Correct me if I'm wrong, but the call wasn't that he was in the base path as much as it was that he intentionally or unintentionally obstructed the runner, right?
Craig easily could have run from third to home without making contact with Middlebrooks if he went with the most direct route to home. Thats where it's a tough pill to swallow, as Farrell said. Craig went into the area where contact could occur and wasn't able to leap over Middlebrooks back, as he was stumbling all over and actually put his hand on his back first.
Whatever,it's not going to change the call, but it's funny how it could have been avoided if Craig just ran the way most runners ran.
It also doesn't help when Joyce was asked about the baseline and he responded that Craig was right on the chalk. Ummmmm...