Spring Break
MLB made right decision with World Series umpires
Matt McDonough
Issue date: 10/27/09 Section: Sports
The World Series is set as the Yankees and Phillies have eliminated everyone in their paths. But last week Major League Baseball eliminated someone as well: the umpires.
Because of blown calls, which have been more evident this year than any other postseason in memory, the MLB has decided to stick with only experienced umpires to call the Fall Classic. Usually the World Series crew includes at least one newcomer, but this year the six umps working the World Series all have championship experience.
The MLB may have been correct in their decision. The blown calls have marred this year's playoffs more than any other. It started in the one-game playoff between the Twins and Tigers. In the 12th inning, it was clear that a pitch grazed Brandon Inge's jersey with the bases loaded. That would have broken the tie; instead the Twins did the next half inning. In Game 1 of the ALDS, Kevin Youkilis clearly tagged out Los Angeles's Howie Kendrick, but Kendrick was called safe. Later in the game, it appeared Youkilis touched first before Kendrick did, but once again Kendrick was called safe. In Game 2 against New York, the Twins were on the opposite end when Joe Mauer's fly ball to left field touched down in fair territory, but Phil Cuzzi called it foul. Instead of a double, Mauer singled and the Twins didn't score, and Mark Teixeira hit a walk-off home run in the next half inning. In the NLDS, Chase Utley checked his swing and hit the ball off himself inside the batter's box. The call should have been a foul ball. Instead it was called fair, Jimmy Rollins advanced to third, and Ryan Howard's sacrifice fly won the game.
The umpire's errors carried over in the League Championship Series. In Game 4 of the ALCS, there was a flurry of terrible calls. The first was when Nick Swisher was picked off at second. Erick Aybar applied the tag to Swisher's hand before he got back to second, but he was safe. In that same inning, Swisher tagged up on a fly ball to center, scoring a run for New York. The Angels appealed to third and umpire Tim McClelland called Swisher out. Apparently McClelland did not visit his neighborhood LensCrafters between innings because in the fifth inning, when the Angels' Mike Napoli tagged out Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada at third, he ruled Cano safe when he was clearly off the bag. As awful and head-scratching as these mistakes by the umpires have been, none of these calls have directly blown a game or series.
Because of blown calls, which have been more evident this year than any other postseason in memory, the MLB has decided to stick with only experienced umpires to call the Fall Classic. Usually the World Series crew includes at least one newcomer, but this year the six umps working the World Series all have championship experience.
The MLB may have been correct in their decision. The blown calls have marred this year's playoffs more than any other. It started in the one-game playoff between the Twins and Tigers. In the 12th inning, it was clear that a pitch grazed Brandon Inge's jersey with the bases loaded. That would have broken the tie; instead the Twins did the next half inning. In Game 1 of the ALDS, Kevin Youkilis clearly tagged out Los Angeles's Howie Kendrick, but Kendrick was called safe. Later in the game, it appeared Youkilis touched first before Kendrick did, but once again Kendrick was called safe. In Game 2 against New York, the Twins were on the opposite end when Joe Mauer's fly ball to left field touched down in fair territory, but Phil Cuzzi called it foul. Instead of a double, Mauer singled and the Twins didn't score, and Mark Teixeira hit a walk-off home run in the next half inning. In the NLDS, Chase Utley checked his swing and hit the ball off himself inside the batter's box. The call should have been a foul ball. Instead it was called fair, Jimmy Rollins advanced to third, and Ryan Howard's sacrifice fly won the game.
The umpire's errors carried over in the League Championship Series. In Game 4 of the ALCS, there was a flurry of terrible calls. The first was when Nick Swisher was picked off at second. Erick Aybar applied the tag to Swisher's hand before he got back to second, but he was safe. In that same inning, Swisher tagged up on a fly ball to center, scoring a run for New York. The Angels appealed to third and umpire Tim McClelland called Swisher out. Apparently McClelland did not visit his neighborhood LensCrafters between innings because in the fifth inning, when the Angels' Mike Napoli tagged out Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada at third, he ruled Cano safe when he was clearly off the bag. As awful and head-scratching as these mistakes by the umpires have been, none of these calls have directly blown a game or series.
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