White Sox "Steal" Game Two

[schillingouttheks]

Well, going back to the HP umpire calling a "strike" but not out, he closed his fist, and pumped it. That means your out, nothing else. Watch the whole game, that's how he called ALL THE BATTERS on strike 3 calls out. He didn't just call a strike here, he called him OUT. That's 3 outs in the inning, and the replays show he caught it. If you catch a ball, you don't have the incentive to tag the batter, because well, you caught it. Granted, it was a close play, and maybe should have tagged him anyway to prevent that situation.

 

But anyway, like ChiTownSox has said all along, the bad calls were made all during the game, and there were some other heads-up plays that weren't made by the Angels. Escobar's laziness towards the plate with his delivery giving Ozuna second, then hanging an 0-2 PITCH over the plate for Crede to smack.

 

The Angels could have kept the game tied anyway with that blown call...for f***s sake, there were 2 OUTS ANYWAY! AND, Escobar had an 0-2 count on Crede. He shoulda made a half-decent pitch, and maybe we're going to the 10th. Who knows. The White Sox capitalized on a mistake made by the umpiring crew, and won the game, and that's all that can be said. They won it moreso off of Escobar's lazy pitching than the botched call. At the end of the day, all it comes down to is that the series is tied 1-1, with the series going back to Anaheim, where the Angels will use this as fuel to spark a fire under their asses. Also, Vlad needs to get back into it in this series.

[schillingouttheks]

Whoops, double post. My bad.

[thee sox]

Difference is, missed calls in the middle innings happen ALL THE TIME. This kinda s*** doesn't. And you're using examples of strike calls early in the game just to make it look like its a fair call, its not. Or to overshadow the call. You don't want Buehrle's performance to be overshadowed, lets not have this play overshadowed then either. Fair?

 

And NO, I'm not rooting for a team because they were robbed...they were f***ing mugged in front of millions. But I am rooting for them because I want to, and have since they beat the Yankees. Believe me or not I don't care. Look back in the ALCS thread, I predicted the Angels in 6. Seriously, LOOK. I said that.

 

You know for a fact that this doesn't happen? These kind of things go unnoticed, and it would have if Escobar could have gotten the last out. If he gets the last out, the innings over and we head to extra innings...that play has nothing to do with the outcome of the game. But Escobar didn't get the last out, and just happens to give up the winning HIT after a STEAL. So then it becomes a big deal, because it's the ALCS and Escobar couldn't overcome the play. Do I think they should have won? Probably not, they sucked...terribly. But the Angels sucked just as much.

 

The White Sox did NOT "steal" this game. The game was TIED...if AJ is called out it goes to extra innings...the game is not over. We did not win the game because that happened. You guys say, if you were in Angels' fans shoes, you would be pissed. Well yeah I would, but if YOU were in MY shoes...you would be ecstatic. That's baseball...there are no replays, things like this are going to happen. I know it's hard to get over, but you have to and I guarantee the media/fans are the ONLY one's still griping about it. The players have to move on, otherwise if they dwell on it, they're going to lose even more.

[thee sox]

Well, going back to the HP umpire calling a "strike" but not out, he closed his fist, and pumped it. That means your out, nothing else. Watch the whole game, that's how he called ALL THE BATTERS on strike 3 calls out. He didn't just call a strike here, he called him OUT. That's 3 outs in the inning, and the replays show he caught it. If you catch a ball, you don't have the incentive to tag the batter, because well, you caught it. Granted, it was a close play, and maybe should have tagged him anyway to prevent that situation.

 

But anyway, like ChiTownSox has said all along, the bad calls were made all during the game, and there were some other heads-up plays that weren't made by the Angels. Escobar's laziness towards the plate with his delivery giving Ozuna second, then hanging an 0-2 PITCH over the plate for Crede to smack.

 

The Angels could have kept the game tied anyway with that blown call...for f***s sake, there were 2 OUTS ANYWAY! AND, Escobar had an 0-2 count on Crede. He shoulda made a half-decent pitch, and maybe we're going to the 10th. Who knows. The White Sox capitalized on a mistake made by the umpiring crew, and won the game, and that's all that can be said. They won it moreso off of Escobar's lazy pitching than the botched call. At the end of the day, all it comes down to is that the series is tied 1-1, with the series going back to Anaheim, where the Angels will use this as fuel to spark a fire under their asses. Also, Vlad needs to get back into it in this series.

