PunBB

I'd like to see St. Louis win it all. Pujols is a class act and a helluva player, and it'd be nice to see Larry Walker retire with a ring.

Hey, what did everyone think about that "Strike 3, you're not out" play in game 2 of the Angels-White Sox series? I thought it was a bogus call myself... the catcher clearly caught the ball for what should have been the out.

As an umpire myself, I have to say, as crass as it sounds, it doesn't matter whether the ball bounced or not. That is all judgment, and according to the rules, judgment calls come down to the discretion of the umpire. A player is not out unless the umpire says he is. From my perspective, what it comes down to is this:

Some plate umpires use the fist in front of the body to signal strike as well as out. However, this was not the case last night. This umpire used the point to the side technique to signal strike and the fist to signal out (the same thing I do). On this third strike, the umpire pointed out from his side to signal the strike and then came in and made the fist, signalling out. Then, seeing that the batter took off for first base, he changed his mind. You can't do that. This is my long-winded way of saying that this was all a display of an umpire losing it under pressure. He called the batter out and then changed his mind. I'm rooting for the White Sox but I hate to see them win a game like that.

If the whitesox win this series or the world series, it will be tainted forever as it should be.

emperor penguin Wrote:If the whitesox win this series or the world series, it will be tainted forever as it should be.

yeah..because baseball has such a great reputation, and hasn't been tainted at all eh?

emperor penguin Wrote:If the whitesox win this series or the world series, it will be tainted forever as it should be.

No it won't be tainted. There are always questionable calls that go against teams in the playoffs. I think it was a terrible call but maybe the ChiSox would have won the game eventually anyway. Nobody knows for sure. Is this any worse than the Pats-Raiders (NFL) game a few years ago???? The tuck rule hadn't been enforced all season and all of a sudden it is called in a playoff game...........What about Livan Hernandez in 1997 and the large strike zone he got from the umpire??? What about the call on Cano in the Yanks/Angels series??? The Angels weren't complaining about that one were they???? Umpires make mistakes. The inning should have been over but nobody can say for certain that the White Sox weren't going to win the game anyway.

"A White Sox team, tainted? Say it aint so."

I gotta say, baseball is a game where human error is and always has been a part of the deal. I don't think you could find a team in history that went all the way without the benefit of one or two or twenty bad calls in their favour over the course of the year.

It's a game where stadium's are built to hamper the strengths of opposing teams and benefit the strengths of the home side. It's a game where signals can be stolen, and bats over pine-tarred, and balls over rosined.

There's always been an element of accepted cheating, simply because each side has equal opportunity to take those little advantages when they present themselves.

On top of all that, the whole thing often comes down to a group of judges, a group of human beings... it's like figure skating in that respect.

Was it a bad call? Yep. But, hey that's baseball, and that's why we play best of seven. The next call might be in your favour, and it might not... but we all knew that coming in.

well how about those umpires, crazy calls in alcs and let's not forget about the nlcs, Larussa got ejected & edmonds during an at-bat ! WOW

bahbye angels, the cards will need some luck to come back

The umpires certainly seem to be the story this post-season. In high energy, high tension baseball, there are bound to be some disputes. However, it seems like there have been a higher number of games this post-season marked by controversy.

Baseball umpires have always been brutal. I love when broadcasters say: "well, they get it right 90% of the time". Well, that's because 90% of the plays AREN'T CLOSE. If there's a sport that needs instant repay, it's baseball. Just because the technology wasn't available in 1920 isn't a reason to not adopt it today. Friggin unions.

Yea, cfern, I agree that baseball needs instant replay. What I really like is the way instant replay has been used in hockey - it is basically limited to whether or not a puck legally entered the goal. What I do not like is that it is some lawyer or something up in the replay booth. The referee should have a monitor at the penalty box where they can request any angle they want, etc. Football has the right idea.

The only questions I'd have about instant replay in baseball is when do you use it and how do you fit it in the flow of the play? Baseball games can be pretty slow as it is, so this could just draw it out even more. In very specific circumstances, and with a limit on the number of challenges teams can have (similar to football), replay can work. But no one should even THINK about using replay for balls and strikes... that would be just ridiculous!

Holy crap, Pujols just pulverized that ball. What a player that guy is. Can Houston shake that off and come back now?

yeah i was following the game online, incredible i thought the cards were toast

j-monster Wrote:The only questions I'd have about instant replay in baseball is when do you use it and how do you fit it in the flow of the play? Baseball games can be pretty slow as it is, so this could just draw it out even more. In very specific circumstances, and with a limit on the number of challenges teams can have (similar to football), replay can work. But no one should even THINK about using replay for balls and strikes... that would be just ridiculous!

I'm not talking balls and strikes (though that K-Zone thingy ESPN uses is pretty sweet for that). I'm talking close plays on the bases. But yeah, similar to an NFL style where each team could have two challenges. And if you lose the challenge, the punishment would be one less trip to the mound for the manager.