Phillies at Nationals

[tmagan]

Charlie Manuel was ejected by Rob Drake for arguing a check swing in the bottom of the first. Apparently Joe West fell ill right before the game. With runners at first and second there was a check swing and it was appealed to the third base umpire, Andy Fletcher who was on the first base side second base, although I think he should have been on the third base side of second base, for if there were a double steal he would have not a chance to run toward third to make a call. He ruled no swing, although it doesn't look good in an MLB game when you appeal to third and the third base umpire is practically next to the first base umpire.

You would think in an emergency instance like this, MLB would have former professional umpires who live near the area on standby instead of waiting for one of the AAA call-ups to fly in which takes several hours at least.

Have two or three former professional umpires who live near an MLB park on standby for a season, give them $2,000 a year just to be on standby, and if a AAA call-up doesn't have enough time to make it to the game, have them be one of the four umpires for that game (not behind the plate) and give them $2,000 for each game they work (usually one game as the AAA call up would make it there for the next game).