Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Oct 21, 2009 
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The Yankees are one win away from their first World Series since 2003 after beating the Angels last night in Game 4. Chad Jennings has all the details, including plenty about Alex Rodriguez’s incredible postseason.
Joe Girardi’s gamble on CC Sabathia paid off perfectly, as Sabathia delivered yet another gem. As good as Rodriguez has been, Sabathia’s impact on this series can’t be overstated and for more on him, check out my column.
Mariano Rivera and the Yankees (as well as MLB) laughed off a baseless claim that the Yankees closer might have spit on the ball in Game 3. Chad has that story.
Girardi defended the struggling hitters at the bottom of the Yankee lineup, and got a partial reward when Melky Cabrera came through with a big hit in Game 4. The notebook also has items on some more umpiring mistakes, an appearance for Chad Gaudin and Girardi’s second-day thoughts on his controversial bullpen decisions from Game 3.
One more win to go and I hope they get it done tomorrow so we can start discussing the WS.
By the way, did anybody see CC at the end of the game with an ice pack on his shoulder waiting for his teammates to enter the clubhouse and personally greet each of them as they walked by him? I just love his personality and how he has taken a leadership role on this team.
I have a video of the rally monkey spiting on the baseball.
It didn’t seem to help the Halo’s last night.
Everything clicked last night, and now on Thursday we have a well rested Bullpen. I would love to see us wrap things up before the weekend. It would be great if the Yanks jumped out to an early lead, and got Lackey out of the game by the 5th or 6th inning, and ate up their pen. Hopefully last night was a sign that the lineup is back on track, although I’d like to see Tex and Matsui get going.
First base coach for the angels said that they would three in a row…and I quote “you can mark it down.” It looks like someone has been sniffing the whiteout jorge left behind in the visitors dugout.
The rally monkey got spanked, didn’t he?
Nice to see Cano rip that ball to LCF, but most nine year old kids run the bases better than he and Posada did in that inning. Funny how none of the blown calls ended up mattering much. Swisher being called out on the sac fly was poetic justice since he was dead at 2B.
Very relaxing day ahead for the good guys.
-the leadoff hitter is batting .125
-the #2 hitter is batting .125
-the #5 hitter is batting .118
-the #5 or #7 hitter and MVP candidate is batting .125
-the good offensive catcher is batting .111
-the #3 hitter is batting .235 with ZERO HR and ZERO RBIs
Somehow I don’t think Scoscia is going to be benching all 5 guys and Angels fans aren’t calling for the backups to be in the lineup.
Maybe you should stop complaining about every Yankee who doesn’t hit in a game and start thinking about what a great team they are. Matsui, the latest brunt of the criticism (along with Swisher, Cano, and Cabrera, of course) is 4-14 in the series even with a bad game last night. Anyone who knows baseball understands that one game is just that, one game. Cabrera was heavily criticized by moronic fans after game 3 and was one of the heroes of game 4, that’s baseball.
Relaxing day ahead for Yankee fans too! The team looked loose in the dug-out. It was funny when they showed Jorge waving his fingers at Swish. Crawdaddy, you are so right about CC, he has been a great addition ot this team in many ways.
It’s remarkable that the Yanks are 6-1 in the post-season with a team batting average of .258 and four regulars hitting .212 or lower. The prime culprits are Tex and Swish who are a combined 7-54 (.130) with one HR and one two RBI.
Of course the pitching (1.91 ERA) has been spectacular… with the obvious exception of senor Aceves.
Pitching is what gets most teams to the play offs. As Johnny D was trying to explain, it is hard to get hits off good pitching.
I also liked the Yankees putting pressure on the Angels defense w/ their running. Even tho Jeter and Gardner got thrown out, I think it still sends a message that the team is not afraid to run, beating the Angels at their own game.
Teixeira showing signs of getting back into his hitting grove. The same will happen to Cano and Swisher. The Yankee bullpen rested and ready.
The game 3 panic is all forgotten.
It’s remarkable that the Yanks are 6-1 in the post-season with a team batting average of .258 and four regulars hitting .212 or lower. The prime culprits are Tex and Swish who are a combined 7-54 (.130) with one HR and one two RBI.
————
A series like Arod and CC are having can make up for a lot of sub par performances. Hopefully, it turns out to be a good sign considering how many plays go from cold to hot from one series to another (Hi Bobby A). If that proves true yet again many Yankees aer going to have a dominant WS if they make it.
The umpires reasoning for calling Swisher out was laughable and should be fineable and knock him out of the postseason.
I thought in my heart that Swisher left early?! UM What the heck! You are supposed to be umping with your eyes.
#1 it was a make up call for Swish not being called out at second.
# He followed Torii’s reaction and called him out based on it.
I would have been able to take the missed called if he said in my peripheral vision I saw him leave early. On replay it showed otherwise.
Don’t say in my heart!
I was glad that Gaudin got a chance to get into a game, and pitch well.
108 stitches
Agreed he crushed pitches in his first ab. I think he is very close to breaking out.
Our old “buddie” Steve Phillips is caught up in ANOTHER sex-scandal.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/n.....LU4ZDXvvDO
Front page of the Post -
hahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahah
Someone on the Yankees coaching staff has to talk to Swisher about the way he tags up at 3rd. He moves his body before the catch his made and he has to know that the umpire is watching the catch and looking for first movement at 3rd out of the corner of his eye. If Swish moves at all before the catch is made he’s getting called out.
On the Cano Swisher call McClelland assumed Cano wasn’t a moron and was standing on the bag. He obviously assumed too much. I can’t blame him for that because he was watching Posada run back to the bag and by the time he got a chance to look at Cano’s foot it was on the bag after inexplicably not being on the bag before that.
I meant Cano/Posada call above
McClellan was guilty of being lazy on both calls he blew. On Swisher’s play at 3B he has to move into position so he puts Swish between himself and the ball, but instead he just sauntered along the 3B line.
On the double tag out play he again failed to move into a position where he would see everything and just assumed that Cano had the brains to stay on the base.
I can’t believe the Steve Phillips stuff. This happened to him 11 years ago with the Mets. Does he ever learn?
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/n.....LU4ZDXvvDO
86w183, as I said before it’s hard to blame him for the Posada/Cano incident but the Swisher incident is tough to think of as anything but a makeup call because historically those calls have never been made unless there’s an egregious false start.
The “i felt it in my heart” excuse was hilarious. That’s got to be the most pathetic thing I’ve ever heard.
maybe it was another “in the neighborhood” call
I generally try to defend the umpires because I think it’s a tough job to begin with and I think most fans forget that umps are usually making split second decisions instead of watching multiple replays from a living room recliner, but some of those calls last night were just inexcusable.
Does the league review the umpiring after each game, and not bring back umps making bad calls (hello, McClellen)for the rest of the post season?
A report in Wednesday’s New York Post details the messy end of an affair between ESPN analyst and former Mets general manager Steve Phillips and a 22-year-old production assistant and has quickly become the hot topic of the day.
According to the report, Brooke Hundley sent a letter and called Phillips’ wife after Phillips ended the relationship, and had a series of “Fatal Attraction” type moments that may have included contacting Phillips’ sons via Facebook and the Internet.
Phillips has been suspended by ESPN for a week, the report says, and Phillips’ wife, Marni, has filed for divorce.
Awwwwww …. !
Didn’t Harold Reynolds get fired for hitting on a girl at ESPN? If Philips stays I know where Rev. Al is spending Halloween.
