What is going on with ML baseball umpires

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

I never said I didn't make mistakes. My point which perhaps I didn't make clear was thiis.

If we saw both those calls made by say a LLWS umpire on TV or an other amateur umpire on TV, for the most part they would have been bashed.

I have been watching baseball a long time and have NEVER seen the call that Meals made especially in the BIG LEAGUES.

I make mistakes all the time but I also do not get paid 6 figures.

Pete Booth

If you have not noticed, most people that come here bash whomever they are talking about. Even if the games are not on TV. That is the nature of this board and that is the nature of the internet. And MLB Umpires get bashed all the time on this site about plays they miss or make. LLWS Umpires only get criticism at a certain time of year. And this year little has been said about the LLWS as in past years.

Peace

[bossman72]

IMO, Meals blew that call. I seen it on sports center. There was no attempt to go to second what so ever.

I don't agree with some of your interpretations that the runner didn't "immediately" return to first. What the runner did should not have been in violation of the rule. Calling an out here for not returning immediately, IMO, is not what is intended by the rule and is pretty OOO.

[zm1283]

Meals blew it. Upton doesn't have to turn around and sprint back to the base as fast as possible. That is never called, especially in the majors. Quit trying to justify it just because he's an MLB umpire.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by zm1283

Meals blew it. Upton doesn't have to turn around and sprint back to the base as fast as possible. That is never called, especially in the majors. Quit trying to justify it just because he's an MLB umpire.

I don't recall anyone saying that's what he had to do.

Nor do I recall anyone saying it was justified because it was the majors. It would have been an accurate and refreshing call at any level. Watch the video. Upton clearly made a motion towards second.

Crew chief Darling said, "I've called out guys for less."

[bossman72]

can anybody post a link to the video replay? i only seen it on sportscenter and from what i saw there, it was a bad call IMO.

[tno]

Originally Posted by bossman72

can anybody post a link to the video replay? i only seen it on sportscenter and from what i saw there, it was a bad call IMO.

I'm new here. I see people are asking for the video.

Here's a link. Click on the thumbnail below the video on the far right side.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index...namlb_tbamlb_1

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by tno

I'm new here. I see people are asking for the video.

Here's a link. Click on the thumbnail below the video on the far right side.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index...namlb_tbamlb_1

Well, this is the first time I have viewed the play. Meals apparently felt Upton was making an attempt when he began to round the base and then thought better of it when he saw the ball being fielded. Upton did make a move that indicated he was about to take two on the play as the ball was bouncing up the line, then just after his little move he saw the ball fielded. Judgment call. The ejection on the other hand was priceless. What a jackas$ Maddon is.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Then I watched the Joe West call on Reyes. Reyes most definitely made a move toward second, then stopped when his first base coach told him to get back on the bag. A lot more cut and dried than the Meals call.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Well, this is the first time I have viewed the play. Meals apparently felt Upton was making an attempt when he began to round the base and then thought better of it when he saw the ball being fielded. Upton did make a move that indicated he was about to take two on the play as the ball was bouncing up the line, then just after his little move he saw the ball fielded. Judgment call. The ejection on the other hand was priceless. What a jackas$ Maddon is.

Earlier this evening I asked a ML umpire, who agreed with Meals' call, if this was a good call, why wasn't it made more often. His reply: "Damn few fielders are smart enough to apply a tag. It'll get called more often when the play is made more often."

There are different levels of disagreement. One can disagree with the Meals judgement. One can disagree with the rule as written. But if you accept that Meals perceived what he says, then it is hard to disagree with his ruling.

As for as the claim that some posters never criticize ML umpires, just check out any thread involving Joe West, or better yet, Angel Hernandez.

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Well, this is the first time I have viewed the play.

And you've been here the whole time commenting on Meals's call when you hadn't even seen it??? Unbelievable.

I rest my case.

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by tno

I'm new here. I see people are asking for the video.

Here's a link. Click on the thumbnail below the video on the far right side.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index...namlb_tbamlb_1

Check out Meals body language arms crossed implying "don't mess with me I'm unapproachable" Umpiring 101 not a recommended way to defuse the situation.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

Check out Meals body language arms crossed implying "don't mess with me I'm unapproachable" Umpiring 101 not a recommended way to defuse the situation.

Perhaps his Verbal Judo skills are lacking.