 

No...the umpire did that for all strikes, there were no contact. He held out a stiff arm signaling no contact, and pumped the fist for the STRIKE...not the out. If you're listening to what Harold Reynolds said...he said that universally people think the fist pump is an out, but the umpire was doing that all game on first and second strikes. The Angels thought the fist pump was an out, but that was not the HP umpire's mechanic for an out.

[mosox]

Saying the call has nothing to do with the outcome is not exactly an objective opinion. Sure Escobar made a lousy 0-2 pitch, but by all accounts he should have out of the inning. This was one of the most embarrassing displays of umpiring I've ever seen. Unlike Larry Barnett or Denkinger, this homeplate ump not only got a call wrong, but he made the wrong hand signal. He compounded the problem by not sticking to the call he made with his hand, and then not asking for help. Very amateur. Sure it's annoying to Chicago to have it labled that way, but you know to themselves they're laughing about it.

[BoSox84]

Thee Sox is right he makes the fist for every strike call. The game is 9 innings, sure this call hurts te Angels, but they shouldnot of had themselves in the situation where one run could win.

[thee sox]

Saying the call has nothing to do with the outcome is not exactly an objective opinion. Sure Escobar made a lousy 0-2 pitch, but by all accounts he should have out of the inning. This was one of the most embarrassing displays of umpiring I've ever seen. Unlike Larry Barnett or Denkinger, this homeplate ump not only got a call wrong, but he made the wrong hand signal. He compounded the problem by not sticking to the call he made with his hand, and then not asking for help. Very amateur. Sure it's annoying to Chicago to have it labled that way, but you know to themselves they're laughing about it.

 

There is no universal hand signal. Every umpire has their own way...I don't understand how you've never noticed this. They said that the verbal calls are what you listen for...AJ did not hear one, and Josh Paul even said he did not hear one...Umpires don't have the luxury of looking at 5 million replays as the play is happening, you have to remember that this all happened in the matter of about 15 seconds. It happened fast and no one can say that they could do a better job.

 

I'm not saying the call has NOTHING to do with the outcome of the game, but what I am saying is the media should stop griping over this when the Angels had two shots to get the out. Once on the steal, where Josh Paul makes yet another mistake, and then Escobar leaves a meatball on an 0-2 count, that Crede crushed. And also...the game was not over if they called that an out, no one knows what happens in the 10th inning. The Angels could go 1-2-3 and the Sox score in the bottom of the inning anyway. Of course the Angels could have scored runs, but the game did not solely rest on this play. That's what I'm saying...the Angels had TWO more chances to get that final out and we have no idea what would have happened in the 10th.

[Ray10]

I thought he was out the ump pumped his fist to signal a strikeout yet Pierzinski was safe at first really messed up weirdest thing ive ever seen.

[Manny Goes Boom]

You know for a fact that this doesn't happen? These kind of things go unnoticed, and it would have if Escobar could have gotten the last out. If he gets the last out, the innings over and we head to extra innings...that play has nothing to do with the outcome of the game.

 

Well didn't you just say this play had nothing to do with the outcome of the game? Whats this then? Actually Escobar GOT the last out, it was AJ Pyzerznski. You know it, I know it everyone knows it. 3-2 count and he calls a strike, and he DIDN'T call "No catch" means an OUT! Thats out number THREE! Thats the inning. And that play had ALOT to do with the outcome of the game. It was 1-1, and still up in the air.

[BoSox84]

It's to bad this happened this was a good game, now this is all were gonna hear about for the next however long. Im already sick of hearing about. Paul never looked back at the ump so he couldnt have known if the ump made a your out hand sinal or not, but you'd think he'd know when the ump didnt say your out something was up.

[empirestrikesback26]

Well it's pretty obvious fox wants the white sox in the world series.

[ChiTownSox77]

riiiiiiight. and what say you, oh thoughtful and intellectual Skankees fan, is the impetus for said remark?

 

if that is true (when it couldn't possibly be further from the truth), then that explains how the Skankees managed to win a few world titles: Fox.

[BoSox84]

Yea Fox has this thing fixed to the Chi Sox advance. PLEASE

[ORS]

Well didn't you just say this play had nothing to do with the outcome of the game? Whats this then? Actually Escobar GOT the last out, it was AJ Pyzerznski. You know it, I know it everyone knows it. 3-2 count and he calls a strike, and he DIDN'T call "No catch" means an OUT! Thats out number THREE! Thats the inning. And that play had ALOT to do with the outcome of the game. It was 1-1, and still up in the air.

