Umps Gone Wild

[a700hitter]

Apparently some of us were too hard on Beltre last night. He never said anytihing to the Ump. He had been talking smack to Kiing Felix and the Ump thought he was talking to him. I thought the ump was wrong for tossing him and last night I posted that unless Beltre had accused him of betting on Seattle, the ump should have looked the other way. This story confirms that not only didn't the ump try to avoid a confrontation, he precipitated it. This type of behavior by umps is too prevalent today. They are not the game. People don't pay to see them. The league offices need to start cracking down on this behavior. This was a huge game for the Sox. He should have exercised some restraint.

 

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/08/beltre_ejection.html

[Spudboy]

Yeah, I made my comments before this all came to light.

 

However, that was clearly strike three and Beltre bitched. If he hadn't, this would never had happened.

[PineRider]

If you didn't see Ryan Howard get ejected a couple of nights ago, I think it perfectly illustrates a700's point. The 3rd base ump was staring down Howard the entire at bat and then wasted no time to eject him.

 

Here's the video:

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=11346569

[boston22407]

damn umps

i hate fat a$$ joe west

[Spudboy]

Howard and the Phillies got screwed.

[Dojji]

They're making the best case possible for insant replay to take the game out of their incompetent egotistical hands.

[a700hitter]

Yeah, I made my comments before this all came to light.

 

However, that was clearly strike three and Beltre bitched. If he hadn't, this would never had happened.

The good hitters will yap at an ump early in a game about a borderline pitch that they know is a strike call to get a call later in the game. He really didn't do anything over the top. Yaz used to step out of the box point to where the ball was and tell the ump "you don't call that a strike on me." He did that a lot. He got tossed only once or twice in 23 years for arguing over a called strike. The only time that I remember he covered the plate with dirt and threw his helmet on top of it after he was finished screaming at the ump. The ump didn't toss him until he covered the plate.

[a700hitter]

They're making the best case possible for insant replay to take the game out of their incompetent egotistical hands.

The problem is beyond getting the calls right. The way these umps comport themselves is completely inappropriate and not in the best interests of the game. They need to get some code of conduct enforced. I hate when an ump takes off the mask and approaches a player or manager to get in his face. It should not be tolerated.

[bsox0407]

That ump is a AAA umpire who in place of an ump on Vacation. WTF Vacation. They make from 120k to 350k in the majors. Can't do this vacation in the Winter?? i mean you prolly get a few months off then.

[Dojji]

Needs to be a medium for filing complaints, like if there have been like 5 formal protests about a guy, he's reviewed and if there's a clear problem he's suspended pending a hearing -- give the teams some way to deal with a guy who's being a nut. As long as no one's able to do anything about an abusive ump but the umpire's union there's going to keep being problems.

[MDF3530]

damn umps

i hate fat a$$ joe west

OK, Hawk Harrelson .

[Yaz Sideburn]

yeah, that's inexcusable from the ump. even if it wasn't a big game for a team that's fighting for a playoff spot, umps can't just go around tossing players for no reason

[Keeper]

The Howard ejection was ridiculous. He didn't even come close to going around. That ump was just waiting to screw him over.

 

I love how outspoken Hawk is about Joe West.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

This umps have been ridiculous this year. I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing this. Even ESPN and baseball tonight has noticed this. I've seen a handful of games where the ump changed the entire game around with one absurd call.

[MDF3530]

The Howard ejection was ridiculous. He didn't even come close to going around. That ump was just waiting to screw him over.

 

I love how outspoken Hawk is about Joe West.

He definitely doesn't hold back about Joe West.

[TedWilliams101]

I think it's sad when they use instant replay in the freakin' little leagues yet Bud refuses to open it up in the majors.

 

The only way to fix this problem is to take the power out of the umpires hands. Umpires shouldn't be allowed to throw out a player over verbal arguments, it should only be for actions (charging the mound, throwing stuff, etc). Any umpire who argues with a player should be reviewed and suspended. I've never understood why players/managers can get thrown out for arguing balls/strikes. Just ignore them and move on.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I think it's sad when they use instant replay in the freakin' little leagues yet Bud refuses to open it up in the majors.

 

The only way to fix this problem is to take the power out of the umpires hands. Umpires shouldn't be allowed to throw out a player over verbal arguments, it should only be for actions (charging the mound, throwing stuff, etc). Any umpire who argues with a player should be reviewed and suspended. I've never understood why players/managers can get thrown out for arguing balls/strikes. Just ignore them and move on.

 

Good point. I'd think that instant replay would benefit SOOOOO much more in the MLB than Little league.

[SCM33]

How else is Joe West going to sell CD's? He has to advertise during baseball games by getting play by play guys to mention his name by throwing a player out for petty stuff.....which is usually followed with the fact that hes trying to be bigger than the game and that he sings country music....BINGO.

[Dojji]

Could we please create a process whereby a manager can make an umpire go review a reviewable call? Leaving replay to the umpire's discretion is leaving the job half done. Umpires don't like admitting they're wrong any more than anyone else does.