This is a freaking disgrace and needs to be called out! After reading Rule 5.09(a)(1), I do not believe TJ Friedl caught this ball. If a player drops the ball upon falling, it is not a catch. What's worse, he would have known he dropped it, yet chose not... to make that clear...show more

The ball is literally rolling on the ground and you needed to go to the rulebook?

If you think Friedl had any sort of obligation to admit he dropped the baseball… you don’t know ball.

“I dropped it coach, I dropped the ball when I hit the ground, I dropped it, it’s not an out “

Expecting a player to self-report a drop? That’s not how this game works.

You do not really expect him to go. Nope I totally dropped it. Sorry he’s safe. 😂😂😂

While the umpires did miss this and the Giants didn't challenge, both mistakes in their own right, many MLB players would show more integrity here and not claim a catch that they clearly didn't make. Umpires and Giants mistakes aside, this still reflects poorly on Friedl.

Ok DAN

Same energy you are giving off rn

2 things are clear here: 1. He clearly dropped that ball. 2. Clearly you are retarded if you think an outfielder is going to get up & say "Hey I dropped that ball. Let him stay on second base."

Two things: 1. Why did you need to read the rule to figure out this wasn’t a catch? 2. Players always try to pretend they catch something they know they missed. That’s part of the game. If an ump and the opponents get fooled, that’s on them.

He’s a competitor trying to win, not his fault the other team and the umps are morons. You’re such a loser if you think he should tell people he dropped the ball

0.000% of MLB players would stand and say they didn't catch the ball. Catchers frame balls on every pitch, fielders deke runners on the base paths, etc. It isn't the players job to play umpire. The fact that the Giants didn't challenge this is on them. With all the technology, etc. they should have immediately caught this. By the way, NFL guys frequently don't catch balls but their team quickly rushes to the line of scrimmage to get the next play off before it can be challenged. Basketball players don't say they fouled someone when it doesn't get called either. You play the game and let the officials do their job.

You had to read the rules to figure out that wasn’t a catch? 🤣🤣

The batter showing a sign of respect there had to of had Friedl like this inside 😂😂

There was no voluntary release, so by rule, not a catch. But it wasn’t appealed, so… 🤷🏻‍♂️

Not the players responsibility to make the call or to even correct a wrong call. It’s not even like he tried to fool the umpire, he just threw the ball back in. He’s not cheating, he’s not doing anything wrong. You’re right, it’s not a catch, but TJ did nothing wrong here

At this level, it’s not his job to call that. He’s a player. With the umpires and technology, with instant replay, and option to challenge… That rests solely on the opposing team to challenge a missed call

This pearl clutching is hilarious. The fielder is under no obligation to call attention to the fact that he didn’t catch the ball. His job is to play the game, and there are 4 other guys on the field whose job it is to enforce the rules, and they are the ones failing here.

It’s not his job to determine what is or isn’t a catch, that’s the umpire’s job and if the opposing team didn’t like the outcome then they could challenge the play. It happens in football all the time too. In the speed of the game, a player might think they caught it.

1. No rulebook needed 2. Giants had avenue to review and chose not to 3. Catchers try to fool umps 30x a game by framing pitches they know are balls as strikes - you got the same energy toward them as Friedl?

That’s not how competing works

Tom Brady got hit by Myles Garrett as he released the ball. Refs threw a flag Patriots ended up winning a game they lose without the penalty. In post game interview, Brady was asked about the penalty. He replied "Its not my job to call to call penalties. That's up to the refs"

Well, if we require that all players be honest, why would we need umps on the field. Just let the catcher call balls and strikes himself. I don't see any reason to blame him if he's playing by the rules and not hurting anybody.

Baseball has an element of deception that is allowed. That’s on the umpire who didn’t see the drop and called him out, and the Giants who didn’t ask for a review. Also, how does he go down with the ball in his glove but turns over with the ball in his throwing hand when he was in contact with the ground?

You should never ever ever admit to dropping a ball. Why do you think everyone’s taught to shield with their body? There’s nothing unsportsmanlike about it. You take the bad calls whenever you can. Back in the day, there were no challenges, so now all of a sudden it’s wrong?

thats like saying a batter should tap his head challenging a ball call saying it was a strike, or the catcher challenging a strike call saying it was a ball. it doesnt happen. The umpires make the call, the opposing team can challenge. Not the players responsibility.

Don't be too hard on the player. It's their job to win games, that's what they're paid to do. And it's the umpires' job to get the calls right, and the Giants' job to challenge when appropriate. Ironically, only Friedl did his job.

Yeah, I get doing whatever you have to in order to Win, but that should always be within the spirit of the game. This is total BS and they can’t even challenge as the Batter tipped his cap and headed to the dugout. Shitty move by the CF and atrocious miss by the Umpires, the guy on 2B should have clearly saw that it went into his glove and then was in his throwing hand when he came up with zero exchange. I saw it in the first video without the assistance of replay. A professional Umpire should also have seen that.

You’ve never played sports if you think a player would say he didn’t catch that. If the ump called him out, why would you argue? You wanna sell it anyway you can. Just like tagging a guy on the bases. You gotta sell it sometimes.

lol there is no integrity in baseball… just like players on 2nd base tipping the pitches… that integrity? Or pitch framing?

“What's worse, he would have known he dropped it, yet chose not to make that clear...” Might be the biggest nerd sentence I have ever read, holy shit 😂

That’s not even close to a catch lol

Hot take: A) it’s not the player’s obligation to tell the other team they got an unfavorable call they should challenge B) it’s completely conceivable the player legitimately thought he caught it. He doesn’t have the 3rd person slow mo. He thought he pinned it to his side

No challenge? That’s on San Fran.