A couple of thoughts about the A-Rod slap play. First, it really was a poor decision by A-Rod, because it takes Jeter out of scoring position. Shefield popped out, so no harm, but A-Rod can't see the future. In a 4-2 game, that's not insignificant. Second, I love the moment at around :52 of the video above. Tito is really in Marsh's ear, and West says something that shuts Tito up right away. The look on Tito's face is pretty funny. Once Marsh signals that he is willing to take information to reconsider his call, West essentially tells Tito to F off. Third, from the conference, it looks like West had the slap the whole way and is impatient they are even huddling. What's interesting to me about the play is that the way it was called on the field, it was obstruction. Eyechart clearly obstructs A-Rod, which should have meant A-Rod at least on second, and maybe third, and Jeter at least on third and probably home. Usually obstruction on a runner before first it's a dead ball, but Marsh let it play out. I've often suspected that West told Marsh right away what he saw, and nobody else dissented, so Marsh changed his call, but that what they were really discussing for that time was whether A-Rod's interference occurred before Eyechart's obstruction. (It did.)
