Detroit vs Toronto

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

How often do you think Ed Rapuano misses that call? Or any other particular umpire? Give me an example of an MLB umpire who misses plays at first base on a regular basis. Just because collectively there are many examples of bad calls (of which there is no dispute), I would be very surprised if they were attributable to only a few umpires.

They aren't, and what they have in common (at least as a generality) is a soft throw on which the umpire can't use sound to make the decision.

[Larry1953]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

They aren't, and what they have in common (at least as a generality) is a soft throw on which the umpire can't use sound to make the decision.

Bob, that seems to be exactly what happened here. I know Leyland got kudos for sticking up for his team, but there comes a time when you have to show some respect for the game as well.

[rbmartin]

Originally Posted by Larry1953

...but there comes a time when you have to show some respect for the game as well.

An umpire can also show some respect for the game by not approaching a play in the lazy, nonchalant manner in which Ed Rapuano did on this play.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

An umpire can also show some respect for the game by not approaching a play in the lazy, nonchalant manner in which Ed Rapuano did on this play.

Exactly. He made the call as if the BR were 10' safe.

[Larry1953]

He didn't seem all that nonchalant about it. Like Bob said, the soft toss took away the audio input while he was watching foot/bag and he was totally lost. He was pretty quick thinking after that with the "F3 was pulled off the bag" call that came after a very meek safe sign. That gave him as good a face-save as he could muster by being able to conference about whether F3 had his foot on the bag, conceding that the throw was there in time. I'm glad my brain-f@rts don't come under the scrutiny of 40,000 eyewitnesses and endless ESPN replays

[rbmartin]

Originally Posted by Larry1953

He didn't seem all that nonchalant about it.

Is it customary to wait a full 3 seconds (one mississippi, two mississippi, three mississippi) before making ANY signal?

I'm sure Mr Rapuano is a very good umpire or he would not be where he is today. Having said that, this is a perfect example that when you develop lazy habits it WILL bite you in the hind end one day.

[Larry1953]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

Is it customary to wait a full 3 seconds (one mississippi, two mississippi, three mississippi) before making ANY signal?

I'm sure Mr Rapuano is a very good umpire or he would not be where he is today. Having said that, this is a perfect example that when you develop lazy habits it WILL bite you in the hind end one day.

Well, Tim McClelland didn't look much better tonight immediately signalling "out" on a play at the plate. The ball was on the ground and he had one foot on the grass with F2 directly between himself and the tag. But at least his out call was quick and authoritative, gotta give him points for that.

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

Is it customary to wait a full 3 seconds (one mississippi, two mississippi, three mississippi) before making ANY signal?

Definitely not.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

Is it customary to wait a full 3 seconds (one mississippi, two mississippi, three mississippi) before making ANY signal?

I'm sure Mr Rapuano is a very good umpire or he would not be where he is today. Having said that, this is a perfect example that when you develop lazy habits it WILL bite you in the hind end one day.

What lazy habits? He was in the right position to make this call. The "lazy signal" was due to him not know what the hell happened. He tried processing the play and had nothing. Eventually, he gave a safe signal, said F3 was off the bag, and went right for Marquez.

I think some people in this thread should give Ed a break. He's one of the best umpires in MLB who simply screwed up a call and did everything in his power to make it right, including eating an inordinate amount of crap before he had no choice to run Leyland because Leyland was mocking him unnecessarily. And I don't blame Rap for getting pissed at Leyland after that display.

It amazes me how managers talk about getting it right -- it's not about that at all. They simply want everything to go their way. At every level.