Umpiring at an all-time low

[PirateChief]

It's over for these clowns. Please comment on this being the worst year for umpiring in recent memory. Thank you and have a nice evening.

[YankeePride1967]

I'm watching the game now. Bob Davidson is a joke, he called the ball foul before it even went by him. Florida was robbed of a win and now in the 10th Ruiz homered for the Phillies. Unreal.

[roblyo33]

I am also watching the game and the ball was never foul, IMO. Right down the line, over the bag and 6" in fair territory in the outfield.. Unbelieveable!!

[NYYDragoon]

Human element!!!!1111

[DontHateOnNumber2]

How many games have been blown this year by umps totally missing obvious calls etc? I see this and think about Joe West complaining about Yankees-Red Sox games. Are they intentionally this lazy?

[NYYDragoon]

And then Davidson stands there all smugly. Ridiculous. They don't have the skill their massive egos would suggest.

Love the Marlins' announcers spazing out.

[bigjf]

I think it's always been this bad. The difference now is we have the chance to see every single blown call in all of baseball, complete with slow motion replays. However, the fact that we have this kind of access and baseball has done nothing to make these umpires accountable for their mistakes, that is unexcusable. In any other job, if your performance is bad, you could lose your job. In baseball, especially for veteran umps like Joe West and Bob Davidson, it's like they can just make whatever call they feel like making...even, in some cases, when it's not even supposed to be their call (like Mets/Giants)!

I noticed they started showing bad calls on replay at Yankee Stadium. I'm glad they started doing that. I used to think it was a classy move that it wasn't done in the past, but these cocky jerks don't deserve protecting.

[d32123]

If MLB started being harsher towards crappy umps then maybe they wouldn't suck so much. Thing is though they'd probably still suck. I'm all for replacing them all with computers.

[Peanut]

Doesnt even look like he's looking at the ball there

[1970cs]

What I can't understand is when one of them decides they are going to have an extremely wide strike zone for the game, they know every game broadcast has a graphic for pitch zone, k zone etc... Yet they will stand there and continue to do it, and there are no consequences for it.

Either they believe they are bigger than the game, and that is their right, or they don't understand what the strike zone is.

[BroadwayBomber55]

That umpire Bob Davidson is for the birds.

What a kneejerk reaction, jump to conclusions call.

[machphantom]

I have always called for going as far as allowing computers to call balls and strikes. The last thing this sport needs is a debacle similar to what nearly happened to the US in the World Cup.

[mal1219]

Horrible call ... what pisses me off is not that they are making errors (human element), I mean, we can't all be perfect. What pisses me off is that they are so sure that they are right. I mean, they're all just like a bunch of gun-slinger Joe West types in my eyes that will throw you out the minute you start to complain about a certain call. If I'm an umpire, and I see all these bad calls around me and the general crowd getting upset, I would go and ask MLB to give me some tools to make sure I'm doing my job as well as I can. Why don't the umpires unite and ask MLB for some kind of a review system. Then they will also be in control of what kind of review system is going to be used and they will not have to fear for their jobs. If anything, they will maybe need an extra official who will keep track of the reviews in one of the video rooms!

[YankeePride1967]

and Bob Davidson stands by his call.

[ieddyi]

and Bob Davidson stands by his call.

Absurd- he said the ball went over the bag fair, curved foul and somehow curved fair to land inside the foul line

That's a physical impossibility

What a clown

[pleasepassthesoup]

Horrible call ... what pisses me off is not that they are making errors (human element), I mean, we can't all be perfect.

but we have the technology to be a lot closer to perfect.

[35Knucklecurve]

Doesnt even look like he's looking at the ball there

He wasn't - he looked at it until it bounced the first time and then turned. That's what is so ridiculous. It was still clearly fair at that point.

They use Cyclops to call balls in and out in tennis and it's almost instant - the chair ump doesn't have to climb down, go to watch the replay and then make a call and the players accept the call - no argument is even necessary. I don't know how feasible that kind of system would be for MLB, but SOMETHING has to be done. They use extra umps on the lines during the post-season, so maybe they need to seriously consider using them all the time. I know that instant replay has made it easier to see errors made on calls, but I can't recall seeing this many, blatantly wrong calls before the technology to view it was existed - the key word being "blatant". Everbody can see it but the ones making the calls.

