Joe West says the Sox and Yankees are "pathetic and embarrassing"

[Gom]

You know what's funny...he wasn't talking about taking pitches, etc. Just stepping out of the box, taking forever to throw a pitch...and I can't say I disagree with him.

[TedWilliams101]

If he is talking about stepping out, then he should be criticizing HIMSELF and the other Umpires. It is THEIR job to give time to pitchers and batters. If he believes that is the reason why the games are slow, don't grant time so often.

 

I don't think he should be allowed to call another Red Sox - Yankees game again for the season. It could be his punishment and would help protect the integrity of the game. I don't want an umpire officiating a game played by two teams they openly criticized and called "an embarrassment and disgrace". He is the one being disgraceful by being unprofessional by saying this to the media.

[yankees228]

You know what's funny...he wasn't talking about taking pitches' date=' etc. Just stepping out of the box, taking forever to throw a pitch...and I can't say I disagree with him.[/quote']

 

But can you really blame the teams? Stepping out of the box and varying set times isn't just for no reason, it's strategic, serving as an attempt to control the pace of the game. As long as there aren't any concrete restrictions against these tactics, I hope the Yankees' continue to do everything they can to control the pace of the game.

[Keeper]

You can't tell batters not to step out of the box when some pitchers take forever in between pitches.

 

Joe West is not bigger than baseball or the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. He needs to STFU. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he also thinks hitters should be up there hacking all the time to speed up the game.

[BostonFan4ever]

Who cares what Joe West thinks he is a terrible umpire, and last I checked he was getting paid to Ump not to complain about how long games take. I am sure the MLB Office isn't very happy with West speaking out in this manner.

[boomer]

Haha, Joe West does have a point, All three games were long as eff... but at the same time why doesn't he just tell the umpires not to give the players a time out, It's his own fault for granting them the time, The Umps should be blaming themselves not the Players.

[jacksonianmarch]

he should be fined for what he said

[BoSox21]

Haha' date=' Joe West does have a point, All three games were long as eff... but at the same time why doesn't he just tell the umpires not to give the players a time out, It's his own fault for granting them the time, The Umps should be blaming themselves not the Players.[/quote']

 

None of the games were over 4 hours and the rubber match something like 3:20

[yeszir]

I mean, I agree with his general point but he's an idiot for putting it like that.

[Wheelssps]

Some of these games are a bit long, but that's the way both of these teams are constructed. Neither teams do much bunting men along (which creates quick outs), and other things which make a game quick. They also value value patience at the plate and drawing walks. For the time between pitches and calling time in the batter's box, I can kind of understand, but for guys of this caliber, having a routine is very important, and the timing of that routine is also important. Remember Nomar would go through the whole glove velcro routine, and then step in and take his practice swings. If the pitcher didn't deliver within a certain amount of time, he got uncomfortable, would step out, and do the whole thing again. That's what made him feel comfortable in the batter's box and made him the best hitter he could be. Does golf dictate how quickly players have to hit the ball once getting to it? No. The game of golf allows each player to go through their particular routine to play to the best of their abilities. I look at pitcher's rountines and batter's routines in the same light.

 

As for speeding the game up, the ump should control what they should control and leave whining to the media out of it. Limiting catcher/pitcher meetings and players meetings at the mound would help. Also throughout the series but especially in the third game, there were several instances of a tiny, tiny strike zone at the plate for both teams. I'm a huge Red Sox fan, but I'll admit that Pettite came out on the short end of at least 4 or 5 WFT was wrong with that pitch calls? If the umps and MLB want to speed up the game a bit, calling a more generous strike zone (like an inch or two wider and taller) would do a lot to change the aggressiveness of hitters and the pace of the game. But the Joe West rant is simply a terrible, terrible way to go about it.

[BoSox21]

^^^^ Welcome to Talksox, dude

[yeszir]

Some of these games are a bit long, but that's the way both of these teams are constructed. Neither teams do much bunting men along (which creates quick outs), and other things which make a game quick. They also value value patience at the plate and drawing walks. For the time between pitches and calling time in the batter's box, I can kind of understand, but for guys of this caliber, having a routine is very important, and the timing of that routine is also important. Remember Nomar would go through the whole glove velcro routine, and then step in and take his practice swings. If the pitcher didn't deliver within a certain amount of time, he got uncomfortable, would step out, and do the whole thing again. That's what made him feel comfortable in the batter's box and made him the best hitter he could be. Does golf dictate how quickly players have to hit the ball once getting to it? No. The game of golf allows each player to go through their particular routine to play to the best of their abilities. I look at pitcher's rountines and batter's routines in the same light.

 

As for speeding the game up, the ump should control what they should control and leave whining to the media out of it. Limiting catcher/pitcher meetings and players meetings at the mound would help. Also throughout the series but especially in the third game, there were several instances of a tiny, tiny strike zone at the plate for both teams. I'm a huge Red Sox fan, but I'll admit that Pettite came out on the short end of at least 4 or 5 WFT was wrong with that pitch calls? If the umps and MLB want to speed up the game a bit, calling a more generous strike zone (like an inch or two wider and taller) would do a lot to change the aggressiveness of hitters and the pace of the game. But the Joe West rant is simply a terrible, terrible way to go about it.

 

Exactly right. It's the one thing the umps can control. Not sure it's the right way to go, but it would be a lot more effective than running your mouth.

 

And welcome. Tell us something about yourself here: http://www.talksox.com/forum/introduce-yourself/. Do you like ponies? Long walks on the beach? Gladiator movies?

[Wheelssps]

Thanks for the welcome! I'll tell you something about myself in that thread above, but I'm happy to be here. I've been lurking for a couple of months and then decided to join. I'd been trying to read the espn boards for a while but I was losing too many brain cells in that environment. This board seems much, much better.

[Wheelssps]

Exactly right. It's the one thing the umps can control. Not sure it's the right way to go, but it would be a lot more effective than running your mouth.

 

 

I agree about not being quite sure if adjusting the strike zone is the right fix, as ideally a decision like that would have a bit more of a league wide debate about it, but at least it would fall within the ump's control. I also don't think that making it so wide that you force Youkilis and JD Drew into free swingers is right, either, but a little nudge to expanding the strike zone might help.

[suns]

The Guardians/red sox game might last 6 hours.

[Dipre]

The Guardians/red sox game might last 6 hours.

 

Dude.....

[jacksonianmarch]

The Guardians/red sox game might last 6 hours.

 

The only reason why the Sox-Guardians game would go 6 hours would be if the sox offense scored 47 runs, which is entirely possible against that complete piece of s*** team.

[PWNdroia]

This guy has no idea what he is talking about. It's baseball, it's supposed to be a long game. Makes the money's worth too. If he can't agree, he shouldn't be holding a job as an ump.

[rhet]

Ever since they lowered the strike zone to the belt buckle in the 70's (in order to take fewer fouls off their masks and shoulders), the umps have caused the games to lengthen. Return to a little league strike zone and you'll have 2-hour games.

[artman556]

i dont think he should have any room to talk about it.

[BSN07]

Sensationalist title, but whatever.

 

His comments were about the slow pace of play.

 

 

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5066650

 

F*ck Joe West and the horse he road in on. He's a ML umpire. He works what 4-5 hours a day? He's not exactly laying bricks or something.

 

Besides his fat ass doesn't seem to have missed any meals after those long games... What a dick.

[Teleporting Mike Cameron]

How about Joe West shuts the f*** up and does the job he is paid to do? If he doesn't want to do it, id love to watch baseball and call games AND GET PAID TO DO IT. Shut up you fat f*** and control your chin problem, its not normal to have more then a Chinese phone book.