Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas appeared to combine for a key out at third base during the sixth inning on Wednesday night, but umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ruled Alec Bohm’s path was blocked in a call that led to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts getting ejected and the Philadelphia Phillies rallying for five runs that propelled them to a win.
The ejection was Roberts’ first of the season and 12th in his managerial career.
“He missed the call,” Roberts said after the Dodgers’ loss. “This might be the first time I’ve ever said that. It was an egregious missed call. Their job is hard. That changed the game.”
Rojas also was clearly frustrated with the obstruction call, which is not one that can be challenged. But part of his ire was directed toward the process by which MLB implements rules.
“Right after the play I was upset because I knew I didn’t do anything wrong to obstruct the bag or anything like that. I was just trying to catch the ball and make a play,” Rojas began.
“When you’re running, there’s a target, trying to catch the ball and get your feet situated to make a play. You never expect an umpire is looking to be the hero and trying to make a call just because we have a rule in place.
“I thought the rule was in place for player safety and for players not blocking the bag to make someone hurt. In that play, with me not making an attempt to block the bag or be in the way of Bohm to get to third base, it was disappointing.
“And what was a little more disappointing is when I tried to get an explanation, the guy starts screaming at that we voted yes for that play. So MLB is trying to put rules in play for us to be safe and for the games to be played a different way from the way we always play, and sometimes we don’t even have a say in that.
“We weren’t ready to make a change like that right away when it was proposed, but it’s always like that. The players are always the one making the adjustments and trying to play the game the best way that we can with the new rules and all that.”
Beginning with the 2023 season, a joint competition committee comprised of four active players, six members appointed by MLB and one umpire was formed to assess potential rule changes. Any rule the committee approves can be implemented with 45 days’ notice to the players.
Under the 2017-21 collective bargaining agreement (CBA), commissioner Rob Manfred had the authority to unilaterally implement new rules one year after they were first proposed to the union. New MLB rules otherwise could be expedited and enacted with the union’s consent.
Crew chief Marvin Hudson asserted Wendelstedt made the correct call in light of the new obstruction rule that is in place.
“He was in front of the bag without the ball. And that’s the new obstruction rule,” Hudson noted. “Plus, he was running in front of him to third. He was in front of third without the ball, so he obstructed the runner. The runner didn’t have a lane to get to the bag.
“He’s gotta have the ball before he can get in front of the bag. That’s the new rule this year.”
Miguel Rojas upset with umpire
Replay did show Bohm’s lead leg make some contact with Rojas, but there also appeared to be a relatively clear path to third base.
“As I saw the replay, Miggy fielded the baseball about a foot inside the bag, two feet in front of the bag and did give Bohm a lane because his legs were spread wide with the glove making the tag,” Roberts said. “The spirit of the rule was to deter infielders from blocking the bag, not giving the baserunner a lane or a spot towards a bag and potentially hurting a baserunner.
Rojas took aim at Wendelstedt specifically after chastising MLB, adding, “You expect a guy that has been in the league for a long time to have a little bit of feel of the game, what kind of play it is. I think this guy has seen this play a million times, and he just wanted some part of, I don’t know, part of a moment in the game.
“It’s really sad he changed the whole context of the game for us. Especially the way that we’re playing right now, trying to win games. It’s unfortunate that an umpire can change the narrative of a game and series.”
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