As the result of a disputed play last month NPB on Monday decided to adopt a lowest-common-denominator policy and choose the stupidest available option.

This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has ever worked in a Japanese company where one stupid decision has to be counteracted by another even more illogical one in order for someone to save face.

On Aug. 18 in the ninth inning in Yokohama with Hanshin trailing 2-1, pinch-runner Takahiro Kumagai attempted to steal second and was ruled safe because DeNA shortstop Yota Kyoda had inadvertently blocked the path to the base as he scooped up the bounced throw from his catcher. Even with the bounce, the ball got to Kyoda in time so that he was not blocking the base without the ball.

But while Kyoda did have the ball, he was unable to make the tag until after Kumagai had slid into his leg, so the second base umpire made the correct call.