MLB - NEWS & NOTES

I dont like the idea of replacing the human aspect, but they have to do something. If half the umps gave up their attitude towards certain players and teams, the zone would be more fair and consistent.

I just saw 4 Tigers thrown out in 1 game for bad calls at the plate... these pitches wernt even close.

Maybe a grading system with financial benefits for good calling might help, i dont know.

 

i guess they were all angry Tigers after that. haha.

but a human factor or error still lingers. playoff fortunes have been ruined by human error mistakes - 85 WS-game 6 call at 1b, Yankees-Orioles and Jeffrey Maier non-Interference HR Catch! Too much at stake for human error. I'm glad the NFL has replay to stop this nonsense.

 

The calls around the strike zone were terrible as usual. The ump behind the plate was a young 2nd year guy. So he has no excuses about his old eyes being not as good as they used to be. Maybe they pitch too fast in the majors for him. This has been going on all year. Not just Detroit and Will's Tigers. They are missing calls 4 inches outside or below the knees. Theres no excuse for it. McCutchen might lead the league with those kind of calls. It's almost like they have something against him. He feels like he has to swing at a lot of balls or he'll get called out, hence his batting average. A 2nd year ump has no business doing any kind of playoff game. They try to pick the best umps and 2 years is not a good resume to judge from.

As far as the game, unbelievable! Blowing a 3-run lead late and blowing it in the 13th with a lead is amazing. Course, Locke always did suck, as I've brought up many times already. I went to bed after the 9th. Figured I'd catch what happened on MLBN, which I did in the morning......After I saw the score and the losing pitcher this morning, I said to myself, It figures.....

The umpiring on the balls and strikes has been terrible this year. Not just for the Tigers. Even the announcers are amazed at how an ump can miss a call thats 5 inches outside or 4 inches low......This has been going on all year.

Side note: Cole is out for at least his next start also. Inflammation in his elbow. So Brault will be pitching another game in 5 days, more than likely.

 

And yet even with NFL replay, we still don't know what a catch is. There is always going to be some human error.

I just want umps to be consistent. If you are calling it outside, call it outside all night for both teams. Last night in particular there were 2 pitches that were egregious. Middle inninhs, Ben Zobrist gets wrung up on a pitch a good Ball width from touching the strike zone box. But the one that could have changed the game was top of the 7th full count no outs, runner goes. The ball is clearly, completely in the low and outside corner of the strikes zone. Cubs throw out the guy stealing, except it was called Ball 4. Instead of 2 outs, it was no out and 2 on. Both runners ended up scoring and invested of 4-3 it was 6-3 pirates. The Cubs came back to win, but talk about a change of fortune on one bad pitch.

 

If an Ump misses a call be the width of a baseball or just misses once in a while, thats ok by me. But, the stuff thats 4 to 6" off the plate is ridiculous... almost seems deliberate.

 

Completely agree Will......It seems like it's been going on all year and theres nothing anybody can do about it......You need to see a bunch of calls made against McCutchen this year! The players have to swing for fear of getting called out.......Thats how bad it's been...

 

the late Eric Gregg is laughing at you Will. remember the 1997 NLCS-Marlins-Braves?

 

that's not human error. that's rule error and interpretation of the rule!

 

Coco Crisp traded to the Indians...

 

https://twitter.com/ScottLindholm/status/770783770324664321

This is a spray chart of the balls and strikes of Mondays Cubs-Pirates game. It doesn't matter, but I found it interesting.

 

Yikes... thats not even close on a lot of calls. This must be addressed.

 

Scherzer and Hendricks making their case to be the NL Cy Young winner tonight.

 

Coolest play ever

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/770799660797747200

 

alot are borderline but like Will said, some aren't close at all. come playoff time - gotta be the best.

 

The post-season assignments already do go to the umps with the best grades during the season. Don't think you'll have to worry about seeing that guy in October.

 

u dog - but then how did the late eric gregg get postseason assignments when his strike-zone was as wide as his ass? no offense. he rung up fred mcgriff on a pitch 2 feet away from the plate!

 

Because you're assuming things that happened 20 years ago are still happening now, I guess? There's a reason Gregg was one of the few umpires that resigned in 1999 that wasn't later re-hired. And he's a big part of the reason why automated pitch tracking systems became part of the umpire grading system (4 years after the '97 NLCS).

 

LEGO Papi!

 

Just when you thought maybe Clay Buchholz didn't suck, yeah he still sucks.

 

Mets likely lose Neil Walker for the rest of the season:Walker needs surgery to fix a bulging disc in his back