tim mcclelland

[jkumpire]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Wow!

I just read J.K.'s defense of McClelland's latest butchery. Admirable loyalty to a once-great umpire.

I can't wait to hear the others.

Ah,

Kevin, you misunderstand. It was an explanation, not a defense. I use this site as way to become a better umpire and teacher of umpires, not a forum to bash people. I am not sold on the tag at 3B that he was wrong, camera angles can lie.

Obviously he kicked the play at 3B, and it was awful he got himself straightlined on the play. He can defend himself in the media, I don't need to.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

Ah,

Kevin, you misunderstand. It was an explanation, not a defense. I use this site as way to become a better umpire and teacher of umpires, not a forum to bash people. I am not sold on the tag at 3B that he was wrong, camera angles can lie.

Obviously he kicked the play at 3B, and it was awful he got himself straightlined on the play. He can defend himself in the media, I don't need to.

Camera angles can lie? That's absolutely incredible, JK. Yours is a defense against perhaps the worst call we have ever seen in a high-profile game.

And this is not bashing. Bashing is senseless and baseless attacking. It originally referred to beating a person because they were gay. That's senseless. This is sensible and worthy and simple criticism of an outrageous mistake by a highly paid professional. And it was made due to laziness, just like his other mistake in this same game, or his giving a playoff game to the Rockies two years back.

An indefensible mistake. Even McClelland can't offer a defense or an excuse.

[jkumpire]

Kevin,

I am confused. Are you saying that camera angles are always perfect to get the best view of any play? Are you just so mad about the two calls missed at 3B you can't see the forest from the trees?

I did not see all the replays in the game on the appeal at 3B, but unless there was one I did not see, unless you have a perfect angle on the play, it's not a done deal he missed it. Having said that, it looks like Fox did find the magic angle to show he missed it. If he kicked it, bad for him.

Maybe it is another reason why the the plate umpire should have the tag at 3B to begin with.

Look, when I went to school, Tim was one the instructors I had. He's a great guy, IMO. If I was going to defend him I would. But I am not trying to defend him or the call. I saw the play at 3B totally live, he blew that up like Hiroshima. He got straightlined by the runner going back to 3B. No excuse for that.

But doggone it, camera angles do lie at times, and you are saying stuff I am not saying. Step away from the keyboard and take a deep breath will you?

[kylejt]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

Maybe it is another reason why the the plate umpire should have the tag at 3B to begin with.

No. In a four, or six man crew, U3 should be able to line up the the catch and tag. Tim failed to do so, didn't see the tag up, and guessed. The BIG problem was that he called what he didn't see. In that case, you always give the benifit of the doubt to the runner. ALWAYS.

You've got to be 100% sure to make that call. THAT was the big mistake.

[RPatrino]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

Kevin,

Maybe it is another reason why the the plate umpire should have the tag at 3B to begin with.

JK, in this situation the U3 has NOTHING more to do than to get sufficient angle to line up the runner and the catch. If you can't get that simple responsibility done, maybe you should be doing something else.

[jkumpire]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

JK, in this situation the U3 has NOTHING more to do than to get sufficient angle to line up the runner and the catch. If you can't get that simple responsibility done, maybe you should be doing something else.

As you well know the speed of the game is very quick out there, and if the ball is a rocket shot the 3B umpire might have a harder time lining it up than the HP umpire does. The PU does have the whole field in front of him and U3 does not.


However, before Kevin assumes I am defending Tim in this case, please be advised that I'm not. Yes, U3 has little to do except for one or two calls a night and making sure runners hit 3B and tag up. He ought to get it right. I am confused as to why he called the out in the first place. He had to know he did not get a great look at the tag.

Unless he is suffering from assume disease...

[Kevin Finnerty]

This guy could have lined that catch up in time ... if he showed effort and interest:

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

This guy could have lined that catch up in time ... if he showed effort and interest:

I told you not to post those photos you took of me!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

As you well know the speed of the game is very quick out there, and if the ball is a rocket shot the 3B umpire might have a harder time lining it up than the HP umpire does. The PU does have the whole field in front of him and U3 does not.

No matter how hard the shot to center field was, McClelland should have stopped, watched the touch by F8, and quickly turned his head to see Swisher's feet. Had he done that, he would have been able to judge that Swisher did not leave early. Instead he was running in, only watching the play in the outfield, and never once looked at Swisher's position on the base. If he were not 100% sure in his HEAD, not his heart, that Swisher took off too soon, then the call should have been the default, which is that he did not leave too soon.