This must be a tough week for Phillips, the Yankees are kill’n, his mistress is spill’n, and his wife ain’t chill’n
couldn’t happen to a worse yankee hater.
I thought one of the “funniest” things that happened in last night’s game was Robinson Cano getting a hit with a runner in scoring position, a DOUBLE, and not getting an RBI! Now, it’s not funny in “ha-ha” funny, just proof that this is a odd off-year for Robbie in those situations. Par for the course. Posada, of course, had a brain freeze there. And then Cano had his own brain freeze on the next play, where he stopped short of touching third base – he had no idea how to proceed on that play. I suspect a conversation will be had about what to do there.
Great game, can’t wait for tomorrow night.
Let’s just hope the Ankles can take it to 7, so CC can finally run out of gas in that game. That would screw up the rotation for the WS and give the Phillies a chance to take 2 in a row and send the $200Million dollar team home dissapointed!
Outside of NY, all of America is hoping!
Sid Wish-cious -
hate to break it to ya — this is the beginning of another Yankee dynasty.
Just wait until Roy Halliday and Tim Lincecum join the team in coming years
I don’t think you can fault Robbie too much for that 3rd base mess. His thinking was that if both he and Posada stood on the base they would both be out. The problem was Posada didn’t giving himself up in the run down 10 feet from the bag when he saw Cano at the bag. By continuing to approach the bag Jorge created the nightmare base running situation that we all got screamed at about as far back as little league: two men on a base. On the bases there’s a time to live and a time to die; Jorge needed to understand that his his run was going to be eliminated and head to the dug out not to the bag.
I still haven’t gotten my answer of the fact that the Angels showed a replay of the Swisher play at second. I want to know if they are allowed to show it! If not will they be fined?
“Someone on the Yankees coaching staff has to talk to Swisher about the way he tags up at 3rd. He moves his body before the catch his made and he has to know that the umpire is watching the catch and looking for first movement at 3rd out of the corner of his eye. If Swish moves at all before the catch is made he’s getting called out.”
That’s actually the way players are taught to tag up. You get your momentum moving forward before the ball is caught so right as the ball is caught you get a good jump off the base.
Swisher did everything right, the ump just made a bad call.
Sid Wish-cious -
Yankee Moto -
NO RETREAT NO SURRENDER !
who are the Ankles?
Bill Porter -
Ah, I see. It just looked very strange to see Cano dead stop just before the bag and then finally tag it after he was tagged with the ball. Weird play all around, and I do remember thinking Posada was not doing something right, either. That play was not just the worst call of the year, but the worst running play of the year.
Assuming Yanks close this out, I would expect Hinske to replace Guzman on the roster for the Series, especially in the NL park where pinch hitters are going to be needed when the pitchers bat later in the game. Also need Tex, Cano, and Matsui to start hitting. Cano did have a ringing double to left center last night. lets hope thats a good sign. Good game for Melky too. As for Steve Phillips, well, all Yankhaters get their just desserts sooner or later. I sent Larry Lucchino an email saying “All nations fall sooner or later. LOL!!!!!!!!”
DONESKI !! OVER !! Thursday we complete the 2nd round.
I have to say so far it’s been Amazing and fun to watch all the Mistakes being made by both teams and The umpires. I don’t think I’ve yelled at my Tv more in the playoffs then this year. First where was the strike zone last night? Oh and I’ll have whats left in the cooler that Posada ,Cano and Swish were drinking out of last night. Get’er done Boyz.
LA or Philly ??? Let’s beat the Defending Champs Joe T wants to put on his Hula skirt anyway.
Doreen: That was a base running play I stopped seeing in my youngest son’s little league team 2 years ago but I fully expect to see it again there too! These guys are human beings and subject to the same brain freezes the rest of us are. I think we always have to remember that. I’ve done enough dopey things and made enough bad decisions in the heat of the moment to fill a pretty healthy career. I think sometimes if you’re not screwing up it means you’re just not trying.
I would assume that Jose is going to catch AJ tomorrow. And since Matsui couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag, I would sit him and dh Posada.
Jeter
Damon
Tex
Alex
Jorge
Cano
Swisher
Melky
Jose
Has anyone asked CC the same question ARod’s been getting after every game? It doesn’t seem worth asking to either as it’s very obvious that both players have put the post-season ability questions to bed. I love having both guys firing on all cylinders along with the captain.
I’ve been on the fence about it but the post-season this year has pushed me over to the side that thinks more replay is needed in baseball. I can’t buy that replay would slow the game much at all as most close calls are argued by a manager anyway…what I can’t decide is whether or not there should be a coach throwing the flag for replay like football or whether there should just be a replay official that reviews the play in quesion and signals to the head ump. I’m leaning towards the latter.
So happy, but if there is one concern, it has to be Posada’s head in the game. I got so pumped when he successfully stole second, but then he looked totally lost. not scoring on the double, the run down play, and forgetting how many outs AGAIN.
I love this team and when they win, these things dont stand out, but Posada had me scratching my head last night.
Any chance he starts with Burnett tomorrow?
Or Gardner starts CF and Melky in right to get Swish out for a game?
I would assume that Jose is going to catch AJ tomorrow. And since Matsui couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag, I would sit him and dh Posada
I would also sit Swish for Gardner vs. the righty.
Bill Porter –
Actually, having two men on a base is not a “nightmare base running situation”, and is frequently the way that play ends.
According to MLB Rule 7.03:
” Two runners may not occupy a base, but if, while the ball is alive, two runners are touching a base, the following runner shall be out when tagged. The preceding runner is entitled to the base. ”
So basically, whoever got there first (should have been Cano) is safe, the other is out. That is the smartest play to make, just get on the base. Both runners are at fault, since neither seemed to have any desire to be on the base. Neither knew the rule, and that is inexcusable.
Jennifer
we were talking about that on the last post, and according to Abdababdserser, stadiums are not supposed to show replays of bad calls
jennifer-
Controversial plays are not to be replayed on a scoreboard. No one wants to see drunken fans toss bottles out on to the field. The league just doesn’t want to be financial liable for such a scene and it would also hurt the game’s brand.
These rules are enforced with fines.
I agree 100% with Hokiehill – this postseason has done enough to prove the need for instant replay. MLB needs to sit down and find a way to have it done effectively. Otherwise, we’ll be seeing more embarrassing mistakes like we saw last night.
As for the game itself – I guess it’s s good sign when a team wins by 9 runs and makes awful base running mistakes!
Swisher is going to play. if any postive came out of his at-bats last night it was –> Swisher was his patient self again. NOT swinging at balls in the dirt. It seems like a small step. But in fact its a huge step for breaking out of the slump.
Ryan, I see. I misunderstood the MLB rule.
Question: Isn’t the key there that the preceding runner is entitled to the bag? Who is the preceding runner in that scenario? The guy who get’s to the bag first or the guy who is more advanced on the base paths?
I’d keep Swish. I know he’s slumping, but his patience and pop are a big plus. Keep Gardy on the bench for late-inning pinch-running and defensive replacement duties.
Bill,
Whoever reaches the bag first once it is vacated. So in this case, whoever got there first when both were running.
I’m just really happy it was 5-1 at the time, and that Tim McClelland messed up, because I almost threw my remote at my TV.
I guess I’m back to rooting for extending the series in the NLCS again tonight.
Gotta get the Phils and Dodgers butts back on a few more cross country flights before their series wraps up.
