Phelps’ play as bad as it gets
MARINERS • UPDATED 7:20 A.M.; 1:20 P.M. MONDAY
Were you watching the M's game?
Did you see Josh Phelps blow up Kenji Johjima at home plate? (UPDATE NO. 2: You used to be able to see the video, but MLB made YouTube take it down; if anyone else finds one, please mention the link in comments.)
What did you think of it?
I'll tell you my thoughts and the come from a guy who started catching when he was 12 and finished about five years ago: Phelps' just pulled as a bush a play as I've ever seen.
Johjima did what catchers are supposed to do, he gave Phelps the plate to slide into. Now, when Johjima caught the ball, he would have tried to take the plate away with his foot or leg. But by then Phelps would have scored, because the throw was late.
But instead of sliding, Phelps went a foot or two into fair territory to explode into Johjima with his body, extending his arms through the M's catcher. Phelps was so far out of the baseline, he had to go back toward foul territory to touch the plate.
I really don't understand how he wasn't called out by the plate umpire for going out of the baseline to initiate contact, just like a guy at second base is called out when he ranges wide to break up the double play. Phelps wasn't trying to touch home plate, he was trying to hit a catcher who was NOT impeding his path to score. That's how people get hurt.
No matter what, Phelps' play cannot be excused or explained away by anyone, no matter how good a guy Phelps might be. This play was the type only a jerk would make (and if I didn't think kids were reading this, I would use a different word than jerk).
And, if the M's play baseball the way it is meant to be played, the next time Phelps hits, he won't be swinging the bat. He'll be trying to avoid retribution. A retribution he earned. And one he got.