For years, fans and players alike have complained that no one is sure what constitutes a catch in the N.F.L. It appears that no one knows what blocking the plate means in Major League Baseball either.
Case in point: A play at home in Tuesday’s game between the Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox in which catcher Jonah Heim of the Rangers set up to the side of home plate, received a perfect throw from Travis Jankowski and tagged out Elvis Andrus to keep the game tied, 6-6.
The White Sox challenged the call — contending Andrus was safe and that Heim blocked the plate — and the replay review team in New York overturned it, much to the chagrin of Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy, who went out and earned himself an ejection.