Okay thanks, I hadn’t gotten a chance to read the previous entry.
tex’s friend October 21st, 2009 at 9:27 am
So happy, but if there is one concern, it has to be Posada’s head in the game. I got so pumped when he successfully stole second, but then he looked totally lost. not scoring on the double, the run down play, and forgetting how many outs AGAIN.
No one really brought it up, but on the run down, there was only one out. In that situation you don’t automatically run on contact, you freeze and read the ball’s path. But Jorge just ran on contact and ball went right to the pitcher who had him dead to rights.
perhaps it a post conscious trama. he got hit in the face with alot of balls. And in September he twice left the batters box thinking he had struck out, when he only had two strikes on him.
Altogether, he’s not 100% He needs to get checked out this off season. I just thought he was tired, but he’s had plenty rest since the season ended.
shaking my head at Steve Phillips
pat -
I’m with you. At least please let the Dodgers win tonight to get it back to Cali. After that, I only care that they beat each other up!
I LOVE MELKY bunting his way out of a slump!!!!
Hey SUN DEVIL
Dont forget about Jorge leaving home plate when there was only two outs and Hunter on third.
Jennifer
sorry, didn’t mean to imply that you should have read the last post…just wanted to give credit to my source.
“A report in Wednesday’s New York Post details the messy end of an affair between ESPN analyst and former Mets general manager Steve Phillips and a 22-year-old production assistant and has quickly become the hot topic of the day.
According to the report, Brooke Hundley sent a letter and called Phillips’ wife after Phillips ended the relationship, and had a series of “Fatal Attraction” type moments that may have included contacting Phillips’ sons via Facebook and the Internet.
Phillips has been suspended by ESPN for a week, the report says, and Phillips’ wife, Marni, has filed for divorce”
ok. Goes with what had already heard about Steve Phillips. It’s been reported he tries to hit on anything that moves, when on the job at ESPN
As John Sterling would say, “He’s done it again”! re: Steve Phillips.
If that doesn’t get him fired, nothing will.
As far as the umpiring, until MLB makes these guys accountable, as in pulling Tim McClelland off this crew immediately, the mistakes will continue.
If this was the NFL, somebody would be suspended for a week over these blown calls.
MLB? They keep giving these guys undeserved, plum assignments.
The calls blown last night were calls high school umpires get right.
Its embarrassing and inexcusable for these guys to be working post-season games and be this bad.
“I was glad that Gaudin got a chance to get into a game, and pitch well”
kate: yes it was. He looked good
kate- it is fine. Don’t worry.
Thanks for the info.
Where McClelland failed last night, and should be suspended immediately for it, was issuing a “makeup call” for the call Dale Scott blew at second base.
McClelland had a perfect view of the play at second.
He knew Scott blew the call so, he decided to cover for his crewmate.
If I’m running MLB, he’s off the crew immediately for that.
If he denies doing it, have him take a lie detector test.
He wasn’t even looking at Swisher tagging up. He had no idea if Swisher left early or not.
He was playing “makeup call” and he got nailed for it.
Good game guys! One more win! Go Yankees!
Matsui is a career .300 postseason batter who has a .414 OBP this postseason and is 4 for 14 in the series even with last night’s 0-fer. He’s not going to get benched for one bad game that caused them to only win by 9 runs instead of 10 or 11, especially when Posada is needed at catcher off the bench as soon as Burnett comes out. Managers have a longer memory than some people seem to and don’t make decisions based solely on what happened in the last 24 hours.
I don’t really understand how anyone can excoriate Joe Girardi for over-managing and then turn around and call for wholesale lineup changes every time someone has a bad game or two. They’re 6-1 in the playoffs and just got their first big offensive game; they aren’t going to start making huge lineup changes because some fans think everyone should get multiple hits every game.
“Didn’t Harold Reynolds get fired for hitting on a girl at ESPN? If Philips stays I know where Rev. Al is spending Halloween”
hilarious (and tru)
Ryan, Thx. You and I are both glad for the same thing. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing or what was coming out of my mouth as I was watching it unfold for that matter. I managed to get that “are you still 12 years old?” look from my wife once again. (if I don’t get that look a couple of times a night during a playoff game I’m just not trying!) I’m grateful it’s a semi-humorous footnote and not a major issue this morning.
SJ44
Although your comments regarding the quality of the umpire’s calls are correct, it is apparent that Swisher was called out on the supposed early tag up in order to compensate for the blown call at 2nd when Swisher was caught off of the bag.
The Cano missed call was probably pure stupefaction at Jorge’s bonehead play.
With Gaudin getting in the game last night, everyone on the 25 man roster has now gotten in a game in some shape or form, haven’t they?
“If he denies doing it, have him take a lie detector test.”
Yeah, just take him to the interrogation room and grill him! Put him under the lights!
Seriously? Make the guy take a lie detector test? You’re awesome.
Alright, looks like Steve Phillips is headed to the MLB Network! Ha!
The biggest positive that comes from the mistakes last night is that the Yankees weren’t really hurt by them but they can correct them. The team will learn from the mistakes and hopefully we don’t see them again this post-season.
SJ44,
You need to calm down because MLB isn’t doing what you think they should do.
From the boys at It Is High,
McClellands’ explanation:
http://johnsterling.blogspot.c.....s-out.html
Steve Phillips should be fired based on how ESPN treated Harold Reynolds for a similar issue that appeared to be a lot less serious than what Phillips been up to.
The base belongs to the LEAD runner not the runner who gets there first. IF Cano and Posada were both on the base and both tagged Cano would be out.
Either way if Cano doesn’t stay on the bag there he has to run like hell back to 2B… then again Robbie never runs like hell.
It was correctly pointed out that Jorge should have given up once Cano got to 3B. Three mental mistakes by Jorge in this game, two in the same inning and that’s really bad baseball.
That’s right “grill him”.
Its the post-season, MLB’s biggest stage, and like it or not, integrity and honesty DOES matter.
There is nothing in the rulebook that states and umpire has the right to makeup calls to offset mistakes made in the game.
If your officials aren’t honest and above reproach, your game suffers greatly.
So yes, grill him and if he isn’t telling truth, suspend him.
If not, you have umpires trying to impact the outcome of a series. Nobody wants that.
SJ44,
I thought you knew McClelland? Anyway, he’s my homeboy from Stratford, Connecticut and despite last night, I like him as an umpire.
That “I thought in my heart Swisher was out” malarkey McClelland fed us was both insulting and hysterical. I’d have more respect for the guy if he would have just said ‘Um, well I didn’t see the call, so I just made it up.’
I can understand a missed call on a bang-bang play, or calling a trapped ball a catch. What I cannot stand, as a baseball fan, is blatant incompetence from an umpire and last night McClelland (the Crew Chief for crying out loud!) was so incompetent out there it was almost nonsensical.
SJ, you’re a big Dick Cheney fan aren’t you?
Off to Abu Ghraib for Tim McClellan! Or would Guantanamo be a better spot?
“Either way if Cano doesn’t stay on the bag there he has to run like hell back to 2B… then again Robbie never runs like hell.”
In 5 years Robinson Cano has 17 triples, but yeah, you’re right, he NEVER runs like hell.
It’s amazing how people continue to want to disparage the Yankees homegrown young players.
Was anyone able to get WS tickets?
SJ44,
You’re assuming it was a makeup call when it appears to me that the umpire just didn’t get into good enough position to watch Swisher and the ball being caught at the same time.
