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Originally Posted by mbcrowder
Unfortunately ... probably for all of us ... our patrons in blue are having a bad week. this will probably give Spud Selig enough ammo to force replay down our throats. The entire M&M discussion on my way to work was about the 3 bad calls that had significant impact on all 3 games... and i have to say I agree that the calls were bad. At least in HW's case he was CONSISTENT - that's generally the most important thing for PU - but he was at least 6-8 inches off. The Mike Young check swing and the Posey steal (more the latter than the former) were bad too. I fear replay's only a matter of time now.
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IMO, the MAIN problem:
MLB is NOT investing enough money in THEIR product.
MLB umpires ARE part of the product.
MLB should take control over the umpiring.
How many individuals even if they were real good can afford to go to Pro School AND work for peanuts?
Not too many which means the PRO schools as they currently exist are NOT getting the best of the best.
The other problem which unfortunately is hard to break is the myths surrounding baseball.
Let's take the check swing that happened the other night. Too many people which includes the bozo announcers etc. have this notion that if the hands break the plane it's a swing.
ESPN had a former MLB umpire on the Mike and Mike show this morning who echoed the aforementioned myth. The determination is whether or not in the judgement of the umpire the player meant to offer at the pitch not some physics type calculation.
Also, today's players take way too many pitches and the notion that I grew up with "if it's close swing" seems to be a thing of the past.
The Rays were complaining all game long about the PU BUT the Rays played like s**t and got pounded.
I agree Expanded replay will most likely be in place by next season BUT MLB needs to take control of THEIR product.
Pete Booth