Former Player Now TV Guy Jeff Francoeur Nailed The Explanation Of The Yankee Fan Interference Call In Real Time

Now, a more cynical Yankees fan might suggest I'm blogging about this season-changing play because holy shit, these Yankee fans are morons, and they might have cost their team a playoff game because they couldn't keep their hands off a ball in play. But it's more just a nice little bonus for me in this case. 

Because in a world where social media and media critics shit all over announcers, I want to give former MLB'er Jeff Francoeur his flowers. 

He nailed this play and call. 

You'd be forgiven if you didn't even know who Jeff Francoeur is or that he was in the booth. He played 12 seasons for 8 different teams and at one point, I begged the Red Sox to sign him. He and play-by-play guy Brian Anderson aren't exactly Madden and Summerall, I get it. 

But in a big spot, in real-time, Francoeur was all over a tough play. 

Before we even saw our first replay (and terrible job by TNT Sports; we needed that first replay MUCH sooner), Anderson and Francoeur pointed out we'd get a Crew Chief review because it was a boundary play. 

First slow-mo replay, the boys in the booth thought what I thought at home - up and over, home run. 

Before we even got the second replay, which made it clear it was fan interference, Anderson suggested "spectator interference" might be in play. 

Once we saw this, Francouer started to change his tune. 

"I think we can agree, where that ball was going, he was not going to catch it," he said, seeing the third replay. Then Anderson reminded viewers that it was out of the umps' hands and up to MLB's replay command center in New York to watch the replays and make the call.  

"Let's play this out," Fancouer mused as the replays rolled. "I think we can all agree, Mesa was not catching that ball. Now, do you score Lomard or not? I would."

Advertisement

George Lombard was on first and running hard with two outs. Before we even saw that, Francouer was on it. 

"If I'm an umpire, that's a double and an RBI," he added, after only seeing the replay a few times. He was confident and direct with the call. 

"When it takes some extra time, like it is right now, it does lead you to believe they're looking at where to place the runners," Anderson added. 

Eventually, crew chief Dan Bellino came out and called it spectator interference, just like Francoeur suggested after seeing that second replay. Bellino was solid with his explanation, too. 

The booth did a great job. Thousands of fans had no idea the umps (well, the replay center) could even do that, and here was Francoeur laying out a complicated call correctly and succinctly. Like, how many people at home just assumed it was an automatic out? 

In an age of wishy-washy former players in the booth, who offer little besides the occasional sound effect, this was A+ stuff here. 

Advertisement

As for the fan(s) involved, tough scene. Cost your team a game in the playoffs. Hate to see it for such a likable fanbase. Not the first time they've jumped into the action on a big spot. 

Francouer said to give the umpires all the credit for getting it right. He's not wrong, but he (and Brian Anderson) also deserve credit for calling it right in real time and explaining it so well to the audience.