How Bad Are the Umps?

[Youk Of The Nation]

It just occurred to me that this entire thread is a travesty. It's on the talksox forum, but should be on the general baseball forum. Does this mean we are all going to be banned for acting against the good order and discipline of talksox.com?

 

I have been a member of this site for eleven years and a moderator for ten, and in all that time I cannot remember anyone being so petulant about a simple request from any of the moderators. Given some of the people we have had on this site in the past, that's quite an accomplishment on your part. Give it a rest already.

[Maxbialystock]

I have been a member of this site for eleven years and a moderator for ten, and in all that time I cannot remember anyone being so petulant about a simple request from any of the moderators. Given some of the people we have had on this site in the past, that's quite an accomplishment on your part. Give it a rest already.

 

Actually, I both understand the rules and try to abide by them. But yesterday I started a thread on the All-Star game after I looked at the game threads and the talksox threads and found none. I was immediately chastised for blindly or deliberately breaking the rules and only then discovered the All-Star thread on general baseball topics.

 

As for this thread, I'm glad its one of the Sox threads because I rarely go to the general topics and no doubt would have missed it had it been there. To me it's a great topic.

 

Speaking of rules, I still think more threads are generally better because there are all kinds of things to talk about, and the ones that don't deserve much attention usually die a natural death by going to a second page when people stop commenting on them. But, as you say, you've been a moderator for 10 years and have learned what is doable and what ain't.

[greenwell]

Actually, I both understand the rules and try to abide by them. But yesterday I started a thread on the All-Star game after I looked at the game threads and the talksox threads and found none. I was immediately chastised for blindly or deliberately breaking the rules and only then discovered the All-Star thread on general baseball topics.

 

As for this thread, I'm glad its one of the Sox threads because I rarely go to the general topics and no doubt would have missed it had it been there. To me it's a great topic.

 

Speaking of rules, I still think more threads are generally better because there are all kinds of things to talk about, and the ones that don't deserve much attention usually die a natural death by going to a second page when people stop commenting on them. But, as you say, you've been a moderator for 10 years and have learned what is doable and what ain't.

 

I agree with you on that. I started the all star game thread as a talksox thread and generated a fair amount of responses. Then it was moved to the general baseball forum and all the responses stopped for the most part.

[mvp 78]

Actually, I both understand the rules and try to abide by them. But yesterday I started a thread on the All-Star game after I looked at the game threads and the talksox threads and found none. I was immediately chastised for blindly or deliberately breaking the rules and only then discovered the All-Star thread on general baseball topics.

 

As for this thread, I'm glad its one of the Sox threads because I rarely go to the general topics and no doubt would have missed it had it been there. To me it's a great topic.

 

Speaking of rules, I still think more threads are generally better because there are all kinds of things to talk about, and the ones that don't deserve much attention usually die a natural death by going to a second page when people stop commenting on them. But, as you say, you've been a moderator for 10 years and have learned what is doable and what ain't.

 

OP was specifically talking about the umpiring affecting recent Sox regular season games which is why it is ok to be in the Sox forum.

 

If OP mentioned a Cubs game having poor umpiring, it would have been moved.

 

The All Star game involves Sox players, but has very little to do with this Red Sox season.

[mvp 78]

I agree with you on that. I started the all star game thread as a talksox thread and generated a fair amount of responses. Then it was moved to the general baseball forum and all the responses stopped for the most part.

 

That post received more responses the 24 hours after it was moved than it did before it was moved.

[greenwell]

That post received more responses the 24 hours after it was moved than it did before it was moved.

 

Well it was moved after less than 2 hours so getting more responses in the following 24 hours doesn't seem like that many to me.

[Maxbialystock]

OP was specifically talking about the umpiring affecting recent Sox regular season games which is why it is ok to be in the Sox forum.

 

If OP mentioned a Cubs game having poor umpiring, it would have been moved.

 

The All Star game involves Sox players, but has very little to do with this Red Sox season.

 

Interesting analysis. To me the umpires are very definitely a general baseball topic even though all our examples were/are from Sox games because that's what we watch. But when the favorite part of the topic is replacing homeplate umpires with technology, it's no longer a Sox topic. As I said and still believe, I love that the topic stayed here.

 

As for the All-Star game, by it's very nature it's a game and deserves a game thread--in my opinion. That's why I looked for one there. I also looked at Red Sox topics because of course this year the Sox had 4 starters and 2 pitchers on the roster. Nope.

 

I always find it interesting that whenever I stray outside the lines/rules, I get pounced on. The exception was, surprise, surprise, your post just now. Very civil--or at least no insults. Thanks.

[User Name]

That's because the post he was responding to was not reeking with a douchey and unwarranted sense of self importance/smugness. You should try that more often.

[mvp 78]

"You get what you give" - HR Manager's Jeep Wheel Cover

[Maxbialystock]

That's because the post he was responding to was not reeking with a douchey and unwarranted sense of self

[Youk Of The Nation]

As for the All-Star game, by it's very nature it's a game and deserves a game thread--in my opinion.

 

It had one.

