NEWSLETTER
Given the way things have gone for the Cubs lately, my capacity for (baseball) empathy is pretty low at the moment. And that’s stretched even further for the White Sox. But despite all that, I have to say this call is some SERIOUS bullshit. Easily one of the worst calls of its kind I have ever seen. See if you agree.
White Sox Lose on Horrible Call
With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning of an 8-6 game, Andrew Benintendi stepped up to the plate representing the game-winning run. Unfortunately, he quickly popped up to the shortstop Gunnar Henderson for the second out of the inning. Except it wasn’t only the second out of the inning.
The umpire called interference on the casually retreating Andrew Vaughn, which manufactured a third out of thin air, ending the game. It is a HORRIBLE call.
Check it out:
Andrew Vaughn is called for interference after an infield fly rule. An Absolutely BRUTAL call to end the game…. pic.twitter.com/AyhCWwiHeY
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 24, 2024
On first watch, you can’t even be sure what you’re supposed to be looking for. Vaughn need to take only 4-5 steps back to the bag, and he does so slowly while watching the play develop in front of him. Henderson is *barely* impacted by his actions, which were so very clearly innocuous, and settles under the ball with time to spare.
Calling that interference at all – let alone for the final out of the game – is absolutely bonkers. We would be fuming if it happened to the Cubs.
Now, there is an argument to be made that it was maybe, technically/literally, the correct call. But you can’t tell me this is the spirit of the rule.
Andrew Vaughn on Interference Call
Here’s Vaughn on the play:
“I didn’t feel like he was deterred from making the play. It was a high popup, we were all reading it.” I really have no idea what else Vaughn could have done to AVOID being called for interference, if that’s what qualifies as interference.
And, listen, it’s not like it matters. The 2024 Chicago White Sox (15-36) are going nowhere fast. But that’s still a bad call that shouldn’t have happened.
Tough year for the White Sox.