The umps today need to use the same system as the one for players - you don't perform, you get sent down to the minors and work your way back to the majors. They have nobody to blame but themselves. If you hear 40, 000 people in the stands yelling in protest, the teams on the field going nuts and managers blowing a gasket, there's a pretty good chance you need to at least consult with the other umpires. The call last night resulted in one team losing a game they would have won. It could have just as easily been Game 7 of the WS. Then what?

[Yankeeah]

That's a judgment call, a horrible one, but it's judgment. He's being a complete ass that he won't admit he got it wrong, but this is much worse.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big...urn=mlb-259658

The umpires get the actual rule wrong in this one.

[NYYDragoon]

and Bob Davidson stands by his call.

This is what drives me nuts. Who defines the rules: the book or the old grouchy guys? It was a fair ball--what the hell is he standing by?

[mal1219]

but we have the technology to be a lot closer to perfect.

I would like to repeat that I do not understand umpires not asking MLB to use this technology. But yeah, just thank Joe West and all the other cowboys for not wanting to make a change.

[YankeePride1967]

This is what drives me nuts. Who defines the rules: the book or the old grouchy guys? It was a fair ball--what the hell is he standing by?

He said he doesn't care about the replay, no replay will show him what he saw with his own eyes. Said it doesn't matter where the ball lands but where it goes over the bag. So in his eyes, the ball started foul and then took a right turn after it crossed the base. He obviously doesn't have a physics degree.

[PirateChief]

He said he doesn't care about the replay, no replay will show him what he saw with his own eyes. Said it doesn't matter where the ball lands but where it goes over the bag. So in his eyes, the ball started foul and then took a right turn after it crossed the base. He obviously doesn't have a physics degree.

He's like the phantom spitter from Seinfeld.

[Carbon Fiber]

He said he doesn't care about the replay, no replay will show him what he saw with his own eyes. Said it doesn't matter where the ball lands but where it goes over the bag. So in his eyes, the ball started foul and then took a right turn after it crossed the base. He obviously doesn't have a physics degree.

Oh I feel horrible for saying this, but that IS physically possible. Now I am not standing up for the horrible umping this year or any year -- just saying that a ball can cross the 3rd base bag foul and land fair. All depends on the spin originally imparted on the ball by the bat.

[YankeePride1967]

Oh I feel horrible for saying this, but that IS physically possible. Now I am not standing up for the horrible umping this year or any year -- just saying that a ball can cross the 3rd base bag foul and land fair. All depends on the spin originally imparted on the ball by the bat.

Other than hitting a pebble or bouncing off the edge of the grass/dirt I cant remember seeing a ball take that kind of a spin although I guess it's possible. But that didn't happen last night, that ball was fair from the moment it left the bat until it landed past Davidson.

[Blazer]

It's over for these clowns. Please comment on this being the worst year for umpiring in recent memory. Thank you and have a nice evening.

He's clearly out of position. He should be straddling the line, but he's standing several feet in foul territory. In the days of NL & AL umpires one league (can't recall which) used to position the 1B & 3B umps in foul territory while the other put them on the line.

[fredgmuggs]

I'm watching the game now. Bob Davidson is a joke, he called the ball foul before it even went by him. Florida was robbed of a win and now in the 10th Ruiz homered for the Phillies. Unreal.

I have a question - does it matter where the balls ends up after it goes over the bag? I've been told forever that it only matters how the ball bounces over the bag.

If that's the case, I can't rip Davidson. He called the play as it crossed the bag - whether you agree with his opinion that it crossed the bag fair or foul is another matter.

[YankeePride1967]

I have a question - does it matter where the balls ends up after it goes over the bag? I've been told forever that it only matters how the ball bounces over the bag.

If that's the case, I can't rip Davidson. He called the play as it crossed the bag - whether you agree with his opinion that it crossed the bag fair or foul is another matter.

