Guccione nailed it

[umpjayfire]

We spend a lot of time dissecting bad/questionable calls by the big boys on these boards...Well, this time it is kudos to Chris Guccione in the ninth inning of last nite's Yankees/Orioles game

If you have ever had this happen to you in a high level game, you know how difficult a call this is.

with 2 strikes on Giambi, the O's pitcher through a high and tight fastball that barely nicked the butt end of Giambi's bat and was caught by F2 for strike 3.
Guccione heard something, had to determine if the contact was bat or batter and after a few moments (fraction of seconds), determined it was bat and whacked him out.
the catcher heard it too and was pointing it out to Guccione, which made the call look indecisive so Girardi came out, acted like a fool and got dumped.

Just one of those calls that is difficult and Chris handled very well, I thought....

[LakeErieUmp]

Guccione, Giambi, Girardi??? Was this a Mafia reunion? And WAY too many G-names

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by LakeErieUmp

Guccione, Giambi, Girardi??? Was this a Mafia reunion? And WAY too many G-names

Hey, whats a matter for you? You no lika my friends? When wasa the last time you wenta a swimming in that bigga lake near your house?

Youa makea the boys feela real bad abouta your comments!

Your friend,

Anthony G.

[LakeErieUmp]

It figgers someone with a name like Cecone would be the first one to reply!!!

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by umpjayfire

We spend a lot of time dissecting bad/questionable calls by the big boys on these boards...Well, this time it is kudos to Chris Guccione in the ninth inning of last nite's Yankees/Orioles game

If you have ever had this happen to you in a high level game, you know how difficult a call this is.

with 2 strikes on Giambi, the O's pitcher through a high and tight fastball that barely nicked the butt end of Giambi's bat and was caught by F2 for strike 3.
Guccione heard something, had to determine if the contact was bat or batter and after a few moments (fraction of seconds), determined it was bat and whacked him out.
the catcher heard it too and was pointing it out to Guccione, which made the call look indecisive so Girardi came out, acted like a fool and got dumped.

Just one of those calls that is difficult and Chris handled very well, I thought....

The call seemed to be correct but the way it unfolded it looked like the PU let the catcher make it for him.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

The call seemed to be correct but the way it unfolded it looked like the PU let the catcher make it for him.

Well, yeah. But what else is he going to do there. It sure appeared to be a foul tip on the replay. There's zero chance a plate umpire sees this -- it's all on sound.

And Girardi should get suspended for a game for his outburst.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by msavakinas

he did, which is complete and utter BS

It was his behavior that was complete and utter BS.

MLB was busy today suspending Baker, Girardi and Joyner. Three who have been around long enough to know better, but who demonstrated that they don't.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by msavakinas

he did, which is complete and utter BS

Exactly what would it take to get a night off in your world? Right cross to Guccione's jaw?

[TussAgee11]

Did they ever suspend Earl back in the day? (I don't know, wasn't born)

A tantrum is part of the game. Heck, for some "fans", it helps sell the game. Why would MLB punish such behavior? He did it to get his team going, show the fans he cares, and help gain the respect of his players. And it worked.

And now, he gets suspended. For doing a part of his job.

I think all of this does not deserve a suspension.

When managers start throwing bats and balls out of the dugout, make contact with an umpire, put others at risk, etc., then we can start talking suspensions.

This stuff is a part of baseball, always has been, always will be. MLB is trying to crush the human element out of everything in baseball, and it will eventually ruin the game.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by msavakinas

i agree with Tuss 100%, you want fans in the stands but don't want the show to put em there?

How silly. Do you really think out of control coaches account for ticket sales? If that were true, ticket sales would be less than 10% of what they are.

Players are the show. Players put fannies in the seats.

MLB has to rein in the managers. They have systematically worked to de-nut umpires over the last six years. If they don't in turn limit the managers conduct, umpires will be nothing but doormats before long.

The days are different, the times they are a-changing. Earl Weaver wouldn't survive today.

Get used to it.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Did they ever suspend Earl back in the day? (I don't know, wasn't born)

A tantrum is part of the game. Heck, for some "fans", it helps sell the game. Why would MLB punish such behavior? He did it to get his team going, show the fans he cares, and help gain the respect of his players. And it worked.

And now, he gets suspended. For doing a part of his job.

I think all of this does not deserve a suspension.

When managers start throwing bats and balls out of the dugout, make contact with an umpire, put others at risk, etc., then we can start talking suspensions.

This stuff is a part of baseball, always has been, always will be. MLB is trying to crush the human element out of everything in baseball, and it will eventually ruin the game.

Back in Earl's day, umpires could and did give it back just as well the managers gave it. Part of the show. Not allowed now (Haller said "F--- you in the famous YouTube video. Winters calls Bradley a piece of sh-t and gets suspended). Are people saying that tirades like this are OK from managers, but umpires should have to stand there and just take it?

Also, Torre seemed to do OK as the manager of the Yankees and I never recall a tirade like this from him.

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

The call seemed to be correct but the way it unfolded it looked like the PU let the catcher make it for him.

All Chris did here was utilize excellent timing. So it took a few seconds from the time the ball hit the bat to when he made the call.

[lawump]

Saw it on MLB.com...and they had the Yankees (YES) broadcast. They replayed it with the field microphones cranked up and you can definitely hear two sounds (the ball hitting the bat and then the ball hitting the glove).

The Yankees announcers (though they criticized his long delay in making the call) actually said Chris clearly got it right after listening to the above-mentioned replay.

[TussAgee11]

That was a bit more than "good timing" IMO. It seemed to take him a couple of seconds to realize what had happened. Not suprising, but it allowed F2 to make a big enough scene so when Guccione finally did make the call, it looked like he was persuaded into it by F2. Good call, decent sell, but delayed beyond what would be considered "good timing".

Girardi threw a big league tantrum not seen in Yankee Stadium for years. Welke came in from 3rd and said "Ok Joe, you've made your point." He sure did.

[bigda65]

Here is my 2 cents.

He definitely heard something, I think the delay was the fact that he was looking for a reaction from Giambi, he wasn't 100% sure whether or not it hit him on the hand. He looked at Giambi, saw no reaction after he backed out of the box, then he rung him up.

great timing - great call.