matter how cheesy it was.
And that was certainly tacky.
Trailing 8-2 in the final frame, the White Sox rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth and had an opportunity to win the game with runners on first and second with one out.
Andrew Benintendi swung for an infield jumper, and Andrew Vaughn slowly walked back to second base as shortstop Gunner Henderson moved to make the catch. The referee called for interference with Vaughn, who unintentionally stepped into Henderson’s path.
Similar to the league’s verbal explanation, the MLB rulebook states that “a runner who is judged to have hindered a fielder who is attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out, whether it was intentional or not.” The key word here is “judged.”
Suffice to say, the White Sox still don’t agree with the umpire’s judgment.
“I don’t like the way the play was called,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol told reporters on Friday. “I think it was considered inaccurate, in my opinion. Just my opinion. I don’t think any baseball game should end like this.”
That opinion is in line with most of those who watched the game in person and at home, including Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.
“I feel like we got away from there,” Hyde said after the game.
The White Sox will try to put Thursday’s fiasco behind them when they face the Orioles in the second game of the series, Friday at 6:40 p.m.
