Clint Barmes' Amazing Catch May Not Have Been a Catch at All

Posted Sep 28, 2009 6:56PM By Pat Lackey (RSS feed)

If you haven't seen it yet, Clint Barmes' catch Sunday afternoon seemed to be one of those things that makes September baseball great. It was a fantastic catch that preserved a slim lead, keeping the Rockies 2 1/2 games up in the NL wild-card race and preventing the Dodgers from clinching the NL West. The play came at such a dramatic juncture that T.J. Simers' column in the Los Angeles Times hinges on it.

The only problem is that Barmes may not have actually caught the ball. On The Denver Post's Rockies blog today, Nick Groke publishes a picture taken by a Post photographer which shows the ball popping out of Barmes' glove as the second baseman falls to the ground and another picture which makes it appear as if the ball is on the ground.

More: Watch Video of Catch | More Rockies Photos

Watching the replay closely, it's almost impossible to tell if Barmes holds on to the ball or if he scoops it off the ground in one motion as he rolls over. I haven't seen a better angle replay, though if one exists I doubt the Rockies or Major League Baseball would be all that eager to let the public see it.

There's certainly a lot riding on that catch. As I mentioned above, a loss would've put the Braves within 1 1/2 games of the Rockies with a week of baseball left and it's not hard to imagine a scenario where Atlanta falls a game shy in the wild-card race this year.

Given the Rockies' recent history of getting favorable late-season calls, the question of whether this play is more evidence that baseball should expand its instant replay review system immediately arises. Without the existence of a definitive replay that shows Barmes dropping the ball on the ground, it's hard to use this instance as evidence.

When I saw the play Sunday night without knowledge of these pictures, I didn't question the catch at all -- no matter how hard I squinted at the replay, I couldn't really figure out what was happening.

Even with an extensive replay review system like the NFL utilizes, the play couldn't be overturned on the field without actual video evidence that Barmes dropped the ball. Without that, there's not anywhere to go with the "If there was replay ..." hypotheticals.

I guess we can just consider this another lucky late-season break for the Rockies.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)

9-28-2009 @ 10:41PM

tom rules said...

i'm glad i don't play poker with that cheater.

9-29-2009 @ 2:51PM

jmejlacey said...

You can see it on his face as he is being congrat by the team. but it is true it might not have been overturned even under scrutiny. I am a braves fan but thems the breaks sometimes.

9-29-2009 @ 10:58AM

mdy2240 said...

it's inuendo! now who's an idiot?

9-29-2009 @ 11:51AM

tmercurio said...

it is a shame about the call on the catch. it also means cards win game and get closer to home field advantage for playoffs.

9-29-2009 @ 7:53PM

pduff16 said...

The Cards would not have won the game they would have gone up but not won... The Rockies were home so they would have had a chance to bat. This is base ball there are four umpires out the and that is the best part of baseball human interaction.

9-29-2009 @ 2:43PM

Jeffrey said...

That is why instant replay should be brought into baseball. Very easy to do.....Then their will be a lot less mistakes made by umpires

9-29-2009 @ 3:42PM

rakylejr said...

Not to be argumentative, because I agree about further use of the IR in MLB but, where are you going to place the runners in this situation? 1st & 2nd? 1st & 3rd? When the play is overruled someone has got to figure out (pardon the pun) "Who's on first?" The ruling on the field though incorrect, ended the play. Who is to say the runner that was doubled up off of first would not have made it to third if the play had continued. That is one reason FB replays work better than BB - there is a more equitable way of deciding the outcome when a call is overruled.

9-29-2009 @ 5:33PM

nlvrplfc10 said...

i don't know...don't you think it would also make the game too critical? I would hate for baseball to be effected in a bad manner. I agree that calls should be accurate, but I don't want things to be slowed to a point where teams lose rhythm or get out of sync. THIS call IS pretty important though

9-29-2009 @ 6:58PM

drudrudru said...

when you watch the video, the last replay shows the ball in his bare hand. He clearly did not catch it with his glove and it must have been on the ground when he rolled over. It happens, if the runners are tagging the game is tied and who knows. But they won't get that lucky on Oct 7. go Cards!

9-29-2009 @ 2:48PM

eckup said...

This "catch" and even worse, the obvious blown call by the same first base umpire in the same inning on the infield hit by Schumaker cost the cardinals the game. It almost makes you wonder if this umpire had something riding on the rockies.

katlvr548 said...

it's over and can't be overturned so drop the bad
publicity and move on!!!

9-29-2009 @ 2:50PM

Jim said...

It looks like he caught it.....nice grab!!

rul19 said...

How can you say "No Catch" There is nothing conclusive of the ball hitting the ground. You can see a little bobble, but you cannot see it actually hit the ground. He's out whether you like it or not!

9-29-2009 @ 2:53PM

bigd888steve said...

This picture dosnt prove nothing he could have recoverd/caught it after the fumble.

9-29-2009 @ 2:55PM

xmanp said...

That was no catch, he played it off great though! That what makes it clutch baseball!!

udsitom said...

Why did Barnes look to second base when he got up. He didnt intend on throwing to first until the other outfielder told him to. I think the ball hit the ground and by rolling over it and scooping it up it was hidden from the ump. under the circumstances he goes with the call on the field which was a catch. Bad break for Atlanta.
Oh well.

Wayne McBrayer said...

What is it with the Rockies and favorable calls? Matt Halliday's missing home plate by a foot and being called safe always comes to mind.

9-29-2009 @ 4:44PM

MomboMan4 said...

The play with Matt Holiday was ruled correctly. The ruling is if a defensive player blocks the plate from the runner and he drops the ball on the play, the runner is deemed safe regardless of the fact that he touched the plate or not.

9-29-2009 @ 4:49PM

camkel45 said...

Everyone seems to forgot about the Atkins home run earlier in the game that was ruled a doubled. Had that call been correct Holliday and the plate never happens! Without IR, baseball is called made by four guys on corners. Human error happens to EVERY team. Check out Dexter being called on Saturday night when the ball was still a foot from Albert's glove as Dex's foot hit the bag.