Has anyone else noticed the rash of bad calls by the umps lately? It's a tough job but latrly I'm seeing too many blown calls.

I've seen two players called out when tagged by the gloved hand ony to see that the ball was in the players other hand. Yesterday Jeter was called out on a steal of third and was clearly safe. There were two other bad calls in that game. In the Boston/Oakland game last night an Oakland player was called out on a steal of second when he was clearly safe - not even close. Didn't effect the outcome of the game.

quote:

Originally posted by redwrangle:
Has anyone else noticed the rash of bad calls by the umps lately? It's a tough job but latrly I'm seeing too many blown calls.

I've seen two players called out when tagged by the gloved hand ony to see that the ball was in the players other hand. Yesterday Jeter was called out on a steal of third and was clearly safe. There were two other bad calls in that game. In the Boston/Oakland game last night an Oakland player was called out on a steal of second when he was clearly safe - not even close. Didn't effect the outcome of the game.

There have been plenty of bad calls lately. I'm sure part of it is better TV coverage.

As my late Father used to say, Bad calls by umpires are part of the game.

Would baseball be as much fun, if computers and robots called the game?

AGAIN!!!!!! I'm watching the Braves @ Cubs game. Not really a fan of either team but there was a call against the Cubbies by a vetran umpire (Cousins) that was amazingly bad. The Cubs had a man on first. He took off with the pitch and there was grounder to short. The SS flipped to the 2nd baseman to start a double play. Trouble was the runner was into second and the ball was about 5 or 6 feet from the 2nd baseman. This was confirmed on replay but it was clearly visable on the original play.

quote:

Originally posted by redwrangle:
AGAIN!!!!!! I'm watching the Braves @ Cubs game. Not really a fan of either team but there was a call against the Cubbies by a vetran umpire (Cousins) that was amazingly bad. The Cubs had a man on first. He took off with the pitch and there was grounder to short. The SS flipped to the 2nd baseman to start a double play. Trouble was the runner was into second and the ball was about 5 or 6 feet from the 2nd baseman. This was confirmed on replay but it was clearly visable on the original play.

The key word there is REPLAY, and I'm not against the technology that goes with it. Again there is a a lot of sports TV shows and this is all brought out on these shows. By the way I love sports coverage on TV.

Sh!t Happens! And Umpirs bad calls are part of the game.

quote:

Originally posted by redwrangle:
AGAIN!!!!!! I'm watching the Braves @ Cubs game. Not really a fan of either team but there was a call against the Cubbies by a vetran umpire (Cousins) that was amazingly bad. The Cubs had a man on first. He took off with the pitch and there was grounder to short. The SS flipped to the 2nd baseman to start a double play. Trouble was the runner was into second and the ball was about 5 or 6 feet from the 2nd baseman. This was confirmed on replay but it was clearly visable on the original play.

The double-play is a prime example of bad calls. I have heard announcers say over and over, that the shortstop, as long as he is "sweeping" his foot NEAR the bag on a 4-6-3 double play will be given the benefit of the doubt, and the runner will be called out; whether the shortstop actually touched second or not. And if you watch real close, you OFTEN see that the SS foot doesn't even touch the bag (out of fear of being spiked by the runner sliding into second).

It is known, yet the shortstop is given the out every time.

Most of the umpires will give you the call if
"you are in the neighborhood" The practice has been going on for many years.

HAHAHAHAH "If you were in the neighborhood". I haven't heard that term in many years Mike, but you are right, of course. How many times I would see a replay, and lo and behold, the SS's foot was sweeping the bag, about 3 inches BEHIND it!! That play is a work of art, the way the SS sweeps the bag, on the way to throwing to first.

Some would go as far as giving it to the fielder on a "sweeping tag" as well, with the glove never even touching the runner.

Getting back to the original post, are umpires missing more plays because players are faster, pitchers are faster and human (i.e., umpire) reaction time just can't keep up?

I still remember Yogi going ballistic on a play at the plate, I believe in the WS with the Dodger's?

I can STILL see him flinging off his mask, standing legs spread far apart, low to the ground, bouncing up and down, saying things that make me thankful audio wasnt available at the time, and you had no grandchildren to hear it if it WAS available.

HAHAAH

Steve, I think the umpires back in our day had a hell of lot more patience than the current crop working MLB today. I saw the Yankee 1st baseman, Mark Tseria (SP) get tossed last night for slamming his batting helmet into the ground after being called out attempting to score.