SEC Coordinator of Umpires Paul Guillie breaks down controversial call in South Carolina vs. LSU semifinal

There was a controversial call in extra innings of the South Carolina vs. LSU semifinal to the SEC Tournament. Now, the SEC Coordinator of Umpires Paul Guillie has broken down what happened on the play.

It was the 10th inning of a tied game when the Gamecocks attempted to steal home. The throw beat them and LSU catcher Brady Neal jumped up to quickly tag out the South Carolina runner. However, umpires then conferenced and awarded the runner home for a catcher’s balk when he stepped on home plate.

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“It’s not a catcher’s box situation,” Guillie said. “It’s the catcher being on or in front of home plate and not having possession of the ball. That’s the issue. It’s not a catcher’s box situation because our rule does allow the catcher to have one foot out of the box, and he can leave the box — let’s say we had a potential steal where we have a pitch-out. He can leave the box at the time of the release. This particular play has specific guidelines in it of what they can and cannot do.”

Importantly, this rule was in effect because the pitcher was on the rubber when he threw the ball. That made it a pitch. Had he stepped off, then it’s not a pitch and the rule changes.

“Yes, then it’s not a pitch, it’s a play, and then he would be allowed — we don’t have a pitch in that situation, so once he steps off, the pitch is not a hittable pitch so it doesn’t become interference on the batter, and the catcher is not under the same restrictions because he can’t balk because he stepped off.”

There was confusion at the SEC Tournament about what call was being made. However, as Guillie explained, they felt it was such a complex call that explaining it would have only added to the confusion in Hoover.

“That question did come up, but because we had a judgment play and the crew getting together to get the call right, then we had a rule interpretation, then we had a question about a review process, then we also had somebody — then we had the play appealed on whether or not the runner touched home plate,” Guillie said.

“We had so many things going on, the decision was made that we felt like we would have probably confused people more than trying to come over a microphone in this type of environment and explain it, and we elected to take the time to do it here.”

Jay Johnson provides postgame reaction to controversial SEC Tournament play

One person who was upset with how the SEC umpires handled the call was LSU head coach Jay Johnson, who ended up getting ejected over it. In particular, he was mad because he felt it wasn’t a reviewable play.

“I don’t want to get too much into all of that. It’s a good crew. They basically called it a catcher balk and basically said Brady came out in front of the plate before the pitch. I think I was upset because it’s not a reviewable play. Now, the foundation of umpiring is always to get the call right, and I do respect that. I’m going to have to look at it again and get an explanation and all those types of things,” Johnson said.

“But at least it was explained to me that it was a catcher balk, but the first thing he said is, you’re not going to like this. Then yeah. I’ve never seen that called before. I’ve got to be honest. Long time coaching college baseball, 24 years now or whatever. I’ve never seen that called.”