I lost this game because of this, HOWEVER it doesn't mean I would not have lost anyway in extra innings so I can look at this objectively.
WHY would you EVER think to tag the guy out? You only need to tag them if you drop it. If it never enters your mind because you didn't drop it in the first place, why would you take him? YOU WOULDN'T.
Hell, the umpire called strike three, that's not the issue, we all know the guy struckout. BUT he also signalled that the batter was out. You can see it in the reply. Strike three, catcher rolls ball out AS umpire signals OUT, entire defense is running towards dugout then runner takes off.
The umpire called the guy out. You can see him make a fist in the replay.
So is he out, or is he just kinda out and you changed your mind? And if he changed his mind, what made him change it and at what point did this happen?
I know it's only a couple of seconds, but I don't see how he suddenly decided to allow the guy to run on the "drop" that he obviously didn't even see (drop or no drop) AFTER the catcher had already let go of the ball...
I'm mostly irritated that the umpire would make a call like that in a playoff game. The money is really not an issue as sports betting has no bearing (hopefully, geez) on the umpire's decision making during a baseball game.
It's the third out of the ninth inning in a tie game for crying out loud.