Upon further review......

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by REFANDUMP

In my opinion, I can see why Posey was called safe at second during the live play. I found it hard to believe that he was actually out by as much as was shown in the photograph. No excuse for blowing that check swing however, that was flagrant and obvious. Wendelstedt didn't have a good game at all in my opinion. No inside corners whatsoever for either pitcher. The missed strike three on Berkman was a bad miss. MLB either needs more replays or better umpires !!!

HW wasn't giving the entire inside half of the plate, but was giving about the same amount of space on the outside. Berkman was quoted as saying he knew that wasn't in the umpire's zone. It sucks that umpires have their own zone, but they do, and players know it, and adjust to it.

And honestly, I thought the check swing was the LEAST gross of the 3 gross misses.

[REFANDUMP]

Mike, I'll respect your opinion. The way I looked at it was like this. The play at second involved a high tag with a runners feet in close proximity to the base. I think a majority of us would have "safed" this play when looking at it at regular speed. We all know how difficult this call can be when you have to judge a high tag against a foot that's 3 feet away from where the tag was.

Balls and strikes are judgemental, and yes all umpires do have a different zone. We all know that pitches are missed and you are correct in stating that consistency is probably considered the most important thing when calling balls and strikes. I'll agree with your assessment of HW.

I'll admit that Young did a great job of snapping his bat back through the zone after offering at the pitch. I just have a hard time seeing how the first base umpire didn't see this call. IMO, a lack of concentration.