Also, I hope you’re not an imposter SJ44 because you’re call for lie detection test puts that doubt in my mind.
33 hours and 50 minutes until Game 5!!!!!!!!!!!
Wonder if all the yankees “fans” from monday are now off the ledge… those are the sorta people that give yankee fans a bad name.
Gotta give Joe some major credit, CC was able to pitch like that on short rest because he took care of him during August, as CC said. And while Joe may go to the pen often, he also knows when there is no reason to like last night. Now the pen had a day off after the big day Monday
The officiating all postseason has been plain awful. There were some plays in the Minn. series and several plays in the boston/Angels series that were abysmal. I have not watched the NL at all, but I would imagine they have the same deal.
five iron, there were blown calls in the first game of the Phillies/Rockies series. And I think there was also a blown call in one of the games in Colorado of that same series, as well. So, it’s not just the American League.
Tried for each home game for tickets – NOTHING. Like always. I’m not even sure the Yankees post any tickets like they said they were. Lame.
SJ 44,
Unfortunately, what McLelland did, while dishonest, disgraceful and absurd, can’t really be proven. You assume it was a make-up call. I assume it was a make-up call. But a lie detector test? You’re being absurd.
Baseball is a very important game to those of us who care about it but, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not important. Whatever we assume McLelland did, it’s not illegal by any means and thus, does not warrant your absurd course of action.
If someone in the league office sits him down and asks, “Tim, did you make that call to cover…” and he says, “no,” that’s it. They may not believe him – we may not believe him – but the man has rights. You don’t just subject people to lie detector tests for stuff like that. Are you seriously that absurd?
ticketmaster is just awful.. i think they’re starting to pick SAT words now. whatever happened to typing in simple stuff like “ball” or “dog”? now i have to type in “vietnamization browler” (i wish i was kidding). still didnt get tickets of course lol.
With 2 extra line umpires added for the postseason, you’d think they would come in from their outfield line posts to help with 1st and 3rd base judgements if needed.
Perhaps Bud Selig wants them stationed down the lines like statues.
vinny-b Worry about the Yankees. How many chicks have you tried to hit on?
Scott – you can always get them on stubhub or eBay.
Does anyone even have a clue about when the real SJ44 is here and isn’t?
I wish the real SJ44 cared enough to email Sam or Chad and just put an end to the stupidity.
He has the right to do his job honestly and correctly.
If he can’t, fire him.
He gave an explanation of his trevails that doesn’t even pass the laugh test.
Umpiring is not a right. Its a privilage to work a post-season game. Its a job requiring these guys (rightly or wrongly) to be above reproach from an honesty and integrity standpoint. Any compromise of either quality affects the game in a negative way.
If they can’t do their jobs with honesty and integrity, they need to be fired immediately.
You want to fix the broken umpire system in MLB? Make these guys accountable when they lie through their teeth.
If not, a WS game, or a WS, is going to be decided by calls. That won’t make anybody happy. Especially fans on the side of the team that gets screwed.
Good thing none of those blown calls cost the Angels 10 RUNS !! Ha ha. We Rule !
I got denied obviously… I bet all the ticket brokers were able to get tickets through yankees.com today so they can sell them on stubhub for 10X the value
In my heart I know that it is the real SJ44
The thing I hate most about Ticketmaster is they throw out whatever seats they want and you either take them or leave them. The process of going back in and asking for other seats isn’t worth the time it takes, plus you get seats equal to the other ones.
I’ve always gotten my tickets on eBay or Stubhub. I may pay a little more – though not always – but at least I pick where I want to sit.
arod is like a little kid out there having fun & it is great to see
he wants to be a part of this team & be accepted & that has happened.
he is doing everything right.
talking,saying the right things for the right reasons,playing defense & the only player on the planet that can do what he can is pujols
there is arod,pujols & then everybody else period.
he cleared his mind,slowed everything down,got the steroid thing & probably a lot of other things put behind him
by admitting to taking steroids it took all the pressure in the world off of him because he said my legacy is not in my hands anymore.
i can go out,play ball,have fun & let everybody else worry about that
as long as he is happy in his personal life he will be fine.
if he is smart he should realie that after all is said & done he is making 30 million a year,has a pretty girl,a few beautifull kids & will live in luxury for the rest of his life & while working 7 months out of the year.
mccelland is probably a boston fan at heart , or “in his heart “
Anyone get WS tickets?
“In my heart I know that it is the real SJ44″
If Torii Hunter spent as much time on his game as he does trash talking the Yankees and trying to deke umpires (McClelland obviously listened to Hunter say what was in his heart..) he might actually do something to help his hapless team. Then again, maybe not.
No World Series tickets for me
Tickets on stubhub are outrageous. $300 for bleacher seats is quite the markup. There has to be a better solution to this problem.
Growing up, I loved reading books about baseball by the greats of the game. It made much more sense than reading about theories by people who never played at a high level. ‘The Art of Pitching’ by Tom Seaver, and ‘The Science of Hitting’ by Ted Williams were books I constantly read.
I love Posada and want him behind the plate every game, but one book idea I can safely say will never hit the bestseller lists is ‘The Art of Baserunning’ by Jorge Posada, with a special bonus feature on the importance of always knowing the count and the number of outs.
i loved when a-rod was talking about how he doesnt talk much anymore. it was pretty funny and he really does seem to get it now that he doesnt have to try, that his talent can do the talking and he can go out and enjoy it.
“If Torii Hunter spent as much time on his game as he does trash talking the Yankees and trying to deke umpires (McClelland obviously listened to Hunter say what was in his heart..) he might actually do something to help his hapless team. Then again, maybe not.”
In his heart, Torii Hunter is still a Twin, he has no idea what to do past Game 4 of the ALDS!
Mark in Tampa -
Do they have tickets right at the Stadium? I always have to do the online stuff since I am nowhere near NY.
Anyone know where I can find the article that broke down how many tickets went to everyone? mlb, players, fox etc? I’d like to find that article now.
Jennifer, I got on at 959 had both browsers open and couldnt find a single ticket. I have a feeling all of 10 were made available to the public
In any event, did you guys see the picture of the girl Phillips slept with? http://theproducers.weei.com/s.....ver-learn/
Not that I am the greatest looking person myself, but that girl is not someone I would risk my marriage on, at least looks wise. Especially since she seems like a looney personality-wise from what I have read.
I saw some photos of the girl from the Steve Phillips thing.
Yikes!
A family ruined and a career on the rocks.
Based on his baseball analytical skills, I’m not surprised.
Did anyone get World Series seats?
“The calls blown last night were calls high school umpires get right.”
What makes me most angry are these umpires who want to inject themselves into the game.
By that I mean, over emphatic calls or controversial calls to be part of the action.
Timmy Mac’s been at it for years. See George Brett. See his 38 second strike calls.
Unfortunately he’s not alone with this act. Also unfortunately, NFL and NBA have similar official issues.
Oh, the pain. I feel bad for Marni Phillips (really, NYP, she’s a stunning green-eyed blonde?) and their teenage son. That girl’s a psycho. And Steve Phillips is a tool.
And thanks to the Post and their Pullitzer worthy journalism, everyone now knows that Steve Phillips has a distinguishing mark on his crotch.
So if they fired Harold Reynolds for being accussed of harassment, do they fire Phillips based on this????
Sam e-mailed me last night re: the imposter.
Somebody on my staff, a computer wizard, was able to trace it back to someone.
