The Golden Marlins had trouble again on Sunday avoiding that one bad inning. This time leading the bad inning occurred with the Marlins ahead 6-0, in the bottom of the 6th inning. The Golden Marlins contributed two walks, and two critical errors to the 4 singles (Corrigan, Labarge, Cortese, and Sohl), and one double (Altobelli) that the Dodgers produced in the inning, and the Dodgers would take the lead 7-6. Mother Nature and the umpires's iron clad "30-minute lightning rule" would take care of the rest, and the Dodgers went home with a 7-6 victory.
The Marlins built that 6-0 lead on the arm of Jim Ansel (4 shut out innings, on 4 hits,0 walks, and 1 strike out) and the hitting of Tim Brown (walk, double, and 2 runs scored), Randy Craft (RBI double, RBI single, and 2 runs scored), Andy Hoyle (2-RBI double, RBI double, and two runs scored), and Dave Mitchell (single and RBI double). This "murderers row" was coming up in the top of the seventh, when the rain finally came, after we sat around for more than an hour on mandatory 30-minute lightning delays.
Who came up with the 30-minute time to wait anyways? Wouldn't 15 minutes after the last lightning strike be enough?!
Hats off to the Dodgers, who never gave up and took advantage of the Marlins errors and came through when it counted most and walked away with the well-earned win. The Marlins end the season series with the Dodgers at 1-1, and wish them good luck the rest of the way. We hope to see you in the playoffs. We promise to put our best foot forward then.
Well call me Marcus Aurelius (actually please don't ) since i look at this as the Dodgers having a good inning when they needed it
After watching the "Murderers Row" (an accurate name and quite the lineup when Mike Girard hits in the 7 spot) produce both times around and build a 6-0 lead the Dodgers entered the bottom of the 6th trailing 6-0. Three straight singles from Corrigan, Labarge and Cortese load the bases with no outs. Dave Reed hits a line shot to right field that was definitely an error and could have been caught but it was truly hard hit and not exactly a routine play for a charging outfielder on the run. After an error allowed another run to score it setup a bases loaded, no outs situation for Tony Parella .... who is 9-11 on the season with a home run and several doubles. Tony had a great at bat and rather than force things by swinging at a bad pitch ended up taking the walk. At that point with the bases loaded Bob Altobelli hits a screamer in the gap for a double to cut it to 6-5. An RBI groundout by Caputo and an RBI single by Sohl put the Dodgers up 7-6 with two outs in the bottom of the 6th when the umps saw lightning and halted play.
We eventually resumed and finished the 6th and started the 7th. The leadoff hitter grounded out to short and then Lochner walked to put a runner on 1st with 1 out in the top of the 7th .... when Mother Nature took over with more lightning and then a pouring rain to end the game...... which was a shame since it was a good, tight game and everyone hates to see a game like that end prematurely (although we didn't really mind too much.....).
Mike has a good point about the lightning delay ...... 30 minutes may be a bit excessive .... or we may be knuckleheads for putting a baseball game ahead of our lives . That is the policy for all umps and i don't know if we can even ask them to change it??
Another very interesting issue nearly came up when the game was halted in the bottom of the 6th with two outs and the Dodgers up 7-6 ....... There were varying opinions on whether the score would revert to the last completed inning which would have given the Marlins a 6-0 victory or if the score would have stood as it was and the Dodgers leading 7-6. We were able to resume play and finish the 6th so it was a non issue but could arise again in the future.
Probably as much discussion on resuming and finishing the game was held at Satellite with the Shaskys-Royals at a 3-3 tie at the end of seven with the lightning rule delaying, then taking over and finally causing an official tie to be declared so that the next game could be started.
The lightning rule was reset to no avail with the skies opening up on the Royals-Cougars in the 2nd inning and another games bites the dust (no dust this year) and joins the ranks of postponed games.
Yeah, that rule definitely needs to be addressed as while it would have been nice to see the Marlins get their shot with the big guns coming to the plate in the 7th, it would have been a much bigger travesty had the game not resumed and the Dodgers big inning not even counted... I've been told a few different things, but the rules (posted right here on the website) clearly state that it would have reverted to the last completed inning and do not even leave room for interpretation. Common sense would dictate that not applying should another case scenario like yesterday arise again as it should essentially be equivalent to a "walk-off" if the home team takes the lead, despite not having 3 outs... Which for the record, interesting that the first rule listed says MLB rules apply unless otherwise stated, and guess what MLB rules are? Yep, the obvious in that the home team would win, much like a "walk-off"... However, should the visiting team take the lead in the next inning as if say the Marlins had scored 1 to tie or 2 to retake the lead, rather then reverting to the last inning if rain then sets in again as it did yesterday, then the game is "suspended" and played later from that point forward ~ so that might be another option for the board to consider too?
And can the Board vote on this right now or does it have to wait? As John said, just in case it happens again with all the rain we've been getting? And why not make the lightning rule 15 minutes, surely we are allowed to ask Mark Fitch anything we want? He might say no, or maybe he's even dictated as to the specifics of that, but surely we should ask, no? MLB has a 30 minute rule of sorts for umps checking on rain delays, so that's prolly where they got it from... If there had been a 15 minute rule instead of the 30 minute rule, maybe the Marlin gunners would have had their chance to pull the trigger... Of course, still would've needed more time for the Dodgers to get their cuts in too, but still ~ jus saying, the rule definitely needs to be adjusted, however the board sees fit...
But kudos to John and his Dodgers yesterday as wow, I think that Marlin pitchers had like a 19 scoreless inning streak snapped by that Big Blue gem yesterday too... Funny game, huh?
The 30-minute rule is high school, college and professional. While all the players may be willling to take the field after 15, umpires may not be. We can't expect them to break the rules. It's for their safety, too.
But Mark, you are right: We need to address the completed-game rule. MLB says the home team would get the win had they taken the lead before the game was halted in the bottom of the 5th or later.
What's kinda comical is that players with metal cletes are sitting on metal bleechers and the umps are standing outside in a parking lot near trees waiting for the thunder and lightning to pass! It might be safer on the field!
well common sense should prevails on this rule about games begin called. if the home team scores enough to gain the lead the runs count and game is over. the visiting team would have had their chance in the top of the inning. no need for board consideration. funny in 20 years or so of this rule I've never seen it unfold like this. I'll add language to the rule to cover it. Jreel president CDMSBL.
as far the 30 minute rule I think and I'll make sure that it is an umpire condition of employment. it might be part of their insurance policy. I'll check. doubt its flexible but I'll ask that too.
) since i look at this as the Dodgers having a good inning when they needed it 
. That is the policy for all umps and i don't know if we can even ask them to change it??