[SinceYaz]

Hehehe .... I've been very very busy, but I came back and find that Maxi is still saying the same thing he was when I left! It reminds me of when my wife was pregnant the first time, 36 years ago. The last 11 days she had toxemia and had to be in bed rest. I would spend most of the mid day with her in the hospital and the soap opera General Hospital was on with Luke and Laura in the first stages of their misspent careers. Four years later, our second son was born and Luke and Laura were still going on and on ... Seven years later my wife's kid sister had her second child ... and Luke and Laura were still going on and on and on ....

 

Maxi ... relax, old friend. )

[Bellhorn04]

I must say the home plate ump last night did a very good job calling balls and strikes. It was a tight zone but consistent. I didn't notice any blatantly bad calls or bitching by players or managers.

[Kimmi]

Torre sent a letter to the MLB managers warning them to stop arguing with the umps, particularly on balls and strikes. I realize that you can't argue balls and strikes, but having the automated strike zone readily available in the dugout has made the situation worse for the umpires.

 

At any rate, I agree with Matheny's take on this:

 

"Joe's the boss, so I guess we'd better cool it," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "There's just some days you can't stand over there and not say something. They're always making additions, and I get speeding the game up and sometimes that sort of thing slows it down, so it'll take a little while to walk through that and see exactly how to play it. But you can't take the emotion out of the game. Joe knows that as well as everybody, but I understand where he's coming from."

[Slasher9]

OP was specifically talking about the umpiring affecting recent Sox regular season games which is why it is ok to be in the Sox forum.

 

If OP mentioned a Cubs game having poor umpiring, it would have been moved.

 

The All Star game involves Sox players, but has very little to do with this Red Sox season.

 

Unless of course we make the World Series and then it has a yuuuge impact on this Red Sox season...

[mvp 78]

Unless of course we make the World Series and then it has a yuuuge impact on this Red Sox season...

 

And since the Red sox may play the Cubs in the WS, all Cubs talk should be here. Oh, just put all NL talk on this forum because the Sox might play them in the WS.

[mvp 78]

Are there any teams that feel robbed of a title because of who won the AS game?

[Kimmi]

Letting the All Star Game determine home field advantage in the World Series is the stupidest decision ever. Even stupider than robot umps.

[Slasher9]

Robot umps now.

[mvp 78]

Bad ump! Go lie down!

[Bellhorn04]

Last night's HP ump was not good at all. He punched out Papi on a pitch that was in the other batter's box. I thought Papi was going to destroy a bullpen phone or something but he took it pretty well.

 

We wouldn't need robot umps if the HP umps were all good on balls and strikes. But some of them are clearly lousy.

[Slasher9]

Floating strike zone last night. Robot umps required immediately.

[Nick]

I wonder if there's a way to signal the strikes via 'beeping' directly into ump's ear? Umps would still be needed. They would simply slow down on their strike calls. On close calls, they can wait for the signal.

 

The ump was awful last night.

[Kimmi]

Last night's HP ump was not good at all. He punched out Papi on a pitch that was in the other batter's box. I thought Papi was going to destroy a bullpen phone or something but he took it pretty well.

 

We wouldn't need robot umps if the HP umps were all good on balls and strikes. But some of them are clearly lousy.

 

Some of them are definitely worse than others.

 

I read a suggestion about only using the best umps at calling balls/strikes behind the plate, rather than rotating them every game. Umps that have inconsistent strike zones can man one of the other positions. That would appease the union because no one would lose their job. I thought that was a good suggestion.

[Spudboy]

Some of them are definitely worse than others.

 

I read a suggestion about only using the best umps at calling balls/strikes behind the plate, rather than rotating them every game. Umps that have inconsistent strike zones can man one of the other positions. That would appease the union because no one would lose their job. I thought that was a good suggestion.

 

It sounds like a decent interim step.

 

But it does nothing to cure the problem and probably just forestall the inevitable.

[Slasher9]

Some of them are definitely worse than others.

 

I read a suggestion about only using the best umps at calling balls/strikes behind the plate, rather than rotating them every game. Umps that have inconsistent strike zones can man one of the other positions. That would appease the union because no one would lose their job. I thought that was a good suggestion.

 

4 game series in Texas heat the homeplate umpire would be toast with all the gear on erryday...

[mvp 78]

Some of them are definitely worse than others.

 

I read a suggestion about only using the best umps at calling balls/strikes behind the plate, rather than rotating them every game. Umps that have inconsistent strike zones can man one of the other positions. That would appease the union because no one would lose their job. I thought that was a good suggestion.

 

No one loses their job with robot umpires either.

[mvp 78]

@evandrellich John Farrell said of contact Joe West made with him: "They can bump us but we can't bump them"

[bosoxmal]

Time for ball and strikes cameras. Tradition? What's that. I sw my first game in 1932 at Braves Field. There were 2 umpires, I think, boards for bleacher seats, and enough empty seats to let us all in after the 3rd inning (or maybe the 4th). The game has changed, mostly for the better. Some of these umpires are blinder rhan I am. (and I am totally blind in my left eye!.

[Slasher9]

Robot umps now!