MLB Umps = Regular ol' Guys

[BJ Moose]

Seatle Moose pays VERY little attention to this world series... but... for entertainment while drinking FAT TIRE BEER, saw a few minutes. This amazing sequence, which is amazing because in 18 and under ball we see it ALL the time.. how do YOU react?

1 out. R1. 2 strike count... clear SWING AND MISS on bouncer, which eludes catcher and heads to backstop. NOW MET (I think) Batter takes off for 1st. R1 of course is going on passed ball. Yankee catcher retrieves and FIRES to first (ML Catcher... uh, why??). And the more interesting part. U1 curls in for angle and BANGS the CLOSE PLAY at 1st with a strong OUT mechanic... an out which doesn't exist.

Uh... in MOST cases during my 170 games this year... I knew the outs with runners on base. WHAT do you do when this runner runs... I would of course watch the live ball... but certainly would NOT make a call... there is no call to make.

I'm sure this guy (U1) only had this to say afterwards.
"Holy S#$, did I ever F#$%T up!"

OK, dude, happens to most of us!

[DrC.]

I'm glad someone else noticed the 1st base out call. It just shows you how even these guys can get caught up in a moment. I couldn't believe my eyes when Posada threw the ball. Martinez had to make a nice play to catch it (high throw). Can you imagine if that ball went in to right field. But then again, look at Saturday nights' game. Zeille didn't run out a roller down the 3rd baseline that rolled from foul to fair. Then Payton about 2 innings later, hits one that bounces behind the plate then goes fair. Posada tags him and you see Payton telling the ump the ball bounced foul. HOW MANY GAMES HAVE THESE GUYS PLAYED IN THEIR CAREERS ??? I won't even talk about Perez jogging around the bases because he THOUGHT Zeille's shot was a HR.

Here's another one I like to get off the chest. WORLD SERIES Game 2 - A great deal on the line. David Justice on a 3-2 count swings and misses(by a foot) and Piazza misses the ball (Piazza immediately runs after the ball). Justice reaches 1st on what should be a drop third. But Homeplate Ump says foul ball. Justice comes back and DOES NOT argue. He knew, Torre knew, Heck the Whole TV World knew the ump missed the call. Very Professional I thought on Justice's part (even after the next pitch when he struckout-again). But, you can be doing a 13 year old game that means absolutely NOTHING, and if you do what the ML Ump did, it all of a sudden is THE END OF THE WORLD. They say you suck, you should never ump again. What is wrong with this Picture ?!!

Ah, I feel better now !!!

[Edited by DrC. on Oct 23rd, 2000 at 10:15 AM]

[Stan W]

I saw that as well and was impressed by the way Justice handled himself, of course he knew he hadnt fouled the pitch off, but went back without arguement....to argue would have been futile anyway .......very professional...during my last fall game between some top notch high school and college players a pitch came very close to a batter......now if you have seen pitches in the 85+ mph range you know how they sizzle......the pitch passed the batter and I thought it might have grazed the uniform of the batter, but ever so slightly......for confirmation I looked at the batter who had never flinched......call ball one....coach asked the batter "that hit your sleeve didn't it?"......the batter answered if Blue doesnt call it, it didnt happen.......then promptly stroked a single to right........at the change the batter who was the catcher, came in. I asked him if that ball had hit him.....he said it might have grazed his shirt, but it wasnt something to argue about.....plus he said "I want my hacks".........Now I dont ever want to miss a hit batsman, but this was one catcher who knew how to work with his umpire....