I was able to talk to that particular person’s parents and, needless to say, they weren’t happy with the actions of their kid.
That situation was put to bed at about 9 last night.
I can’t do it for everybody who impersonates me or others on the blog but, at least one of the folks doing it has been handled.
Hopefully, they add registration next year. That will make it much better for everybody.
??Good morning every1, the funny thing yesterday was that when posada went away from the plate yest by the double play fox said that posada forgot how many outs there was in the ining but sterling called it on the radio that he went to backup tex @ 1st, I think srerling is right cuz the visitor dugout is on 3rd base side & posada went towards 1st so those fox clowns should stop comenting when they don’t know what they are talking about
Just so everyone understands how the postseason umpiring works, the CBA says that the umps have to be rotated so everyone gets a turn. This is extra pay for the umps. This means we don’t have only the best umps working the postseason.
Several people have mentioned banning the ump from the next round of games but they only work one round in any case.
What kind of fans are you? You aren’t willing to buy these tickets for a world series game????
http://www.stubhub.com/new-yor.....=211211471
Stubhub, just now -
$15,000 per ticket in the first row behind the Yank dugout.
Truly amazing.
Actually, $14,995. lol
Trisha – Yeah, I normally have to get them off fansnap, but I was thinking maybe this time I could score a $100 seat instead of paying $400 for the same seat.
But I guess that’s my only option now.
Trisha, what good, loyal, Yankee fan cant afford a ticket for 99,000 dollars. If you were a TRUE fan you would clearly waste all your savings to see game 7 of the World Series.
It’s not that brokers got tickets today, it’s that there were less than 4,000 on sale, plus some standing room (which TicketMaster didn’t seem to be selling):
From yankees.com:
“Yankee Stadium has a seating capacity of 50,235, excluding standing room. For each postseason game, the first opportunity to purchase tickets is provided to current season-ticket licensees, which represent in excess of 37,000 full-season equivalent ticket licenses. Major League Baseball directs clubs to dedicate approximately….9,500 tickets per World Series game.”
The brokers have had them for a while… sadly, they make up a decent amount of the full season ticket holders.
jay, the visiting dugout in Angels stadium for some off reason is on the first base side.
Mark in Tampa,
I am chuckling, and I appreciate the contextual affection and humor you bring to the joke regarding the beloved Yankee catcher, instead of trashing him.
He hath been mightily abused.
“If Torii Hunter spent as much time on his game as he does trash talking the Yankees and trying to deke umpires”
Trisha,
Torii’s problem is he’s got a little Curt Schilling in him. Loves the red light.
As for his game, he being asked to produce something he isn’t. He’s a .290, free swinger with above avg power for his position, but not overall. And he’s their #3 hitter.
He’s not in the production class of Tex, VMart, or Mauer (other AL post season #3 hitters). If he were the NY CF he would probably hit 7th.
McClelland is the best balls and strikes umpire, I don’t want him off the crew. He’d be replaced with Joe West or CB BUcknor.
Well it APPEARS we are talking to the real SJ now!
It seems that you typically will announce whether or not you will be online for a game. If you are not and your imposter shows up, posters should immediately email Sam or Chad and get the fool banned. That way people don’t waste their time talking to the imposter or trying to debate the foolishness the person puts out! Just a thought. For the most part I stay away from game threads but if I do show up for a comment or three, I always see SJ44 conversation.
Jay,
That makes sense, who was at 1B? Why wan’t Posada covering home? And why the heck did CC think that Posada was running off the field?
Jay
Visitors dugout is on the 1st base side
I was just wondering:
With CC dominating and looking fresh as a daisy, I wonder if he’d consider taking the place of Kris Jenkins as the Jets’ nose tackle in a couple of weeks.
I believe that CC can do just about anything, and the Jets defensive line is in a state of distress.
Hokiehill,
That’s right, huh? Why doesn’t Sterling know that?
13 MLB teams actually have their home dugout on the 3rd base side and I assume it has to do with the sun shining into the first base dugout or something…
bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
October 21st, 2009 at 10:39 am
Glad to see you.
We have never been to the restaurant in Chatham that you mentioned last night (A Taste of Asia) but, we have always wanted to… maybe this winter.
BTW, are you a Becker/Fagen fan?
“And why the heck did CC think that Posada was running off the field?”
Because he was. Tv showed Tex telling him there were only 2 outs
“Trisha, what good, loyal, Yankee fan cant afford a ticket for 99,000 dollars. If you were a TRUE fan you would clearly waste all your savings to see game 7 of the World Series”
Do you think anyone has that kind of money to waste on a ticket? I definitely am part of the other half, so I can’t even fathom that amount of money!
m, you could ask that question on Sterlin about many different things…check this out
Home dugouts on first base side:
* Atlanta Braves (Turner Field)
* Baltimore Orioles (Oriole Park at Camden Yards)
* Boston Red Sox (Fenway Park)
* Cincinnati Reds (Great American Ball Park)
* Colorado Rockies (Coors Field)
* Florida Marlins (Dolphins Stadium)
* Houston Astros (Minute Maid Park)
* Kansas City Royals (Kauffman Stadium)
* Milwaukee Brewers (Miller Park)
* New York Mets (Shea Stadium)
* New York Yankees (Yankee Stadium)
* Philadelphia Phillies (Citizens Bank Park)
* San Diego Padres (PETCO Park)
* Seattle Mariners (Safeco Field)
* St. Louis Cardinals (Busch Stadium)
* Tampa Bay Devil Rays (Tropicana Field)
* Texas Rangers (Ameriquest Field in Arlington)
Home dugouts on third base side:
* Arizona Diamondbacks (Chase Field)
* Chicago Cubs (Wrigley Field)
* Chicago White Sox (U.S. Cellular Field)
* Cleveland Indians (Jacobs Field)
* Detroit Tigers (Comerica Park)
* Los Angeles Angels (Angel Stadium of Anaheim)
* Los Angeles Dodgers (Dodger Stadium)
* Minnesota Twins (Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome)
* Oakland A’s (McAfee Coliseum)
* Pittsburgh Pirates (PNC Park)
* San Francisco Giants (AT&T Park)
* Toronto Blue Jays (Rogers Centre)
* Washington Nationals (Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium)
Ed Rapuano is the best ball/strike umpire in the league and has been for years.
Timmy’s best days are behind him. He graded out poorly this season and he’s been awful in the post-season.
At this point, there are probably no more than 15 umpires league-wide who are actually good at the profession.
The rest are either average, very bad, or just cashing checks awaiting retirement.
Unfortunately, the Commissioner of Baseball thinks there isn’t a problem with his umpires.
He couldn’t be more wrong.
ed rapuano is an excellent umpire. not sure why he is not in this series unless he is doing the NL games.
Hey Frank in Chatham!
Not that I know of, lol. What made you think so?
pat,
That was way after the play. After the umps and all the players corralled Jorge back into the field of play.
Poor Jorge, Tex was really making it clear. Tex is really animated, huh?
met Ed in 1989, classy guy
Hokiehill -
Where do you find this information?
Seriously, where you find a listing of what MLB teams have their home dugouts on the 3rd base side?
Angels need a Rally Gorilla to get out of this one!