It is where the ball goes over the bag, but Davidson was not at a good angle to make that call.

[fredgmuggs]

It is where the ball goes over the bag, but Davidson was not at a good angle to make that call.

I'm not sure about that. He was where most umpires would be stationed on that play.

The thing that makes that play look so bad is that it landed in fair territory but I can't say with any certainty that it went over the bag in fair territory. I would say it probably did but I'm not certain. Strange play.

A lot of the criticism directed at Davidson seems to be he didn't make the call after the ball went past the bag but that's irrelevant.

[YankeePride1967]

I'm not sure about that. He was where most umpires would be stationed on that play.

The thing that makes that play look so bad is that it landed in fair territory but I can't say with any certainty that it went over the bag in fair territory. I would say it probably did but I'm not certain. Strange play.

A lot of the criticism directed at Davidson seems to be he didn't make the call after the ball went past the bag but that's irrelevant.

I wasn't going by where it landed, but by where it went over the bag and many umpires stand right on the foul side of the foul line so that gives them the best view possible.

[Yankeeah]

If he would have stood on the foul line it would have hit him

[iamdoingthat]

Love the Marlins' announcers spazing out.

Yeah, that was a treat. I believe the quote was "ooooh that was brutal!"

[NewEraYanks2527]

The umpiring has been atrocious for several years now and as I have said before, they need to be replaced.

[YankeePride1967]

If he would have stood on the foul line it would have hit him

Not standing on it, but just to the foul side of it, not where he was standing where even if the ball did go past the bag on the foul side, he wouldn't know.

[RogerNatural]

He said he doesn't care about the replay, no replay will show him what he saw with his own eyes. Said it doesn't matter where the ball lands but where it goes over the bag. So in his eyes, the ball started foul and then took a right turn after it crossed the base. He obviously doesn't have a physics degree.

And he is absolutely correct. All the media people & fans are all over him. but guess what ? He is 1000 % correct. This call is dependent on where the ball is AT THE TIME IT PASSES THE BASE. As anybody can see, it was bouncing in foul territory before the base. In his judgment, it was still in foul territory as it passed the base. AFTER the base, it went into fair territory.If anybody has played this game, you'd see balls that had so much english on it, you'd think it was hit as a knuckleball. So in reality, this Umpire knows the rule... unlike many who are bashing him.

[YankeePride1967]

And he is absolutely correct. All the media people & fans are all over him. but guess what ? He is 1000 % correct. This call is dependent on where the ball is AT THE TIME IT PASSES THE BASE. As anybody can see, it was bouncing in foul territory before the base. In his judgment, it was still in foul territory as it passed the base. AFTER the base, it went into fair territory.If anybody has played this game, you'd see balls that had so much english on it, you'd think it was hit as a knuckleball. So in reality, this Umpire knows the rule... unlike many who are bashing him.

You are right, it does only matter where the ball passes the base, not after. No one is saying otherwise.

[Blazer]

It's obvious Davidson doesn't know the difference between a fair and foul ball.

[DiMaggio5CF]

Other than hitting a pebble or bouncing off the edge of the grass/dirt I cant remember seeing a ball take that kind of a spin although I guess it's possible. But that didn't happen last night, that ball was fair from the moment it left the bat until it landed past Davidson.

On the last bounce before the bage, the ball hit on the foul line. On the first bounce after the bag, the ball hit about six inches in fair territory. So it did hit something and kick back toward fair territory. To say it didn't is just seeing what you want to see.

However... When the ball hit on the line on the last bounce before the bag, it is in fair territory. When it landed clearly fair on the first bounce after the bag, it was obviously in fair territory. That means that the ball was always fair, never foul, and that the call was an incorrect one.

However... As the ball hit on the line, it was very close to being foul. So although the call was the wrong one, it was close enough that you can't really kill the umpire on it. To me, it's like a bang-bang call at first base. The call might be right or wrong, but if you need replay to tell for sure, it's too close to be outraged about it. He made the wrong call, but it wasn't nearly as big a deal as people made it out to be. His refusal to admit fault is much worse IMO.

