Two Different Strike Zones?? WS Game 5
 

Very rough night due to weather conditions etc ... but has it seemed to be two different strike zones for the game tonight? Kellog may as well have on a Phillies uniform!! All jokes aside, the zone for Hamels has been very wide but very tight for Kazmir. I know some of you will blast me for the comment, and state Hamels has earned the larger zone, but tonight has been ridiculous. The only really consistent zone for this series has been Culbreth's.

Blast away gentlemen, the man's right. It's another night and another glaring umpiring performance. Just being honest, if that's allowed.

Hey, I'm still waiting for Holliday to tag the plate.

Steamed in SD

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...ockies.600.jpg

Well, maybe if the policy were changed to allow umpires to work back-to-back series, and the World Series in consecutive years...

Since when does the WS have a different set of rules than every other MLB game?? Listening to Bud's press conference and he stated that if the Rays didn't score in the 6th that the game would be in a rain delay for 24-48 hrs in order to complete the game. What a joke. If the game was 2-1 after 4.5 the game should be called. Period.

ETA: Bud just got asked the question. He said that he has enough power to do whatever the hell he wants to do. That is nice to hear.

The only World Series assignment that I thought was questionable was Danley. Ive felt his zone is inconsistent after watching him over the years. Other than that...what can you do?

There was a rule change...last year, I believe...regarding suspended games. Bud is within the rules this time.

Face it, the non-jock sniffers on these forums are not the only ones talking about the "job" this crew is doing. It is on the minds of a lot of people. It was this zone that was mentioned in the OP that got the Phills out to an early lead. Instead of a strike out (and end of inning) on a batter with two pitches on the inside corner (that were balled) you had a walk followed by a two run double to left. I am not a rays fan but it seems to me that McCarver was right to criticise the PU for his zone. The poor Rays pitcher must have wondered what he had to do to get a strike called besides throw it down the guts.

No, Bud said if the Phillies were up 2-1 after 5.5 that they would not call the game. They would have called it a rain delay, even if that meant the delay was 24-48 hrs. This is not anywhere close to the rules.

MLB has adopted the PBUC rule regarding suspended games. See your PBUC manual (the "Blue Book") page 53, Suspended Games 5.5 (3)

Bud Seling has the authority to do anything that is not specifically stated in the rule book. There is no time limit that a game can remain in a rain delay. The Phillies do not want to go down as the team that had the deciding game handed to them. Bud is a purist and it takes big cajones to make that call. I have never been a fan of his, but I applaud him on this decision.

Bud
 

What was the rationale for asking the Astros to play a home game against the Cubs in Milwaukee?

There might be a serious answer, but I couldn't resist the obvious,

"called a hurricane" ;)


thanks
David

there might have been a few pitches, but overall not much difference. The Rays have had trouble getting calls all series which leads me to believe that their F2 might not be the best at selling the edges of the strike zone.

Certainly he's a MLB, but I noticed the same thing in the Red Sox series.

Something he does must not jive with the umpires to get the calls.

But that's just my observations.

Thanks
David

I guess that he felt he wouldn't know when Houston would be "open for business" again.

Like I said, I'm not a fan of his. He is hired by the owner's to run their league. The majority of the time, his decisions are with the owner's in mind.

Guess you missed the rule change in 2007

The 2007 rule change did not get rid of games being official after 5 (or 4.5). Selig stated that IF the score was Philies 2 Rays 1 after 5 1/2 innings he would have suspended the game.

To those of you arguing that there is no problem with this POSSIBLE "ruling," would you have a problem with it if it were during the regular season? (And when was the last time a game was suspended after it was official even though one team was ahead. Never.) If your answer is yes, then there is a problem. The rules should not change from the regular season to the WS.

Anybody hear of "house rules"?

Buds house..Buds rules.. 24-48-72 hr rain delay......

I believe the 2007 rule change for WS is a valid one. Nobody want to see a team backdoor into a championship.


If we really want to get rid of wacky rules..let's start with the DH..then the home field ca-ca from the winner of the All-Star Game...:p


griff

Well of course they should and do.

Both teams knew the game was going to go at least nine innings BEFORE the game even started. No World Series Game has ever been called and none ever will.

Lighten up, Francis!! Most leagues will have a different set of rules regarding suspension, darkness, etc of the game during the playoffs or championship because this is what determines the champion.

The rule book does not state how long a game can be delayed(rain, etc). During the season there are other schedules to maintain.

Here's my question. If he had the authority to suspend the game indefinitely, why did they wait for the Rays to tie the game before they stopped play? It was a complete joke that they played the top of the 6th. That was far and away the worst conditions I have ever seen baseball played in. It was extremely dangerous for the players, in particular, Hamels. And the run the Rays scored has to be considered somewhat tainted - how could anyone make a good defensive play in those conditions. If Bud had big ones, he would have stopped the game after 5 (or even before) and done what he said he would have done. Suspend the game until conditions were acceptable. Instead, he waited until the Rays tied the game and the suspension is supported by the rule book. Big ones indeed.

Chris Wright
Brooklyn, NY

At some point, you have to exercise some common sense. The reality is that no one (not even the Phillies) wants a rain-shortened game in the World Series...much less a series clinching game.

That's an excuse and not a justification. There were plenty of more logical sites at which to play those 2 "home" games. Atlanta was one, and even the Rangers' field in Arlington was available. It was in the mid-80s and sunny in Arlington, TX. when those two Astros "home" games were played in the Cubs' backyard.

Because "they" think the Rays are good for ratings?

Maybe they shouldn't have started the 6th. Maybe they thought the field would still be playable. But to say, "let's start the 6th so the Rays can try to tie it and we can make it a suspended game?" I don't think MLB umpires think like that. At any rate I certainly hope they don't care what the score is.

Stop the Game!
 

MLB erred on the biggest stage.
The game Monday should have never been started.
The weather forecast called for rain, followed by more rain.
I didn't think about how well the wet field would drain.
If you ask, me I would call it a draw and play another 9 innning game.
A three inning game is questionable at best.
I hope every pitcher on staff is on hand and pitching changes occur every half-inning.
Everyone is coming in from the bullpen. That is just how important the game is now.

FOX doesn't care about that.

Are you serious? Its the world series for christ sake.. and you think that it should ne called on a rain delay... yes I agree with the regular season games, but not for the championship. Good call by Bud Selig. ( for Once)

there was only a 10% chance of rain on Monday.. in the press confrenece Bud slig addressed this.