MLB umpires have forgotten how baserunning works

The latest example of the bizarre malady came on Saturday when Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Matt Joyce hit what looked like a double-play ball against the New York Mets. Shortstop Francisco Lindor, who had been shifted over, fielded the ball, missed a tag on baserunner Andrew McCutchen, then threw out Joyce at first. The umpires responded by calling one man out: McCutchen. Incredibly, McCutchen was called out by second-base umpire Jose Navas, under the rule that a runner is out if he deviates from a base path (defined as a straight line to the base) when a tag attempt occurs. From the moment Lindor had the ball to the moment he abandoned the tag, McCutchen ran in a straight line.