And one last thing, the ball is determined fair or foul when it crosses the bag -- not before, not after. So that shot of the ball bouncing in fair territory about 15 feet past the bag is, by itself, completely irrelevent. It only is useful when taken in conjunction with the shot of the bounce before it, where you see that the ball is on the line and thus still barely fair. It could not have gone foul between those two bounces. But to just show that frame as proof that the ball was fair is incorrect.

[Principessa21]

Absurd- he said the ball went over the bag fair, curved foul and somehow curved fair to land inside the foul line

That's a physical impossibility

What a clown

If he said the ball went over the bag fair... isn't the conversation just kind of over at that point?

And one last thing, the ball is determined fair or foul when it crosses the bag -- not before, not after. So that shot of the ball bouncing in fair territory about 15 feet past the bag is, by itself, completely irrelevent. It only is useful when taken in conjunction with the shot of the bounce before it, where you see that the ball is on the line and thus still barely fair. It could not have gone foul between those two bounces. But to just show that frame as proof that the ball was fair is incorrect.

Perfectly summarized.

[I'm A Wenner!]

And he is absolutely correct. All the media people & fans are all over him. but guess what ? He is 1000 % correct. This call is dependent on where the ball is AT THE TIME IT PASSES THE BASE. As anybody can see, it was bouncing in foul territory before the base. In his judgment, it was still in foul territory as it passed the base. AFTER the base, it went into fair territory.If anybody has played this game, you'd see balls that had so much english on it, you'd think it was hit as a knuckleball. So in reality, this Umpire knows the rule... unlike many who are bashing him.

So you're saying that the ball landed fair before the bag, curved around the base in mid-air, and then landed fair again? Really?

No, he blew the call, and he's embarrassing himself by trying to defend it.

[YankeePride1967]

First of all no one is saying anything anyone who has watched a single baseball game doesn't already know. Three outs to an inning, three strikes and you are out and where the ball is where it passes the base, not before or after, determines if it is fair or foul. Now that we have Baseball 101 out of the way, that ball passed over the base on the fair side, which by baseball rules makes it a fair ball. Bad call. Now is it "the worst call in the past 30 years" as the Florida manager said? Hardly but still a bad call.

[ThePinStripes]

at least this was one somewhat close. Some of the other calls have just been horrible, starting last year.




blown perfect game




I was told by the umpire that I didn't have to be tagged to be out," Jeter said, sounding somewhat annoyed.

[BronxYanks45]

there are some obvious blown calls that need attention, but not replay.

watching a game where a replay determines the call is boring. Do you think Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson or Ty Cobb had this advantage? Who knows their stats could be higher or lower with replay

leave it out

[NYYDragoon]

there are some obvious blown calls that need attention, but not replay.

watching a game where a replay determines the call is boring. Do you think Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson or Ty Cobb had this advantage? Who knows their stats could be higher or lower with replay

leave it out

No, they didn't, because the technology didn't exist. Also, it's "boring" for the game to be ruled on correctly? Interesting.

Please try a better argument.

[JDPNYY]

there are some obvious blown calls that need attention, but not replay.

watching a game where a replay determines the call is boring. Do you think Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson or Ty Cobb had this advantage? Who knows their stats could be higher or lower with replay

leave it out

Agreed. Teams should also take trains to away games, because The Babe had to take a train.

[JfromJersey]

Umpiring should not be a factor in determining the outcome of a game. If there is a way to eliminate or even reduce the number of bad calls, it should be done. IR should be looked at as a tool for the umps, not an insult to their egos. I'm tired of hearing the old "purity of the game" or "human element" arguments to justify the current ineptitude of umpiring. Balls and strikes is another matter, but the technology is in place to grade the accuracy of those calls, and those grades should weed out the rotten apples.

[Rice14]

My own personal favorite from a few years back. Julio Lugo "out" at first base according to Doug Eddings.

[Blazer]

[Blazer]

Can't forget this one:

[Blazer]

The real "worst call of all time".

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

My own personal favorite from a few years back. Julio Lugo "out" at first base according to Doug Eddings.

How about that time Schilling got the umpire to over turn a call that was correct?