Verducci: Knoblauch's mistake bigger than umpire's

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Posted: Thursday October 08, 1998 12:08 PM

Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Tom Verducci spoke with CNN/SI's Mark Morgan after Game 2 of the American League Championship Series.

Mark Morgan: A controversial ending to Game 2 of the ALCS here in New York. Tom, the big question, did homeplate umpire Ted Hendry make the correct call in the 12th inning?

Tom Verducci: Well, Mark, I kind of doubt it, and the reason why I do is I hear the doubts of other umpires, which you usually never hear in these cases. Steve Palermo, former American League umpire, said that Hendry made the wrong call, and Hendry's crewmate, Jim Evans, said that he had some doubt about the call himself. He said it could have gone either way. Usually in these situations, these umpires go to the mat to back each other up. Their doubt left some doubt in my mind.

Mark Morgan: The call itself set aside, Yankees second baseman Chuck Knoblauch really didn't help his team's cause by choosing to argue the call instead of finding out where the ball was.

Tom Verducci: Absolutely, Mark. That is a very good point. Hendry may have made a mistake in judgment here, but I think Chuck Knoblauch made a bigger mistake. He made a mistake of execution. His job is to find that ball and continue to play. You can't start to argue there. Now Chuck said he lost the ball, but the fact is he didn't start looking for the ball until Enrique Wilson was staggering toward the plate.

Mark Morgan: Will this controversial call and Cleveland win have any impact on the rest of the series?

Tom Verducci: Well, I kind of doubt it, Mark. There is an off day coming up on Thursday. After that I think it is up to the starting pitcher to determine momentum and who has that. I recall the series in 1996 between the Orioles and the Yankees, Game 1 of the ALCS. The Orioles lost the game when a fan, Jeffrey Maher, reached over and stole what should have been an out and it was ruled a home run. Well, they came back and won the next day. I don't think this will have a big carry-over effect.  

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