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Confused umpires reverse call after Paul Goldschmidt’s grounder rolls back fair (Video)

On Thursday, we had a situation in the Indians-Rangers game where a bunted ball veered back into fair territory after starting foul, and all of the players involved basically stood around making assumptions. That resulted in the Indians getting the sacrifice desired, but they could have benefited further had hitter Vinny Rottino hustled out of the box and runner Carlos Santana ran hard the entire way and taken the extra base. That would cost Cleveland a chance to score in that inning, but didn't end up costing them a win.

On Friday night, we had another baseball take a crazy turn back into fair territory, only this time it was the the umpires who made the assumptions while the players played it out. That resulted in a little bit of confusion, an umpire huddle, and a rare reversal of a missed call on the field.

It happened in the 3rd inning when Paul Goldschmidt caught one right off the tip of his bat and had it spin back fair about 30 feet up the line. Goldschmidt would hustle out of the box while Buster Posey quickly pounced on the ball and made a good enough throw to beat the runner by a clear step. It should have been an easy call. However, first base umpire James Hoye have given up on the play and reluctantly signaled safe.

Here's a look at the play if you're confused at home:

Obviously Hoye's call didn't sit well with Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who quickly convinced the umpires to huddle to see if one of them was paying attention. Shortly after convening, the call would be reversed, which in turn set off Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson and first base coach Eric Young. But for some reason it appears as though they were arguing about Goldschmidt staying in the baseline, which he didn't anyway, but the call was changed due to the runner simply being out.

The delay to sort this out would only take about three minutes, which isn't too bad compared to some arguments and huddles. But just imagine how easy the call would have been had Hoye been not assumed the play was dead from the start.

Seriously, this is why I urge all of you young players, coaches and umpires out there to never assume anything on a baseball field. If you don't listen, I may have to write about you someday in the same vain I've written about these professionals, and you really don't want that!

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