The Official Forum - MLB plans 'stern' talk with umpire.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by grunewar (Post 679928)

Based on this thread and the other we are having about the "blown call" on the perfect game in the ninth:

The issues with umpires/officials in general seem to be getting more and more public? Are they justified? Should major sports get them under control? Can they? Should there be restrictions in all sports as to what umpires/officials can/should say to the media?

Just curious on thoughts.

Officials are HUMAN, and so are the participants

The participants make mistakes, HOWEVER, umpire mistakes IMO, are getting way to much exposure and the fact is just like the partipants umpires will make mistakes.

Let's take the PU who on average I would venture to guess sees at the minimum about 240 pitches a game. Let's say he got 7 wrong. Thats 3% - HOWEVER, it's that 1 or 2 that are at the end of the game and replayed on ESPN a gazillion times.

MLB as well as the other sports has to recognize that officials will make mistakes and there is NO full proof system. The RED SOX / Yankee games are already 3.5 to 4 hours long. If you add more replay those games might take 5 hours to complete.

Also, how many camera angles (ala Football) will MLB use if in fact they expand replay for out / safe; catch / no catch calls?

Heck on HR's alone it takes some 5 to 10 minutes to resolve. I have seen longer.

IMO, Umpires should NOT address the media. The call that ended the Tigers game was right there for all to see. Why interview the umpire? He KNOWS he kicked it. What does the media want to hear? He didn't kick the call on purpose.

Umpires are like relief pitchers. A relief pitcher has to get over in a hurry the game ending HR that he gave up the night before to be ready for TODAYS game and not let it bother him.

Umpires are the same. You cannot dwell on the call you missed the other day because TODAY is a new day.

In a nustell too much emphasis from the media on today's officials.

Pete Booth