If it is Yankees vs Phillies, we’re going to see a lot of pies!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10.....f=baseball
there is a union for umpires so you cant just do whatever you want to them
this is not north korea
they should eliminate an umpire & put one in a tv & computer room to get the calls right
they would have better views of the calls than we have at home & we clerly got them right in our own homes
the fair ball in the minny series & the calls last night would have been reversed
the man in the booth would be reviewing plays & make the changes almost immediately.
very little time
you will never eliminate human error no matter how tough the talk is
wrong approach
I think the Yanks were poised to make a run at Hunter two years ago before the Angels made a phenomenal offer and gave him ten minutes to decide.
I’ve always liked him as a player and personality and look forward to his insights on MLB during the World Series.
Some thoughts…
The blown call on the pick off move that had Swisher called safe. Yes, it was obvious, when seen in slow motion. When it is put in regular speed its a lot more difficult to see if he got the tag in on time. Given how Aybar flew over second base afterward, there was additional distraction.
With that, how in the world would McClelland know that it was a blown call? Replays of bad calls are not supposed to be shown at the stadium. This is something that has been talked about during games a number of times. Players can go down and view tapes of plays, and people at home are going to be shown ten thousand replays of a bad call, which to me only fires things up beyond what happened. If the Angels showed the replay on the screen they are subject to fines, so where is the outrage against the Angels organization if they in fact did show it?
If McClelland was watching the video replay of that play, then he wasn’t doing his job. (Beyond him not doing his job well with all the blown calls he made, that is.) To me, Swisher wasn’t a make up call on the pick off move.
Hunter was the one to call a challenge to Swisher leaving early. How in the world would Hunter ever be able to see that from where he was, aside from the fact that he was looking at the ball into his glove, all the way from center field? McClelland might have the jones for Hunter which is why in his heart he believes he made the right call with Swisher. He was not in a good position, but how is someone supposed to watch the foot on the bag while simulanteously watching the outfield catch being made? The eyes don’t work that way, so he could only be going by Swisher moving his body forward before the catch was made. Swisher had previously been called out on a similar play (he was going to third that time) in another game. It might be that Swisher’s move is what causes umpires to have heartfelt beliefs that he went too soon.
I think the two men off base tag call was more based on him not looking at the feet of the players. Posada was obviously not on base from his viewpoint. Cano was near enough, and he stuck his foot on base late, but that might have been what McClelland saw.
I read somewhere that 5 or 6 respected veteran umpires are out on disability with various health issues and that has cut into the pool of umpires that are available for this postseason.
Wonder if that has contributed to the poor umpiring this year in a significant way.
# trisha – OPPC lifetime member and a true believer in baseball karma October 21st, 2009 at 10:43 am
Do you think anyone has that kind of money to waste on a ticket? I definitely am part of the other half, so I can’t even fathom that amount of money!
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You would have to be insane to place the value of a ticket at that much money. I can barely afford what they cost at face value, let alone the market on stubhub, especially for a world series game.
I am so angry right now. I want to go to a game and couldn’t get anything!
Scott, I am considering going to one of the World Series games. I realize that if I do I am probably going to be overpaying for the ticket. But sometimes if you can afford to wait until the last minute, you can find someone desperate to dump a ticket on stubhub or eBay. I ended up going to the very first game of the season and got a front row seat, 3rd base side, Legends section, the day before the game. I had to hustle to make plans to stay over night in NY, grab train tickets, etc., but I paid more than $300 UNDER the face value of the ticket. That was probably a fluke, and if I didn’t get the ticket I most likely wouldn’t have ended up going.
True story – I hate to admit this, but I was bidding for a ticket on eBay, front row, first base side, and the bid was up to $1475. I justified bidding by telling myself I hadn’t been on a vacation and it was part of my tax return money so I could afford to do it, plus it was the first game at the new Stadium, yada yada yada. So I bid on it and at the last 30 seconds someone swooped in and bid $25 higher and got it. That turned me to stubhub and lucking into the other ticket! Boy was I happy I lost the eBay bid!!!
you will never as humans get all the calls right when comparing it to technology
it wont happen
can they get better? yes but never perfect
Hey SJ44, that’s incredibly badass that you found out who was impersonating you and called his parents! Way to go!!
Poor Jorge, Tex was really making it clear. Tex is really animated, huh?
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I think one of the true turning points of the season came in an early Minnesota series in May where Gomez veered too close to Teix’s arm on a tag play at 2b. I think the first time he let it go, but the 2nd time Teix got vocal really let Gomez have it. It fired up the team and they came back to win the game against Joe Nathan – a rally that a .213 hitting Teixiera scored the tying run. Ever since that game Teix became a vocal leader of this team and they’ve been flying high ever since.
$1,475 for one ticket???
bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
October 21st, 2009 at 10:45 am
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen formed Steely Dan in the 60s and were VERY successful in the 70s and 90s.
In their “Countdown to Ecstasy” album, they have a cut aptly named Bodhisattva.
Lyrics are simple – they probably were stoned when they wrote it:
Bodhisattva
Would you take me by the hand
Bodhisattva
Would you take me by the hand
Can you show me
The shine of your Japan
The sparkle of your china
Can you show me
Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
I’m gonna sell my house in town
Bodhisattva
I’m gonna sell my house in town
And I’ll be there
To shine in your Japan
To sparkle in your China
Yes I’ll be there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j1Ol2rRxzY
Bodhisattva
BigSix, let me Google that for you…
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=mlb+teams.....+base+side
Christina do you think maybe that was a misprint and the person meant $9,900? No that that’s a bargain, but the other amount is just flippin OUTRAGEOUS!
I hear what you are saying about at the last minute. I had extra tickets to a game this season and listed them on craigslist and in the hours before the game I was hit with people asking for them. Unfortunately I’m located 6 hours from the stadium so last minute isn’t that good of an option.
I guess you just have to keep your eye on fansnap and hope for the best.
Can someone who was at the game last night please let us know if they were actually showing the replays on the scoreboard at Angels Stadium? It sure sounded like it by the way the crowd was going nuts.
# trisha – OPPC lifetime member and a true believer in baseball karma October 21st, 2009 at 10:54 am
Christina do you think maybe that was a misprint and the person meant $9,900? No that that’s a bargain, but the other amount is just flippin OUTRAGEOUS!
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No, what they do on stubhub is make them a ridiculous price, hoping some fool will drop the money.
The game is over 2 weeks away so as the day gets closer they will drop it to a reasonable price (well reasonable as in not 99,000 dollars).
I don’t think one ump will screw up a call to make up for another ump’s mistake. Especially when the second ump is the crew chief.
He made a mistake, it was close. In fact it was too close to call. And yes, Torii Hunter was too far, and had his eyes presumably looking upward while he was making a catch. So how the hell would Hunter know if Swish tagged up a split second after he caught the ball?
oops. a split second before he caught the ball?
I think another turning point of the season was the Texas game when Padilla hit Tex twice. it was the 1st time I remember seeing Tex so angry and animated. When AJ retaliated, I thought it sent a message that this Yankee team w/ these Yankee pitchers were not going to let their players get hit anymore.
SJ44-
Glad you took care of it. The really dumb part was that you told me around 4ish that you would not be on during the game thread. Thats how we knew there was no way it was you
Erica
“Some thoughts…
The blown call on the pick off move that had Swisher called safe. Yes, it was obvious, when seen in slow motion.”
————
uhhh, you seem to be forgetting that McLelland wasnt even looking at the flipping play.
How the heck can you call a guy out for leaving early when you weren’t even looking at him???
if he had a hard time seeing the play, you call him safe. you dont call a guy out if you’re not looking at him. maybe you ask for help from another ump. if nobody SAW him leave early, he’s safe.
it is unconscionable to make that call. a suspendable offense in of itself.
