Erick Aybar's Footwork Creates Giant Gray Area

It didn't end up being the most important play in the Yankees' classic 3-2 ALCS victory on Saturday night, but Erick Aybar's(notes) non-tag of second base in the 10th inning definitely ranks as its oddest and most controversial highlight. To recap: With Melky Cabrera(notes) bearing down on the base after a Jorge Posada(notes) grounder to second, the Angels shortstop straddled the bag and then threw the ball to first. But neither foot ever touched the base and umpire Jerry Layne ruled Cabrera safe. Watch it here Easy call, right? Well, not quite. What Aybar did is called the "neighborhood play" in baseball and is widely considered a common practice, even at the highest levels of play. Because middle infielders are placed in the line of danger and injury, MLB umpires will often overlook a close-but-not-quite tag so long as it looks close and some dirt is kicked up in the air. The concession happens a countless number of times each season and rare is the time tha...