Blown call is a Rocky Mountain low
Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton throws out Philadelphia Phillies' Placido Polanco during the sixth inning. (Aug. 2, 2011) Credit: AP
Rockies first baseman Todd Helton has always had a good defensive reputation. But did you know he could record a putout without even touching the bag? Umpire Tim Welke cleared that one up for us...
Yes, as part of a dramatic Dodgers/Rockies game on Wednesday, Welke called Dodgers runner--and former Yankee--Jerry Hairston Jr. out at first -- despite Helton being well off the bag. And by well, we mean about three feet.
Los Angeles manager--and former Yankee--Don Mattingly went crazy (understandably) after the play. Hairston wasn't so wild about the call either.
"I was surprised," Hairston told reporters. "To be honest, I thought Helton had backpicked and Ethier got thrown out."
Even Helton admitted the call was blown.
"It wasn't in the same Neighborhood. It was 970," Helton said, referring to Denver's 303 area code.
Hairston got some revenge in the eighth inning, hitting a two-run double. But the Rockies' Jason Giambi--a former Yankee--won the game with a walkoff home run in the ninth.
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