I’m thinking the price on those $99,999.00 tickets drops to maybe around $60,000 before gametime. Completely affordable for the average fan, right?
Just call me Mr. Clutch
Oh they showed it. After the call the crowd sounded angry, but than they really started to boo. It seemed like they showed a replay and the crowd reacted to it.
If the Yanks make the World Series (still an assumption), I think they will either have to pitch AJ on 3 days rest or use a 4th starter. The games are Wed-Thu-Sat-Sun-Mon-Wed-Thu. CC could pitch games 1, 4 and 7 with 3 days (if he doesn’t have to pitch this Sunday), but game 5 is only 3 days removed from game 2. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
“$1,475 for one ticket???”
Christina, and that was cheap for Opening Day, front row, in terms of what people were selling them for! I saw some for $23,000 per ticket. I think those were right behind the Y’s dugout, first row.
While I’m thrilled about the win last night, I’m also cheesed off about the umpiring.
The Swisher call was a make up call. I was very interested in hearing the ump describe what happened there since on the replay it was obvious he wasn’t even looking at Swisher, the bag or his feet.
If it wasn’t a makeup call, then Tori Hunter sold that call which is even more ridiculous.
But it was a makeup call. And that’s not right. It doesn’t belong in the game.
One of the best things I saw in this series was when the 2b ump refused to give the neighborhood call when Aybar wasn’t even near the bag on that play.
That ump realized the camera is watching him and he didn’t want to be asked post game why he gave an out on a play where the SS was a foot from the bag.
These guys know the camera is catching them. Now, more than ever, they are forced to talk in post game interviews about their gaffe’s.
The non-call on Swish at 2b was a horrible non-call. We all would have been losing it if it happened the other way around.
But for a 3b ump and crew chief to decide he was going to correct the mistake of the game?
It’s outlandish.
With his explanation for his mistake calls, he should be removed from the rest of this series.
He shouldn’t be suspended, but he should have to sit the rest of the post season out effective immediately.
The only thing that scares me about the next game is Fieldin Culbreth behind homeplate.
Get ready to wretch tomorrow folks because the strike zone will make you want to puke tomorrow night.
Hokiehill-
Do you know you won GTLU yesterday
“I read somewhere that 5 or 6 respected veteran umpires are out on disability with various health issues and that has cut into the pool of umpires that are available for this postseason.
Wonder if that has contributed to the poor umpiring this year in a significant way.”
I think the poor umpiring is being brough to light more because of the increased use of instant replay and advances in the technology that make it so readily available. I think it’s hilarious and a good example of this that Fox sells a promotion for the exact purpose of showing bad play calls…anyone else notice the “Coors Light Freeze Frame” is always used for this and was used last night to show Swish was out at second?
“I’m thinking the price on those $99,999.00 tickets drops to maybe around $60,000 before gametime. Completely affordable for the average fan, right?”
That’s why I’m holding out.
Check out Gehrig’s record for 8 straight WS games
http://www.baseball-reference......hives/2984
bru, I am against instant replay, mainly because I think it will create more problems than it will solve.
Lets take as an example the Mauer fair/foul ball scenario. For this it would be straight forward that he would be on second base because of a ground rule double (it bounced into the stands after it hit the ground).
What if the ball did not bounce into the stands and instead rolled to the wall far away from Melky? Or took an odd bounce away from the fielder. What do you give Mauer in that case? A single? A double? A triple? What if its a fast runner like Gardner? Would he make it to second where Mauer, who doesn’t run as fast would have been held up at first?
Some of the calls on instant replay are simple to clear up. Others, no matter how the rule states it cannot take into account how everything else would play out.
In order to implement instant replay on calls, there would need to be a large revision of the rules. That in turn will probably cost a game in and of itself in some instances.
Another part is that close calls are argued by the manager in some cases just to create a delay. This is used by both sides to help break momentum, and sometimes to fire up the team (as Girardi did for at least one time he was ultimately thrown out of the game). Challenge flags wouldn’t have the same effect. Also, those firey challenges can have the effect of making the umpires pay closer attention.
Ryan -
The “following runner” is always the guy behind on the basepath. Doesn’t matter who got to 3rd 1st on that play. Cano is the following runner. He cannot take third if it is not open. It is open if Posada scores or gets tagged out. If he comes back to the bag (as he did, stupidly), Cano is out. Once he was caught in a rundown, his only goal should have been to keep the play alive long enough for the other base runners to reach a base, safely.
So both of them made mistakes. Posada should not have run all the way back, and when he did, should not have run through the bag, and Cano should have had his foot on the bag.
23 thousand for a ticket ??? Goodness
I was wondering Erica, by the time the lineup came out I had already forgotten what I submitted and wasn’t sure. Thanks!
That is ALOT of money for 1 ticket to one game, Trisha. Though I am a poor grad student working 3 jobs and tutoring 4 kids, so I can’t see spending that much on a ticket to one game. So I guess if you have the money, then I can’t say a thing.
But for me to spend 1,475 dollars on one ticket to one game, I better be in the Yankee dugout sitting on Derek Jeter’s lap.
Erica – always OPPC
October 21st, 2009 at 10:59 am
________________________________
Hokiehill tied for the win!!!
There isn’t an umpries union anymore bru.
MLB has taken over the umpires Post-Richie Phillips.
There was much more accountability when Richie ran the Union.
Unfortunately, he screwed up bigtime when he de-certified, MLB took over, and its gone downhill ever since.
Its a big problem for MLB. Moreover, there isn’t any teaching going on at the minor league level so, there really isn’t a good pool of up and coming umpires.
That forces MLB to stick with guys who are well past their primes.
Remember Bruce Froemming? The last 6 years he worked, he couldn’t move because he was so fat and couldn’t see. Yet, he was working and being assigned post-season games.
Its a big problem for the game. Unfortunately, our boneheaded Commissioner has no idea how to fix it.
Boston Dave, here’s my theory, McClelland was speaking in code when he gave his explanation for Swisher leaving early. The “I knew in my heart” line was his code to anyone who is part of the game or cares about the integrity was his way of saying it was a makeup call for an obvious missed call by his colleague at 2nd. When people do thinks because their heart tells them to it’s because it doesn’t make sense to the brain but it’s still the right thing to do. This is part of the reason why Girardi didn’t complain about it at the time and Scioscia didn’t complain about the Swisher play at 2B after the game. McClelland took the hit because that’s the kind of guy he is.
Ugh, ignore my last post, I typed it in between phone calls and didn’t proof it.
Hokiehill
October 21st, 2009 at 11:01 am
I was wondering Erica, by the time the lineup came out I had already forgotten what I submitted and wasn’t sure. Thanks!
****
I was leaving work before the line up came out. I posted the winners (there were two), when I got home around 6
Frank from Chatham, NJ
October 21st, 2009 at 11:03 am
Erica – always OPPC
October 21st, 2009 at 10:59 am
________________________________
Hokiehill tied for the win!!!
****
Yup. You won too!! Congratulations
“Glad you took care of it. The really dumb part was that you told me around 4ish that you would not be on during the game thread. Thats how we knew there was no way it was you”
Erica, that’s why I said I think that you guys who know he isn’t going to be here and are on the gamethread when the imposter comes on should immediately email sam or chad and get the fool banned! It saves a lot of stupid chatter that the imposter puts out in the name of SJ.
