CASPER
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So much for friendlier baseball at home plate.
Tampa Bay's Justin Ruggiano figures that if he can't get a call by sliding into home plate, he's going to go back to the old ways.
Ruggiano was called out by umpire John Tumpane while trying to score on a fly ball in the seventh inning of Tampa Bay's 2-1 loss to Detroit Monday. He beat Magglio Ordonez's throw to the plate, but appeared to miss the plate after hitting Alex Avila's outstretched leg.
Avila appeared to miss the tag and Ruggiano reached back with his foot to tap the base before Avila succeeded with a second attempt.
"Whether or not I got in on the first attempt or not — I'm pretty sure I did — but if I didn't, I know I got in on the second time," he said.
Ruggiano said the call could change his mind about running into the catcher on close plays.
"If they are going to give the catcher the benefit of the doubt on those plays, I feel like that narrows down our options to a collision at the plate every time," he said. "It's not something you want to do, but for me now, it seems like if there's anything close, I'm going to have to make a decision.
"The decision will have to be made whether or not to risk being called out or going after the catcher."
Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon was ejected for arguing the call, which came with Tampa trailing 1-0, as was pitcher David Price. Price had the day off, having started on Saturday.
"The replay spoke for itself," Maddon said. "I'm a little annoyed that sometimes it seems to go against us on the heavy side."
Tampa Bay's Justin Ruggiano figures that if he can't get a call by sliding into home plate, he's going to go back to the old ways.
Ruggiano was called out by umpire John Tumpane while trying to score on a fly ball in the seventh inning of Tampa Bay's 2-1 loss to Detroit Monday. He beat Magglio Ordonez's throw to the plate, but appeared to miss the plate after hitting Alex Avila's outstretched leg.
Avila appeared to miss the tag and Ruggiano reached back with his foot to tap the base before Avila succeeded with a second attempt.
"Whether or not I got in on the first attempt or not — I'm pretty sure I did — but if I didn't, I know I got in on the second time," he said.
Ruggiano said the call could change his mind about running into the catcher on close plays.
"If they are going to give the catcher the benefit of the doubt on those plays, I feel like that narrows down our options to a collision at the plate every time," he said. "It's not something you want to do, but for me now, it seems like if there's anything close, I'm going to have to make a decision.
"The decision will have to be made whether or not to risk being called out or going after the catcher."
Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon was ejected for arguing the call, which came with Tampa trailing 1-0, as was pitcher David Price. Price had the day off, having started on Saturday.
"The replay spoke for itself," Maddon said. "I'm a little annoyed that sometimes it seems to go against us on the heavy side."
