Do the pros read these forums?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by bniu

In the 07 one game playoff padres-rockies, when he made that slow call at the end, the padre catcher said that because it was mcclelland making the call, there was no way he'd go argue it.

Oh, you mean when he was making the wrong, convenient, lazy, oh, and did I mention wrong call at the end? Lot's of people argued it. The game was over so you really didn't see it, but the Padres and their fans are still bitter about it. We are all still waiting for Matt Holliday to touch home plate.

Give me 10 Lucianos over 1 McClelland. He was wrong with George Brett and the pine tar when he was a rookie, and he was wrong in 2007 as a veteran!

[Ump Rube]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

He was wrong with George Brett and the pine tar when he was a rookie

What would you have called? And if you choose to say anything other than, "the same way thing he did" then prepare for the, "Quit making up rules."

There is no other way for him to rule in that situation, it clearly stated in the rulebook how far up the bat the tar could go, he exceeded it (by some reports 6"). TM made the only call he could, he called him out. When a call is spelled out in B/W in the book, you cannot use "the spirit of the rule" to issue your call. Yes, MLB overturned it, but that is a separate issue (mostly because they new the rule was antiquated so the next year they removed it).

[Ump153]

The San Diego catcher did not argue the call. He stated both to the press and to the author of As They See 'Em that he did not argue the call only because it was McClelland who made it.

The Padres manager made a similar statement.

I suppose if McLelland had the advantge of seeing the play in slo-mo and from four different angles, he may have made a different call. In real time, from his positioning he made his call. Get over it.

McLelland made the correct call in the Brett episode by the rule in existance at the time. And he made the call only after be asked to examine the Bat by Billy Martin. He conferred with his crew chief who agreed with the call, and, if fact, offered to announce the call and call Brett out. To his credit, rookie McLelland said it was his call and he would make it.

Later MLB hung him out to dry with the "spirit of the rule" statement.

It should be noted that Brett was warned in a preivious game about the pine tar on his bat, AND after the incident, his bats never had as much pine tar. And remember how Brett and Royals tried to hide the bat? Rats all the way.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Ump153

I suppose if McLelland had the advantge of seeing the play in slo-mo and from four different angles, he may have made a different call. In real time, from his positioning he made his call. Get over it.

I had it right in live action. I saw him miss the plate by plenty when it went down. And I was just watching on TV, not right on top of the play. I very rarely blow calls in my games, too. I can't remember missing one by as big a margin as that one was missed.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I had it right in live action. I saw him miss the plate by plenty when it went down. And I was just watching on TV, not right on top of the play. I very rarely blow calls in my games, too. I can't remember missing one by as big a margin as that one was missed.

Couldn't be any more obvious on live TV. How could he get one wrong by such a big margin?

Major League Baseball: Media Player

[SanDiegoSteve]

Thank you Luke, the video shows it clearly to me.

[Kevin Finnerty]

McLelland couldn't even adequately explain that call to the rest of his crew after he made it.

And because one catcher didn't argue one call, that means McLelland is one of the most respected umpires among the players.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I saw the play plain as day, when it happened. Prove I didn't or STFU.

It was proved. We all saw the video in the link. That is from TBS; what you saw on your TV. From that original shot in real time it is impossible to be sure about anything.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by Ump153

Wow. I'm surprised you're not in the Show. You apparently are good enough.

He's laid claim before that he was good enough.