Missed calls in MLB Playoffs

[ajk23az]

So, yesterday could have been one of the worst days for umps in major league baseball playoff history.

3 games, 3 wrong calls that affected the outcomes.

Rangers @ Rays - Michael Young check swing, top of the 5th, I know all you Ranger fans like this but there was no doubt he went around on that check. He then blasts a 3 run HR putting them up 5-0. The score would have been 2-0 and a completely different game. Yes the Rays hitting has been atrocious but it still would have been a different game then 5-0.

Yankees @ Twins - Lance Berkman no call 3rd strike in top of 7th. Game was tied 2-2 at the time. 2-2 count. Ball obviously hits the inside corner, no doubt about it and its called a ball, goes to 3-2, Pavano makes another good low pitch but Berkman pokes it out for a double scoring a run, Jeter comes up and gets another RBI single to make it 4-2. The inning should have been done at Berkman and with a score of 2-2 instead of 4-2. I am a huge Twins fan so this really irks me. We got screwed last year vs the Yankees too when Mauers double down the line obviously hit Cabreras glove and was called foul.

Braves @ Giants - Posey gets sent from first to steal 2nd, OBVIOUSLY out by half a foot plus and is called safe. This should have been the easiest call of them all. What makes it worse is that Posey, in this inning, was the only person to score the whole game. Yes, Lincecum was absolutely dominant but Lincecum can't pitch every inning of the game if it goes extras.

It is time for instant replay in baseball, no ifs, ands or buts about it. I don't know how they could do it, be it coaches challenges or what but baseball needs this. Each and every wrong call is being magnified by the minute and its really putting a damper on the game.

 

[peplaw06]

I just don't think you can replay balls and strikes. It's a game played by humans and the umps are humans. Mistakes are going to be made. If we start replaying balls and strikes, might as well get rid of umpires altogether.

 

[ajk23az]

I dont know if you saw it, but when a ball is THAT obvious, it's a strike. Whether it be a manager is allowed a challenge (verified by Pitchf/x) or whatever, something has to be done about this nonsense.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I just don't think you can replay balls and strikes. It's a game played by humans and the umps are humans. Mistakes are going to be made. If we start replaying balls and strikes, might as well get rid of umpires altogether.

If you allow replays of balls and strikes, I think you should straight up remove the umpire at home plate and let all balls and strikes be called by computer.

Personally, I like the idea of having a computer call the balls and strikes. Some people say "Umps are part of the game and errors in their calls are part of the game" is a load of crap. An umpire is NOT supposed to affect the game other than to make sure it is played fairly. You want human error to be a factor in a game? Thats what the players are there for and why they play the game.

The fact that umpires have sometimes ridiculously small/large strike zones is an absolute joke too. The strike zone is defined in the rules, it isn't what they *think* it should be. I saw Cliff Lee getting strikeouts looking in game one that were not strikes at all. It's not fair to the hitter and many times it's not fair to the pitcher either. A strike is a strike and a ball is a ball. It should always be called as such if that is what it is. If an umpire can't do that, then get *something* that can. There is no umpire in Bowling deciding if a strike is a strike, because either it's a strike or it isn't!

 

[Stautner]

So, yesterday could have been one of the worst days for umps in major league baseball playoff history.

3 games, 3 wrong calls that affected the outcomes.

Rangers @ Rays - Michael Young check swing, top of the 5th, I know all you Ranger fans like this but there was no doubt he went around on that check. He then blasts a 3 run HR putting them up 5-0. The score would have been 2-0 and a completely different game. Yes the Rays hitting has been atrocious but it still would have been a different game then 5-0.

Yankees @ Twins - Lance Berkman no call 3rd strike in top of 7th. Game was tied 2-2 at the time. 2-2 count. Ball obviously hits the inside corner, no doubt about it and its called a ball, goes to 3-2, Pavano makes another good low pitch but Berkman pokes it out for a double scoring a run, Jeter comes up and gets another RBI single to make it 4-2. The inning should have been done at Berkman and with a score of 2-2 instead of 4-2. I am a huge Twins fan so this really irks me. We got screwed last year vs the Yankees too when Mauers double down the line obviously hit Cabreras glove and was called foul.

Braves @ Giants - Posey gets sent from first to steal 2nd, OBVIOUSLY out by half a foot plus and is called safe. This should have been the easiest call of them all. What makes it worse is that Posey, in this inning, was the only person to score the whole game. Yes, Lincecum was absolutely dominant but Lincecum can't pitch every inning of the game if it goes extras.

It is time for instant replay in baseball, no ifs, ands or buts about it. I don't know how they could do it, be it coaches challenges or what but baseball needs this. Each and every wrong call is being magnified by the minute and its really putting a damper on the game.

1st, I don't think it's fair to say these calls affected the outcome. They MAY have, but we have no way of knowing whether the game would have come out the same anyway. In the case of the Rangers/Rays, the odds were in favor of the Rangers winning anyway. The other two games were more of a toss up.

2nd, I especially can't make the non-call on Berkman a big issue. There are any number of boarderline pitches in any game that could go either way, and just because some may not have got noticed as much doesn't mean they may not have had just as much of an effect on the game.

The safe call on Posey running seemed to me to be the worst of the bunch. When I first saw the replay in full speed it seemed a no-brainer he was out. Replay showed it somewhat closer than I thought, but still he was very clearly out.

 

[Gzus]

Check swing is not a cut & dry rule. It's all about umpire judgment and he has to judge from 1st case, intent to swing. If he can't see intent to swing then he rules it a check swing. In the end there is no "he went around", "he went half past", or "his wrist broke"; it's all down to umpire judgment and intent. Replay or not, unless you change the check swing rule you'll get the same outcome.