Greg Sankey fires jab at obstruction rule after controversial WCWS call in Texas vs. Texas Tech

One of the key moments in Wednesday’s Game 1 of the WCWS final came in the fifth inning. Texas was called for obstruction after a controversial review, and it led to Texas Tech’s first run of the ballgame.

While the obstruction call was just one of the crazy moments in the game – a 2-1 Texas win – the ruling still came up at the end of Greg Sankey’s interview on SEC Network ahead of first pitch. He joked his “walk-up song” would be about changing the rule.

Sankey spoke with the panel prior to first pitch of Game 2 between Texas and Texas Tech, and Alyssa Lang said a producer told her to ask who he’d pick to win. Knowing he’d pick the Longhorns, representing the SEC, she instead pivoted to ask him what his walk-up song would be. Seeing the opportunity, Sankey threw a curveball, joking about the obstruction rule and the need for an extra base at first base.

“I think the walk-up song would be entitled, ‘We need to change the obstruction rule,’ and put it to a musical tune,” Sankey said. “How’s that? Didn’t see that coming, did you? … We ought to be able to play softball, we don’t want collisions.

“We need the base added, too, at first base. So if we can do that in baseball where we don’t have as many close plays as you do in softball, naturally, why are we waiting for these things? Let’s get some stuff done. That’s my walk-up music.”

Jessica Mendoza: ‘They need to change the rule’

The play in question occurred in the top of the fifth inning when Leighann Goode went to tag Logan Halleman out on a stolen base attempt. Goode placed the tag well before Halleman got to the base, but Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco challenged the call and argued Goode obstructed.

Umpires reviewed it and overturned the call. They ruled Goode obstructed Halleman’s path to the base, which is spelled out in Rule 9.5.1 of the rulebook. But the call led to some pushback from the ESPN broadcast, and Jessica Mendoza also called for a rule change.

“It’s not, and they need to change the rule because the problem with the rule is if the runner is starting their slide – my thing is, if the runner is hosed, if she’s going to be out, then there is no obstruction,” Mendoza said on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt. “Is she obstructing if the runner is not even there yet? So the way that the rule reads is yes, the shortstop Leighann Goode was in the base path. Was she blocking the leading edge? But the point is it’s got to be when the runner is actually going into it. That’s the point. Is she obstructing the runner? But the runner was going to be out no matter what, and that’s why the rule has to change because that is not obstruction.

“That is not what the rule is for, and it’s hard here at the World Series. I am with you. We talked about it in the break during the game. I am so glad that that is not the leading topic of this amazing game.”