Smittyisms

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

What is interesting how people on this board (usually newer) that take one comment from one situation and applying it to another situation that is not related to the original topic.

Peace

Indeed

[BretMan]

Yes, I really did read every post on this thread. Seriously!

Did you seriously not see the little blue smiley that, according to the tags, equates to "sarcasm"?

I don't post here often, but have read just about every thread on this board since I joined three years ago. If that makes me a "newbie"...then I guess I'm a newbie!

This isn't my first exposure to the whole "expected call" debate. Responses here ranged from "that's an out" to "that's not an out". Some say that there has been a big change in how MLB umpires make the "expected call", others claim it's business as usual. Both sides of the fence were pretty well covered.

And one post most certainly did imply that a professional umpire was dismissed for making a call other than the "expected" one.

Along the way, there was a dose of chest thumping and a dash of name calling. Which, of course, doesn't really prove that I read anything. That applies to most every other thread on the board.

[ozzy6900]

Just came back from my game today. Four man crew (State semi-finals 18U) and I was U1. R1 with a huge secondary lead and F1 has R1 dead to nuts. R1 dives back, tag down but R1's fingers had the bag first. "Safe! Safe!" F3 looks at me like I just stabbed him in the heart. Defensive coach steps out and screams, "How is that possible? Sir, can I appeal that call to you?" Fans are going BS!

Coach comes to me and again asks, "How?". "Fingers got to the bag before the tag, coach. You had the runner dead but he was faster. Gotta call it fair, right coach?" Coach looks at me, smiles and says, "Okay Mario, I'll get my runners to grow their fingernails by the next half!" Fans still ticked off but F3 heard the explanation and he was okay with it. Coach was a perfect gentleman from then on also.

Fans were still complaining about the call for the rest of the inning, but that is the difference of being right there as opposed to being 100' away. Here was a perfect situation were if I called what was expected, I would have screwed the player. Personally, I'd rather screw the fans than the players.

Regards

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Just came back from my game today. Four man crew (State semi-finals 18U) and I was U1. R1 with a huge secondary lead and F1 has R1 dead to nuts. R1 dives back, tag down but R1's fingers had the bag first. "Safe! Safe!" F3 looks at me like I just stabbed him in the heart. Defensive coach steps out and screams, "How is that possible? Sir, can I appeal that call to you?" Fans are going BS!

Coach comes to me and again asks, "How?". "Fingers got to the bag before the tag, coach. You had the runner dead but he was faster. Gotta call it fair, right coach?" Coach looks at me, smiles and says, "Okay Mario, I'll get my runners to grow their fingernails by the next half!" Fans still ticked off but F3 heard the explanation and he was okay with it. Coach was a perfect gentleman from then on also.

You seriously think I am going to believe this really happened as you quote it? Why would you carry on with a coach in such a way (especially the red highlighted above)?

Fans were still complaining about the call for the rest of the inning, but that is the difference of being right there as opposed to being 100' away. Here was a perfect situation were if I called what was expected, I would have screwed the player. Personally, I'd rather screw the fans than the players.

Regards

So you see your role as screwing somebody?

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Yes, I really did read every post on this thread. Seriously!

Did you seriously not see the little blue smiley that, according to the tags, equates to "sarcasm"?

I don't post here often, but have read just about every thread on this board since I joined three years ago. If that makes me a "newbie"...then I guess I'm a newbie!

This isn't my first exposure to the whole "expected call" debate. Responses here ranged from "that's an out" to "that's not an out". Some say that there has been a big change in how MLB umpires make the "expected call", others claim it's business as usual. Both sides of the fence were pretty well covered.

And one post most certainly did imply that a professional umpire was dismissed for making a call other than the "expected" one.

Along the way, there was a dose of chest thumping and a dash of name calling. Which, of course, doesn't really prove that I read anything. That applies to most every other thread on the board.

I saw a similar situation last night in the Texas/Oakland game. Kenny Lofton hits the first pitch of the game over the head of Shannon Stewart in left field. Lofton wants to stretch it into a triple. Throw comes in to Bobby Crosby and he turns and throws to Marco Scutaro, which beats the runner. Lofton goes in head first and avoids tag. Ed Montague (PU) makes the safe call. From the overhead shot behind home plate, Lofton looked out. Replays show the tag was missed. A's manager comes out for brief argument. No reaction from Scutaro. He must have felt it was good call.

I did see a weird mechanic from Montague later in the game. Ball goes down into right field corner. Gerald Laird is going all the way from first. Throw comes in to cutoff man in foul territory. It is a good relay to Matt Suzuki at home. Close play, but Laird slides in safe. I see Montague and he is about eight feet up the third base line making the call from right inside fair territory. That's a new one on me.

[RPatrino]

I think what you saw was a 4 man rotation, R1 and a shot into right field. U1 goes out, R2 rotates toward 1b, U3 rotates to 2b, PU rotates up toward 3rd, I think...(trying to recall my 4 man). PU was coming back to take the play at the plate, in fair territory.

I'm sure someone will skewer me if I'm wrong.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

I think what you saw was a 4 man rotation, R1 and a shot into right field. U1 goes out, R2 rotates toward 1b, U3 rotates to 2b, PU rotates up toward 3rd, I think...(trying to recall my 4 man). PU was coming back to take the play at the plate, in fair territory.

I'm sure someone will skewer me if I'm wrong.

The hit was a hard ground ball inside the first base line that U1 called fair. There was no possibly of a play at third. Seems like he could have rotated home a little quicker.