The Cubs have always been chock full of lessons on what not to do on a baseball field, but Geovany Soto(notes) came up with one on Wednesday night that I've never seen before.
As he tried to get control of a pitch in the dirt from David Patton(notes) during the fourth inning, Soto used his facemask to corral the ball and bring it into his grasp. But that's against MLB Rule 7.05 (j), though home plate umpire Doug Eddings — surprise! — needed a reminder from Brewers manager Ken Macha to notice and enforce it. As a result, Soto was charged with an error and runner Felipe Lopez(notes) was allowed to move from second to third.
Up in the booth, former catcher Bob Brenly said that "Geo knows better than that" and that every catcher is taught not to use a tool of ignorance as a fielding instrument as one of baseball's first lessons.
But Cubs' skipper Lou Piniella later said that his catcher probably wasn't aware of the rule:
''I don't think he knew the rule,'' Piniella said. ''We told him he couldn't use his helmet either, just to be sure.''
It's been a sleepy September in Wrigleyville, but Soto really took that to a whole new level with this play, didn't he? Almost makes you want to put two and two together.
But since we're learning something new today, we might as well go ahead and explain a few more things. Thursday's penalty was only one base because it was a pitched ball. If you throw your glove at — or touch any piece of dislodged equipment to — a batted ball, the runner gets three bases. If you do the same to a thrown ball, it's two.
Bottom line: If you need to get control of a baseball, use a hands-on policy only.
Got that, Geo?
