One-run game. Bottom of the ninth inning. Two outs. Tying run on third. Winning run at the plate.
Anyone who’s had to sweat a close game — whether it be a pitcher or a fan — knows how cathartic a strikeout is. Imagine experiencing that catharsis . . . and then having to turn around and do it again.
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Mets reliever David Robertson experienced that unpleasant reality Saturday. He got the Athletics’ Kevin Smith looking at Strike 3 to end the game. Or so he thought. Instead, home plate umpire Scott Barry rung Robertson up for a pitch-clock violation and an automatic ball, thus extending the game.
Luckily for Robertson, that only made the count 1-2 — still very much a pitcher’s count — and he again got Smith looking at Strike 3 to finally end the game.
David Robertson, Game Ending K…
err…Clock Violation.
And, Game Ending K. 😂 pic.twitter.com/4yo3vjDuDN
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 15, 2023
It’s clear on replay that the first pitch was late. Another thing that is clear is that umpires aren’t giving grace on pitch clock violations, whether it be for Cody Bellinger’s ovation at Dodger Stadium as a member of the Cubs (for which he was rewarded with a strike) or what would have been the last pitch of the game at the RingCentral Coliseum.
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The tightness of this call also brings up another important factor: the NFL’s delay of game rule application doesn’t apply here. In the NFL, the play clock can stay at zero for a split-second before the referee throws the flag. If the pitch clock hits zeroes, a strike or ball is being called after a buzzer sounds in the ump’s ear.
In this case, the violation wasn’t costly for Robertson or the Mets, and a veteran like him will learn from this. But the reaction would have been much different (and louder) if this game had gone to extra innings or the Mets had lost.
And perhaps Smith was a bit shocked by the resumption of play. He had a lot of trouble getting the bat off his shoulder on those last two pitches.
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