Maxbialystock

Well, he's entitled, isn't he? I once had the concept of "perceived deprivation" explained to me. It's the product of success. Once you've won 4 WS in 15 years, even though it followed an 86 year drought, expectations are raised to a standard inconceivable during the so-called curse. But, honestly, I think that's OK. We know what good management is capable of and won't settle for less. Well, I probably will, but what the heck.

Sherlock Holmes would struggle to detect irony on a thread consumed with bitterness. The value of talksox is it gives each of us a chance to vent when the Sox lose and lose again.

Actually, the Rays are the real problem. They simply outclass the Sox in every aspect of the game.

Bello’s ok. It’s the team that’s the problem.

Bello’s ok. It’s the team that’s the problem.

Agree. Eovaldi is from Texas.

Right. Robo-umps. And thus MLB will become the only sport on the planet where the most central part of the game is officiated by computers/cameras and only computers/cameras. Last night's game, which restarted this discussion, was typical of all the games I've watched, especially in this era of replays, rectangles on the tv screens, etc. Despite the fact that the little rectangle told us not every called ball or strike was precisely called, those calls had absolutely nothing to do with the outcome of the game. In fact, allow me to ask simple question. Can you name a single MLB game in the last ten years that was decided by bad ball/strike calls by the umpire?

Solid post. Thanks.

What a crock. No umpire is making up his own strike zone. He's simply calling what he sees. The one example cited for me today was the last Rays better in the 1st inning. Houck through a pitch that crossed the bottom line of that invisible rectangle we all see so precisely on our TV screens but which no one on the field of play sees. I looked it up on mlb.com and agree it should have been called a strike--but was in fact called a ball. But then that same Rays hitter grounded out. So, basically, it just caused Houck to throw another pitch. And once again, whether or not we agree with the calls on balls and strikes, its abundantly clear that the outcome of this game will be the result of the players on the field and not the freaking umpires. Rare is the the MLB game today in which anyone can rightfully claim the outcome was decided by bad calls by the umpires. What we see with respect to that rectangle on our TV screens--that is, those calls we disagree with--is just nuisance value. The balls and strikes called by the home plate umpires are well within the parameters of what is needed. From the very beginnings of baseball, what we have always wanted the umpires to do and be is, for lack of a better word, officious. We want them present, decisive, loud, and visible. Make the call and make sure people know what you called. Baseball is a human endeavor and should be officiated by humans, not machines. I hasten to add, however, there seems to be no limit on the use of computers to analyze and predict where balls will be hit, pitchers' tendencies, etc. Plus I'm pretty sure ball and strike calls--which we fans can now find recorded on mlb.com--are reviewed by the umpires as well as MLB officials.

The only clowns I've seen today are the Sox defense. The umpires, as always, have been alert, decisive, and essential to the game.

It's a sport, not an attempt to land a man on the moon. And imperfections are rampant in sports. But, since you raised the issue of perfect calls on balls and strikes, did you just notice that unchecked swing by Duran? The third base ump said he didn't check his swing in time--and that was that. No endless replays by the guys in NYC to see whether it really and truly was or was not a checked swing. Was Duran happy? Nope. Tough. Get on with the game.

Has Devers gained weight this season?

For the many, many fans of robo umps. Has anyone of you ever commented at the end of a game, "you know, we won that game only because the umps gave us the calls?" The answer to that is of course a resounding "no." And my interpretation of that resounding "no" is that the so-called missed balls and strikes are nothing more than nuisance value. They are just something to discuss ad nauseum under the delusion that baseball, a sport, should achieve perfection--one which is invisible to everyone on the field of play who can't see the rectangle on the television screen--in the calls of balls and strikes.

Note just now Kike's fury directed at the umpire for calling a strike a strike. It is a myth that the players see the strike zone with the same precision as is superimposed on our screens.

Thanks. I'll go look because I missed most of the first. I looked at it. It's right on, centered, on the line of the official rectangle and nowhere near the middle of the zone. Rare is the home plate umpire who gets that call right every time. Now is a good time for this reminder. Rare is the game in which any umpire's miscall(s) affected the outcome of a game, and that certainly includes the home plate umpires. I especially include today's game. Endless griping about the ump when it's obvious why the Sox are losing.

Maybe. Right now Devers certainly ain't the guy to bat 2d.

Yoshida comes through.

Which Rays batter in which inning was that? Thanks to mlb.com, I can review it.

Another big K by Devers with a Dugo on 2b and no one out. Must be home plate umpire's fault for calling strikes just because Devers swung and missed. Devers is letting this team down in a big series.

I'm not defending any individual umpire. I don't question those umpire reports. I'm just saying we see something nobody on the playing field sees. I'm pretty sure this is unique in all televised sports. Football, soccer, tennis, basketball, etc, etc--none of those sports have anything like that invisible rectangle that is not visible to anyone on the court or field.

Stupid, stupid outfield play by Duran. He lines himself up to make the big throw, and then freaking pauses after he catches the ball. This not only guarantees the runner on 3b will score, but enables the Ray on 1b to advance to 2b.

Big series with the Rays, but where is our only All-Star, Devers? Duran has 2 hits so far. Devers has none.

To remind. The strike zone is not, repeat not, what you see on the screen. It's a TV fabrication that nobody on the playing field can see. We--the TV audience and the players and umpires on the field--can all see the ball, the plate, the player in the batter's box, the bases, the catcher, the pitching rubber, the foul lines, etc. But nobody on the field can see that rectangle.

Finally. Some sense injected into this discussion. Also missing from the discussion is that, without Bogey, Mookie, and JDM, the hitting is better this season than last season--even with Duvall and Story on the IL. The Sox are no longer paying top dollar (among the top five teams in aggregate salaries)--and are now ranked 15th in aggregate salaries--have better hitting, just as good pitching, and are above .500 with a real shot at the postseason. The 40 man roster is looking pretty good, and AA Portland has a SS who looks to be awfully good. I am not trying to paint a rosy picture here. Heck, I like to gripe too. But I just don't think the length of this thread to fire Bloom is justified.

To sort of wrap this up, I thought tonight's 2d game was a good one. I'm disappointed with the loss, but delighted it was a competitive game and with the competitiveness of our pitchers.