Play at 2nd, Astros runner (Ensberg) is safe. He goes in standing up, loses his balance, and falls on top of F4 who is sitting toward the left field side of the bag (with the ball). The runner clearly comes off the base, and F4 clearly tags him while he is lying on top of him. Larry Young is U2 and is on the right field side of the bag, and no doubt could not see the tag. He calls him safe, leading to an Art Howe ejection.

Shouldn't he (Young) have at least asked U3 (Angel Hernandez) for help...he (Hernandez) would have had a clear view from his position. Maybe he wasn't looking, but why not ask? Wouldn't this be a case where "get it right" should prevail?

[Edited by YoungRighty on May 16th, 2004 at 03:59 PM]

No......
 

he shouldn't ask for help on that play. Maybe in amateur ball you could but this isn't amateur ball. In a four man system you better get in position to make the call if you fail to do that don't put the burden on someone else. Eat it with all the heat. Play ball

Who would want to ask Angel Hernandez for help?

You beat me to it.

Angel is still trying to get his own game under control.

Personally..I thought it was a GREAT call...Garcia to me CLEARLY pulled the runner off the base with his legs [and HELD him off-his foot was firmly between the runners buttcheeks...:D]...and I bet thats what Young told Art Howe too...the EASY call on that would have been out, but Young WAITED and saw ALL the action...Major League call...

I don't know...
 

I'm an Astros fan and I think we got a huge break with that call. I guess this is one of those judgement call situations where you have to be where Young is standing to make the call.

Maybe it's BECAUSE I'm an Astro fan, but it looked to me like the fielder pulled the runner off the bag and held.

Sunday I was traveling with a fellow umpire to a clinic. My friend talked about the Mets-Astros game that he had watched the night before and how the HP umpire was all over the place with his strike zone. He could not remember the umpire's name.

I said the only umpire that I have heard a lot of criticsm about is Angel Hernandez. He said, "Yeah , it was him"

I have yet to see Hernandez do a plate. I am curious however. Is he that bad?

I was at the Mets/Stros game where Hernandez was behind the plate. Our seats were down the 3b line so the view of the strike zone wasn't the best, but he got a lot of argument on low pitches rung up for strikes.