More on the umpires

Derek Jeter -

I was just baffled by the explanation. I was told I was out because the ball beat me, and he didn't have to tag me. I was unaware they had changed the rules.

If that's really what the ump said, he should be fired (or at least suspended).

Crew chief John Hirschbeck -

It would make (Jeter’s) actions seem appropriate if that’s what he was told. The best way I can answer it is to talk to Marty about it. Not here at the ballpark, but if I see him tonight, or if not, we’ll have lunch tomorrow and we’ll discuss it. Getting a play right is one thing, but how you handle it is also important. Nowadays, with the cameras, ESPN and the reporters, I say the media, I actually mean television — it used to be if the ball beat you, you were out, but it isn’t that way anymore. It’s not a reason to call someone out. You have to make a good tag...

Marty [the thirdbase umpire] asked me to handle things today. We hopefully learn from our experiences. It’s the only way we get better at what we do.

This is far more than I expected from generally stubborn MLB umpires. And perhaps most interesting of all is that Hirschbeck subtly makes a request for video review. That I like most of all.