As most of you have read my posts you know I am a homer! I love the Red Sox no doubt. So please don't take this is a rant or an excuse.
But what was home plate umpire Brian Gorman looking at last night...clearly about 12 pitches to both the Red Sox and Indians were AWFUL calls!
Travis Hafner had two pitches called strikes that hung off the plate, and Coco crisp had a pitch that should have been ball four about 1 foot off the plate called a strike.
Almost anytime a batter went 0-2 the next pitch regardless was a ball and almost every batter that went 3-0 it was called a strike. And if you don't believe me find a friend who has TIVO and go through the game like I just did and see for yourself.
It was horrendous! I would have to say however the plays in the field were called great! The DP the Indians turned in the first was clearly an out and the DP the Red Sox almost turned in the 5th Hafner was safe.
It's just sad to see poor pitch calls at the plate...I mean even Tim McCarver saw it and frankly that's a miracle in itself!
I will say however the Indians once again took advantage of there opportunities and did things when they needed to.
Been a good series so far and I hope my Red Sox can knuckle up here and do a bit better!
Peace and Happiness, GO SOX!
-Michael
http://www.bosoxbuzz.com/
http://bosoxbuzz.blogspot.com/
Faces at the U.S. Open
Comments (6)
Both teams had to deal with the same ump's strike zone. Non-story.
Cassidy's House: Smoke>Fire | 10/16/07, 12:01 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe strike zone is in another time and space - another dimension really, and it constantly moves and changes shape. It is almost --- alive.
Larry B | 10/16/07, 12:14 PM
Report Offensive Commentwhaddayamean non-story?!?! He's dead on the money! Some of those calls were just terrible. I'm an ump in our league here in town, so I understand it's tough to call sometimes, but cmon. But you do make some sense when you say both teams had to deal with it. I won't say it affected either team more than the other, but it's embarrasing as an ump to see such bad calls.
mattymattz | 10/16/07, 12:19 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe worst call of the night was against Many - there were 2 on base and 1 out -- he got Ball 4 way inside and low (graphic showed it the worst of the night by a lot) and it got called a strike --- Manny went on to hit in a double play.
Larry B | 10/16/07, 12:26 PM
Report Offensive CommentHe's not complaining that the officiating was unfair; he's asking why it's so inconsistent. Legitimate question.
One of the "charms" of baseball is that it's still called the old-fashioned way, with each ump bringing his own version of the strike zone to each game. But the drawback is that the ump's personal preference can interfere with a bunch of professionals trying very hard to do something very difficult under very tough conditions.
I coach Little League, and we try very hard to ensure that what we teach the kids in practice pays off in games. When we teach them to lay off a bad pitch, it kills us when it gets called a strike. Same with pros. You work hard to recognize a good pitch from a bad one; there should be some reward for that in the consistency of calls.
Yankee64 | 10/16/07, 12:30 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe pitch f/x data says that pitch to Manny was high enough, but 1.259 feet off the middle of the plate inside. So a ball by about an inch or two from the average strike zone, but he was calling that side of the plate all night.
MockingBird | 10/17/07, 05:30 PM
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