Exactly. The ump didn't say "out" nor did he say "no catch". The motherf***er had no clue what happened and he froze. Now he's backpeddaling by saying, "I wasn't sure, so I figured I'd make my mind up based on the players reactions". Isn't that how all close calls should be made? Borderline strike? Well the hitter sure didn't like it, I better give him first base. Close play at the plate? Well the catcher really seems to think he made the tag in time, better give it to him. What a crock. Do your job, make a call, any call, and stick to it. The postgame ass-covering session is just as deplorable as what happened on the field.

[ChiTownSox77]

boo-freaking-hoo. if the angels, as all of you are saying on this board, were sooooo gonna win this game and it was (single tear drop) stolen from them, why did they play so poorly in the field? why didn't they wrap this up earlier?

 

you think they were going to get to buehrle? he WAS gonna come out for the 10th. BELIEVE IT. this sounds like so many little leaguers blaming everyone for their loss. get over it. it's BASEBALL. that play had NOTHING to do with escobar placing as fine a pitch as crede could ask for right down state street for deposit on the wall in left. it had nothing to do with Paul not even ATTEMPTING a throw when Ozuna went on the next at bat.

 

terrible call? sure. game-changer? not for the PREMIER teams, it wouldn't be.

 

If this were the Skankees or the Red Sox (sorry, it's true- I love the BoSox, but the East Coast media loves em more) no one would be giving the ChiSox so much crap. The media have done NOTHING to report that Buehrle threw what might be the best game pitched in this post-season thus far. Complete and utter disregard for any EFFORT the White Sox might have put forth to win the game.

 

To the media, the Sox didn't win the game. It was STOLEN from the Angels.

 

Enough already.

[ORS]

I never once claimed the Angels were going to win.

 

My point is this: Essentially Eddings didn't make a call at all, which is his f***ing job. If says "out", inning over. If he says "no catch", as is customary, Paul makes the tag. He froze; he did nothing, and everybody assumed from there. Should Paul have tagged AJ "just in case"? Absolutely. Were the White Sox given 4 outs to score a run in the bottom of the ninth? You bet your ass.

[ChiTownSox77]

the Angels gave the Sox four outs. Just like they did when washburn air-mailed a 20 foot throw over erstad in the first. just like Guererro missed the cut off man on Rowand's corner drive. just like Paul didn't attempt a throw at Ozuna's steal. just like Escobar handed Crede the perfect pitch to hit on an 0-2 count. he throws a FASTBALL?!?!

 

the Angels played poorly. the Sox won. you can take any game... ANY game and point to ONE CALL and say it affected the outcome. real teams rise above it. the national media has now done worse than root against the sox... they've disregarded us. we weren't even part of winning our own game last night; it was the umps 'stealing it from the rightful victors, the angels'.

 

buehrle dominated em. escobar was sub-par. we capitalized on bad pitches, errors, and no-throws on steals from the Angels to win. period.

 

see you in cali.

[ORS]

If you think the Angels were responsible for the Sox having one extra out in that game then you need to wake the f*** up. It isn't an anti-Chicago conspiracy to think the umps dicked the dog there; it is what happened. The only people who are downplaying this are White Sox fans. Fans from all over the country, who root for all different teams, who have no vested interest in this series are decrying the call. You claim everyone needs to stop whining and get over it. I think you need to admit it gave your team an extra shot and accept it.

[yankeessuck013]

Why don't officials just come out at the end of a game and say they made a mistake in their bad calls and balls. They always bring out some high ranking official and he says something like the ball did change directions and blah blah blah. It was a horrible call and it is a call like that that teams lose series. Chicago should be thanking the gods of bad calls today because they were given a gift.

[jimmycarter05]

You're right, I would be crying if the call was the other way...but it wasn't. And let me remind you, and ESPN, and FOX, that this did not tie/win the game. Pablo Ozuna stole second AFTER THE PLAY, and Joe Crede hit a rocket off the wall, AFTER THE PLAY. The umpire doesn't have a view from the front of homeplate like we do at home...it isn't obvious that a ball did not hit a ground from behind the catcher, in a split second. How many of you could have even told me that the ball did not hit the ground after the play happened, without any replays. You're full of it if you say you did...you can't even tell, unless it's zoomed in and you're forced to watch 100 times.

 

I have a feeling if this did happen the other way around, we'd be hearing what a great job it was by whoever did AJ's job. AJ didn't hear, you're out...so he ran to first, it was a damn good heads-up play and he gets no credit whatsoever. Josh Paul is a moron for not paying attention to what was going on...and he shouldn't even have been in the game.

