Tim Kurkjian is an Idiot!

I'm kind of with Kurkjian here. Babe Ruth didn't need no stinking replay.

It was a bad call. If McLelland had been certain Holliday was safe, he should have made the signal instantly, instead of waiting for Barrett to go slap the tag on. Taking nothing away from the Rocks because they had a hell of a closing stretch, but the calls have to be right.

McLelland's delay wasn't because he was unsure if Holliday touched the plate, but if Barrett had the ball. He did appear to bobble it momentarily and after watching the replay 1432 times I believe Holliday did touch the plate, albeit not by much.

When Chris Chambliss hit his walkoff homer in the 1976 playoffs, the only base he touched was first. The umpires felt it better for the players to clear the field to prevent injury then worry about it. Two hours after the game was over, Chambliss came out, and in the presence of the umpire, touched home. I know a homer is different than a sac fly, but the point is if there was a doubt he didn't touch the plate, McLelland would have made no call, and Bud Black would have argued his ass off.

Atkins ball was clearly a homer, but as Jamey Carroll said afterwards, they won the game so who cares.

It cleared the fence and bounced off a wheelchair of a fan sitting on the walkway.

The third base line angle is not good, obviously you can't see the plate. The replay from behind the plate, to me anyway, shows Holliday reaching for the plate and his hand grabbing Barrett's shoe, but as he goes by his left forearm appears to drag over the plate.

Barrett did appear to bobble the ball, and I'm thinking that's the reason he didn't argue, that and it also doesn't appear he actually tagged Holliday. So by him not arguing means in Barrett's mind, Holliday was safe and it didn't cross his mind Holliday missed the plate.

His opinion matters because he was closer to the play than anyone.

I disagree with Kurkjian's assessment, it's no basis to call him and idiot. He's smarter than most of the Baseball Tonight crew currently assembled, and his pulse on the history of the game is, in my opinion, unmatched. I enjoy listening to Timmy, even if he says something I disagree with. And, having seen both replays, I have no clue either. So I'll use the NFL's replay rule: without conclusive evidence, the call on the field stands.

He was out...watch the replay...it is what it is

Krukjian looks like he doesn't get out much, so why would he understand the gravity of the situation anyway?

I don't think you could say for sure one way or another that he did touch the plate. But if Atkins homerun would have counted and not been ruled a double we would not even be discussing the close call at the plate.