Comments on: Inside the ninth inning

By: Tom Swift

Tom Swift — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:49:41 +0000

How about a blackball system to flush out the incompetent umps? Each team has 2 blackballs, say, to award to the 2 worst umps. Any ump getting 5 (pick a number) blackballs is out of a job, period. Bad umps affect the integrity of the game.

By: Terry from NH

Terry from NH — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:32:30 +0000

I saw the Jeter on ESPN talk about why he argued. He was right, but clearly he pulled his hand back and avoided the tag, but Jeter is a pure spokesman kinda guy.. It was funny!
I thought the phantom tag was by far the worst call of the day. Manute Bol couldn’t have put that tag on that far away!

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:25:38 +0000

“Great call pinch hitting for Melk Dud. I don’t care what his numbers were, he always hits a wall in June after a promising start and it’s nothing but down hill for him from here.”

What a stupid post. Par for the course, apparently.

By: KO

KO — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:24:58 +0000

Gutsy call sending up Matsui, a former superstar in Japan and one of the Yankees most clutch hitters since he’s been there, over Melky Cabrera? Yeah. Right.

By: mikeboston

mikeboston — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:02:48 +0000

Has the time come for instant replay, obviously beyond the home run calls we have now? Maybe give each team 2 calls per 9 innings and 1 for extras.
3 calls like that in 1 game is insanity.

By: hornblower

hornblower — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:22:10 +0000

Ken,
I respect the job that umpires do but they are paid to get the call correct. When the replay shows that they are clearly wrong they have to take responsibility. Replays on those 2 calls at second should embarrass them. The one yesterday at the plate was a joke. The catcher’s hands never came together and the ump. didn’t wait long enough to see the ball.
Stop making excuses for them.
No one is saying they care who wins just that they are pros and they should be big league level everyday.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:07:13 +0000

Considering the umpire basically told Jeter he is completely unaware of the actual rules of baseball, maybe we will see some action here.

How can you tell a player that the fielder isn’t required to tag him for an out on a non-force play and keep your job?

By: tim boat

tim boat — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:06:20 +0000

Great call pinch hitting for Melk Dud. I don’t care what his numbers were, he always hits a wall in June after a promising start and it’s nothing but down hill for him from here.

By: DB

DB — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:04:11 +0000

Nothing annoys me more than when an umpire’s error affects the outcome of the game. You had several times today. Blown call on Jeter’s slide at third, blown call on force out at second, and blown call on jeters grounder to third. Yanks were set up for a big inning in the first and with that blown call at second, Rios doesn’t get the chance to belt a YS homer.

If I’m Pettitte, I’m pissed. But, hey, that’s baseball.

By: ken

ken — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:59:29 +0000

hornblower: the fans in the stands would give every close call to the home team. It’s a hard job. They are human and will make mistakes. This game was lost mainly due to bad pitching and untimely hitting in the early/middle innings.