Fenway's been a tough venue for the umpires this season. Last month, an umpire gave the "safe" and "out" signals at the same time. Tonight, with two strikes, a Red Sox batter tried to check his swing. The St. Louis catcher immediately appealed to the third base ump. The home plate umpire, ignoring the appeal, ruled it a swing and rung up the batter. However, when the catcher pointed down to third, the third base ump immediately gave the "safe" signal!

Uh-oh!

Plate ump stood by his own call. Batter was out, and Grady Little didn't argue all that hard.

IANAU (I am not an umpire) but I believe the gaffe was by the 3rd base ump for responding without being asked to do so by the plate umpire.

Totally changing the subject, one of the things we learned at camp this year, (although it was not in the syllabus) is how absolutely ridiculous a ref looks when she (or especially he) gives both the block and the charge call at the same time. A guy actually did this and ended up looking... let's see, how do I say this nicely? Effeminate? Think one arm PC, other arm Fed block signal, and hey, it looks like a fashion show!!

The logical question now is..."Did he do it backwards and in high heels too?".

Yep, I agree. That's about as totally off the subject as anything that's ever been posted here!! :D