Umps got it wrong

Derek Jeter was safe Monday night, and two umps blew the call.

In case you missed it, the Yankees captain tried to steal third base with no one out in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. Rod Barajas, the Blue Jays catcher, threw a strike to the third base bag where Scott Rolen caught the ball and waited for Jeter to slide head-first into the out. However, Jeter stopped his left hand mid-slide and pushed his right hand forward, touching the bag. Rolen adjusted too late and tagged Jeter long after he had reached third safely.

Third base umpire Marty Foster, a 10-year major league veteran, called Jeter out. Most people, especially Jeter, are irate about Foster’s explanation. According to Jeter, Foster said, “He didn’t have to tag you. The ball beat you.”

Now that’s a lousy explanation, but John Hirschbeck is the crew chief who has been in the big leagues for nearly 30 years and said something even more mindless. After the game, he told the media, “It used to be, if the ball beat you, you’re out. And it’s really not like that any more. Now you have to make a good tag. You just can’t take the glove and lay it down in front of the bag.”It’s not a reason to call someone out, because the ball beat you. It used to be that way. That is true. But it’s not like that any more.” (Read more on MLBFanhouse.)

It used to be that way? Really?

According to Major League Baseball’s official rule book, Rule 2.0, Definition of Terms:

A TAG is the action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the  ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove.

Rolen’s action was not a force play, so therefore he need to touch the runner with the ball or with his glove holding the ball. Neither of those things happened. It doesn’t matter if he did it in 2009, 1999, 1989 or 1979. Rolen missed the tag, Foster missed the call, and Hirschbeck missed the opportunity to say the right thing to the media.

Patriots 40, Giants 17

The New York Giants scored the most points allowed by the New England Patriots this season in a 38-35 loss in the last regular season game. They led by 12 points in the second half; they beat three division winners in the NFC playoffs to reach the Super Bowl; they’ve won 10 straight road games, and the Super Bowl is NOT in Giants Stadium.

Those are the main reasons that the Giants could win Super Bowl XLII. That and another breakout game by Plaxico Burress, who’s been hampered by injuries this week.

Here are the reasons why the Patriots could win:

• The best offense since the 1998 Vikings, a team that featured a rookie wide receiver named Randy Moss.
• Moss excels in the spotlight. Remember his ‘98 performance on Monday Night Football against the Packers at Lambeau Field and his Thanksgiving Day celebration against the Cowboys?
• A defense that held 13 of 18 opponents to 20 points or less.
• Super Bowl experience, led by Tom Brady and Mike Vrabel, who have three rings already.
• A confident Lawrence Maroney, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in two playoff games.
• A motivation to complete the perfect 19-0 season.
• The stadium in Arizona.

That last one counts a lot. The weather forecast is for mid-50s with rain and win at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. The stadium has a retractable roof, so the weather inside will be beautiful. Balmy. No wind. Perfect lighting.

The Patriots averaged 40 points per game before the winds and cold of December hit. They still won all their games, but the contests were suddenly close. Weather played a role in that, but weather will not be a problem Sunday.

Thus the predicted score. Patriots 40, Giants under 20.

History is completed Sunday in Arizona.