A bizarre sight at Miller Park today: Brewers outfielder Khris Davis hit a home run, only to be called out on the play for not touching home plate – a call which would be reversed.
Here’s how it all went down.
After hitting a juicy fastball off of Giants righty Tim Lincecum out of the park, Davis proceeded to do what any baseball player does when you hit a dinger – round the bases. Just after getting to home plate and returning to the dugout, a timeout was called by Giants manager Bruce Bochy and after nearly four minutes of deliberation, Davis was called out.
To be fair, the play was close.
Davis didn’t have his foot placed on the middle of the home plate. Instead, his foot seemed to be positioned over the end of home plate, with his heel barely touching it.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell challenged the out call, and after another long deliberation, replay confirmed Davis did touch the base. The home run counted.
Why Davis didn’t put his foot closer to home plate is beyond me. The fact he gave the umpires and Bruce Bochy even the chance to think he didn’t touch it is a tad lazy. You’d think it would be baseball 101, and instilled in his mind to touch the plate without giving the umpires any second thoughts about whether he touched it or not. However, He was called safe – and maybe the umps should have been paying more attention.
Davis made sure his next home run would be undisputed.
Later in the same game, with the score tied at one, Davis took a hanging breaking ball from Lincecum out of the park for his second homer to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead.
Davis made sure there wouldn’t be any doubt about whether he touched home plate this time, as he planted both feet down on the base right in front of the home plate umpire – a nice troll job.
When Davis hits home runs in the future, I’m sure he’ll make it as apparent as possible to show both feet firmly planted on home plate.
