This tale of two calls harkens back to an all-Chicago game from 2007. During the June 24, 2007 Cubs-White Sox game, the White Sox broadcast bashed the umpires, but was it warranted? Article: www.closecallsports.com/2021/...
This is the infamous Cubs-White Sox obstruction play (for the record this is Obstruction Type 2 [OBS B]) since no play was being made on the runner at the time of the obstruction (the ball was still in the outfield).
The video begins with a thorny play and unedited analysis (in potato quality, unfortunately) by the White Sox booth. During the ensuing post-play delay as umpires conferenced, the Sox deemed the play a routine baseball event and simple double play caused by bad baserunning on the Cubs' part.
With two on (R1, R2) and none out, Cubs batter Mark DeRosa had hit a fly ball to the wall in right field. By the time the ball was returned to the infield, Cubs baserunner R1 Angel Pagan seemingly inexplicably was caught up between second and third base, which started a cavalcade of misfortune for the Cubs as batter DeRosa became ensnared in a brief rundown, R2 Felix Pie made an unsuccessful dash for home plate, and the Sox appeared to get a double play out of it: after all, 2B Umpire Ed Rapuano called Pagan out at second and HP Umpire CB Bucknor called Pie out at home.
When umpires broke the conference by awarding the Cubs a bases loaded, none out situation, bewilderment infected the Sox booth. When Crew Chief Joe West ejected White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, analyst Hawk Harrelson turned his ire to West (it wouldn't be the last time, of course). In the end, the White Sox blamed the umpires for missing the play and could not understand the call.
Meanwhile, the Cubs from the very initial play-by-play identified a collision between Pagan and White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe on second base, while the batted ball was still in the outfield. In short order, the proper term "obstruction" made its way onto the airwaves and when showing replays, the illegal collision similarly enjoyed airtime-the broadcast even pointed out that not only did 2B Umpire Rapuano call the obstruction, so too did 3B Umpire Ed Hickox.
In the end, the Cubs educated Chicago sports fans while the Sox did not. The Cubs identified and showed the obstruction while the White Sox did not.
In conclusion, sometimes broadcasts get it right and sometimes not so much. The purpose of this video is to illustrate how sometimes even a TV broadcast with its replays and different cameras can still miss the crucial elements of an entire play and how its analysis to the viewing public can therefore be inaccurate or misleading.
Perhaps the most egregious element of this? The White Sox had a camera angle that would have shown the obstruction, but showed the replay from a point AFTER the obstruction had already occurred. Was this simple negligence or deliberate omission of a material fact?