MLB plans 'stern' talk with umpire.....
 

Is it me or do these issues with umpires/officials in general seem to be getting more and more public?

MLB plans 'stern' talk with umpire who tossed Roy Oswalt - MLB - SI.com

PS - There DG, I brought the topic to a new thread..... :)

Why are they talking to Bill Hohn? I was watching that game on TV. Oswalt was showing his displeasure(by body language) on several pitches before Hohn took his mask off. Then he motioned with his hand (asking was that inside?) Then on the pitch that was off the plate Oswalt started yelling something, thats when Hohn took off his mask and (I guess told him knock it off). Then Oswalt began pointing at him and yelling back
Even the commentators saw it coming.

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | WSH@HOU: Oswalt is ejected for arguing balls, strikes - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

Oswalt's a pretty mild mannered guy, and has often yelled at himself when he's JUST missing. That's what it looked like to me when this happened live. I can't get that video to work, to verify what I remember... but I was stunned that he got jacked for that.

On the 1-0 pitch after the ball was returned to Oswalt by the second baseman, he visibly motioned to Hohn "asking" him where the pitch was. (the catcher turned and looked as well).

On the pitch that caused him to get ejected, he reacts both verbally and in a physical manner. Then he uses the bush league "I wasn't talking to you" line.


See ya !!

And he had reacted very visually on several other pitches earlier in the game. They pointed that out on ESPN yesterday and it was very obvious that Oswalt thought they were strikes.

What was so wierd was even F2 was asking the PU where the pitches were on both of the ones in question. One was an outside breaking curve ball and the other was the fast ball.

But its' summertime, getting hotter and as usual the players, coaches, and umpires get a lot less tolerant of each other.

Thanks
David

Bill Hohn is an umpire who escalates incidents rather than defusing them. He enjoys waving his finger at people.

If he has that much trouble with a guy like Roy Oswalt, it says everything that needs to be said.

First pitch inside. Second pitch outside. Seems to me it was Oswalt who was having the bad day.
I wonder if the Questech was fired up that night?

JJ

The pitcher has a bad day, so the umpire needs to do a little professional managing. It's part of his job description. If he has so little control of himself, what's he doing in the big leagues?

I saw it coming before the two pitches in the video. Oswalt was showing his frustration on the calls, I don't care what he said afterward. The ejection was deserved IMO.

Oswalt?

MLB is about MONEY. People do not want to pay HUGE prices to see a game and then have the STAR player or players tossed.

You cannot compare what is done at the Major League level to what we do.

IMO, the MAIN problem is that MLB needs to take control of the umpiring. If MLB does not want STARS getting tossed in the first few innings, then this message needs to be conveyed under no uncertain terms which apparanetly by what's happened to Joe West and now the Oswalt incident MLB is now doing.

Oswalt is not receiving any kind of suspension or fine.

Pete Booth

So Pete, are you thinking that the MLBUA is wrong for trying to protect the integrity of the game?

Hohn.

Umpires are supposed to be in control; players often must show emotion. Oswalt was out there driving himself and Hohn injected himself (again!) so that we can all watch him and talk about him rather than the actual players involved.

No.

My point is Professioanl sports is NOT about the sport anymore It's about BIG TIME money. Also, the MLB umpires of today are more "trigger happy" then their predecessors.

It took a while before Billy Martin, Lou Pinella, Earl Weaver, Bobby Cox, Leo Derochure etc. got EJ'd and they deserved it.

Let's face it if a PU tossed Derek Jeter and AROD in the first inning that might be his last assignment in the BIGS.

MLB umpires make a good living and the game is NOT about them.

As stated, MLB IMO needs to take control over the umpires.

Pete Booth

My questions still stands.....
 

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.