 

 

 

hey idiot ozuna never would of stole 2nd AFTER the play because he NEVER should have gotten on

[ChiTownSox77]

waaaaahhhh. it's not fair! waaaaaaahhhhh.

 

can you guys hear yourselves?

[ChiTownSox77]

as long as we're correcting calls here...

 

I'd like the Bulls annointed 1994 champs to correct the phantom foul on scottie pippen in NY.

 

 

You sound like a bunch of cubs fans... blame bartman when it was alex gonzalez's error that ruined em in '03. what a bunch of babies.

 

it was a bad call, granted. but, people... that's baseball- bad calls and all. you guys act like the sox don't even belong in the ALCS and they were lucky to win last night.

 

let me clue you all in on something:

 

our pitcher last night threw a 5 hitter and DOMINATED. he started the all-star game.

you might have heard of him. his name is MARK BUEHRLE.

 

get over it. the Sox were the better team last night. the angels might very well still win the series. then, all of this garbage won't even be mentioned again except by you all who will use it to justify the angels' 'magical renaissance' or something.

 

The sox beat them. period. let it GO. to listen to you all, we'd still be talking about jeffrey maier.

[bighurt]

I just checked at MLB.com and they're still counting the game as a win for the White Sox. Series is tied 1-1. How they got there is immaterial now. They're still planning on playing tomorrow night. Get over it. Go White Sox.

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

buehrle dominated em. escobar was sub-par. we capitalized on bad pitches, errors, and no-throws on steals from the Angels to win. period.

 

see you in cali.

 

 

Outside of the bad 0-2 pitch to Crede, I'd say the Angel's pitching matched Buehrle's excellent effort. Both teams gave up 1 earned run and game wasn't decided until the bottom of the ninth. However biased you might be, if you're going to give credit to Buehrle, you should also acknowledge strong Angel relievers who (with or without help from ump) shut down your offense for almost the whole game.

 

Consider that alot of people just assumed since the Angels had gotten their split, they were gonna be content to lose this game. Nevertheless, this game was closer than it should have been for a team like Chicago that was well-rested and had more time to prepare. We'll see who momentum favors, but if more rested Chicago doesn't go on to win the pennant against this depleted angel team who may have lost their ace and cy-young winner for the season...well...that's all on you chi-town.

[eZ_d0eS_iT]

lol your well rested ace pitchers were matched pitch for pitch by the overused and tired angel pitchers who just got through a marathon series with new york. that isn't something i'd be bragging about.

[BoSox84]

Enough already, Im sick of this ********. If Paul plays like and avergae catcher he tags AJ and this doesnt matter. He blew the call this happens, we need to get over it, like Big Hurt said, series is tied 1-1.

[ChiTownSox77]

Pitchers don't battle other pitchers directly. our hitters are to blame for that. Buehrle was unstoppable. If not, then they would have stopped him.

 

Get it? Good. it's 1-1 and we're going to Cali for a best of 5.

 

Your boys are at home because Buehrle and the boys sent them their. Dispatched them for a long winter of frowns. Don't be bitter. You sound like a Yankee fan- "how dare they! this is OUR sport!" I'm a Boston fan and I don't like the whining I'm getting from you guys. Red Sox fans don't whine. Red Sox fans keep battling.

 

Why are you all taking this out on the White Sox? They had nothing to do with the bad call- they simply played it. You're telling me that Varitek wouldn't have headed to first? Oh, no... he would have turned to the ump and said, "excuse me, good sir. I believe you are mistaken. I am in fact, out. Rather, I apologize for temporary consideration and entertainment of the thought to take advantage of a legitimate umpire's call and take my undeserved place on first base. Further, I apologize for our potential victory in advance and wish you nothing but success against us." That sounds like French capitulation.

 

No one annoints a Champ. It's earned.

[ChiTownSox77]

Enough already, Im sick of this ********. If Paul plays like and avergae catcher he tags AJ and this doesnt matter. He blew the call this happens, we need to get over it, like Big Hurt said, series is tied 1-1.

 

Exactly right, BoSox. Well put.

[RedSoxRooter]

waaaaahhhh. it's not fair! waaaaaaahhhhh.

 

can you guys hear yourselves?

 

I think it has more to do with the fact that the Red Sox (and their fans) have been killed by bad calls in postseasons past and therefore hate bad umpiring in the playoffs. Even in 2004 they had like 4 bad calls against them and for once the umpires overturned them and got it right.

 

We all just hate to see a team lose because of, or in part because of a bad call.

[ARod2212]

Angels deserved that crap for that bogus call on Cano. They get that one right, and the Yankees are playing in the LCS.