23 thousand for a ticket ??? Goodness”"
Mike, I am thinking that the reason we see so many empty seats in the Legends section is that in the past, big NY corporations were able to buy those seats and charge them off as business expenses. Well since so many of those corporations needed to be bailed out by the feds, they no longer were able to buy blocks of the most expensive seats since their expenditures are now being monitored by the feds. Maybe $23,000 for a seat was no longer a big deal to those corps but now those seats end up going begging.
The Ghost,
you may very well be right.
still, it’s not pretty.
if McLelland hadn’t also screwed up the Cano/Posada play it might have slid by.
but messing up both plays is really bad.
he needs to get some time off.
how many umps in a game???
hp,1st,2nd,3rd ???
on wfan one niht the funny one.forot his name.
the jokster.
he said eliminate 1 ump,throw him in a room with computers,tvs or whatever else is needed to look with technoloy & radio the final decisions in.
i agreee this is the best way.
dont charge outs or strikes or review balls & strikes.
just fair,foul,hr & plays at the 3 bases
the ump in the room will start reviewing plays immediately,have the coach in the dugout push a button to challenge instead of going on the field.
Teammates Fully Support Jonathan Papelbon’s Claim That Playoff Loss Was His Fault
http://www.theonion.com/conten.....ly_support
he said eliminate 1 ump,throw him in a room with computers,tvs or whatever else is needed to look with technoloy & radio the final decisions in.
i agreee this is the best way.
dont charge outs or strikes or review balls & strikes.
just fair,foul,hr & plays at the 3 bases
the ump in the room will start reviewing plays immediately,have the coach in the dugout push a button to challenge instead of going on the field.
*************
That’s not a bad idea. Makes sense if you think about it.
IS there an interstate between New York and Philly??
Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times: “It looks like the Freeway Series is now a Freeway Pipe Dream. That is, unless you are talking about the interstate between New York and Philadelphia. Monday night, in Game 4 of their best-of-seven National League Championship Series, the Dodgers went dramatically. Tuesday night, in Game 4 of their best-of-seven American League Championship Series, the Angels just went. Comebacks from 3-1 are not impossible, just highly improbable. That’s especially true if the third loss is devastating, as it was in the Dodgers’ collapse in the ninth. Or if it is wimpy, as it was in the Angels’ five-hit, five-men-left-on-base, 10-1 submission to CC Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees.”
Boston Dave, the blown call you referenced and responded to was a different one. The pick off move is when Swisher was out at second base but not called. I have no idea if McClelland was watching it, but even if he were, it wouldn’t have been possbile for him to see if it was right or wrong without a slow motion replay. Given where he would be positioned he wouldn’t have a clue.
The leaving too early play, Swisher’s body movement would be able to be seen, but not where his foot was. I think McClelland and the other umpire who called him out for a similar play pick up the movement while being focused on the ball being caught.
I love this quote by Swisher:
“When I grow up, I want to be like Alex Rodriguez,” Swisher said
Christina, it was one of those spontaneous things that I am famous for doing, not always wise mind you. The ticket started out a lot lower but you know how those things happen on eBay. People keep upping the bid. I had decided that I definitely wanted to go to Opening Day and actually had been watching a ticket on stubhub for about a month – front row bleachers! Well I thought the price would go down as it got closer to game time, and then one day the ticket was gone.
I was pretty horrified that I had bid that much for the ticket. So believe me it isn’t that I have that kind of money to throw around – I don’t. But if you remember, I was going to go to ST and then a snow storm and me getting sick conspired to keep me from going. So I used that as an rationale – I hadn’t spent that money – to justify paying a king’s ransom for a ticket. I guess you could say I had the money from not spending it earlier.
Anyway, thank God some other fool ended up with that ticket and this fool didn’t.
new thread
Boston Dave, sometimes when it rains it pours, I’m really siding on giving McClelland a pass on the Posada/Cano play. If you watch McClelland he’s watching the play on Posada the entire time. Cano doesn’t move until Napoli goes to tag Posada, so there is truly no time during that sequence of events where McClelland has time to look at Cano’s foot. All he sees is that he’s standing still. Cano moves his foot onto the bag at the exact moment Napoli tags Posada. It’s just a freak play – who in their right mind would run to a bag and stop a foot short of it?
Frank from Chatham, NJ
October 21st, 2009 at 10:54 am
bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
October 21st, 2009 at 10:45 am
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen formed Steely Dan in the 60s and were VERY successful in the 70s and 90s.
In their “Countdown to Ecstasy” album, they have a cut aptly named Bodhisattva.
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Wow, that was a great song! The tune is familiar, but I never realized what the lyrics were. Thanks, I just emailed it to a friend of mine who is a pretty serious Buddhist.
“Countdown to Ecstasy” is an apt song title for the Yanks, too
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SJ44
ok but humans are never going to be as accurate as technology
it just will never happen.
if an ump was in a room with the proper tools the calls will be almost 100 percent correct
you & i with our own tvs got these calls right to almost 100 percent accuracy
only review fair,foul & calls at the 3 bases if the coach wants to challenge
mr clutch,
i realized that after I posted it.
the swisher play at 2nd was not as close as 90% of most tagout plays.
he was “out by a mile” in terms of those plays.
if they cant get that call right, it’s not good. but yes, at least he was looking at the play and umpires make mistakes.
McLelland should be suspended for the Swisher leaving 3rd play, IMO.
if you aren’t looking at the play, you absolutely cannot make a call on it.
he was not looking, period.
The Ghost,
true. I suppose it’s fair to assume that you’d have to be a complete idiot to not be standing on 3rd in that case.
Sorry Cano…
I expect McLelland to be alert and on top of his game for the rest of the series. Another bad mistake would be brutal.
Don’t you all remember the play in the Rockies-Padres playoff game with Trevor Hoffman on the mound where the homeplate ump called a Rockies player safe at home and that play won the game, where the replay later showed he was out? That call sent the Padres home and the Rockies to the postseason! Where in hell was all of the outrage then????
So we are all indignant right now why, because McClelland came out and admitted he was wrong where other umpires end up being wrong via the replay but never say a word about it?
How about all the hideous balls and strikes called behind homeplate that sometimes end up meaning the game for the wrong team? Where is all the indignation about those?
I guess I can’t get too shook up by this since when I get really irate by bad calls in games, those things seem to be considered “part of the game” by the general populace and just go by the wayside.
Those calls last night did not affect the outcome of the game. So be it.
As an aside, there are only two times that I have ever seen an umpire call a player out for leaving too early, though I have seen a lot of players ask for the call. Both times it was Swisher, and both times he hadn’t left early!
Three hits for the Melkman, think I’ll have Tres Leche for dessert
Umpires get rotated in the various playoff games. You can’t have the same crew in two consecutive WS for instance.
While I understand the reasoning behind that, that it may help keep corruption from the calling of the games, it seems it also can mean that you don’t have the best umpires calling the WS games.
I think this will end up being a very hot topic of discussion at the winter meetings. Umpiring has always been argued, but lately the calls seem to be worse and more frequent than ever before.
Aside from balls and strikes, which are bad enough, there are some calls that make you think the umpire is being paid to be that bad. Buckner is one such case.
I think it could lead to more replay coming into the game, which I don’t like because of many reasons, some highlighted in the earlier post. I can see some compromise where set types of calls (pick offs, leaving too early on a fly ball/tag up, stolen bases) are reviewable. Foul balls? I see that opening a whole can of worms that will never resolve the arguing and complaints.
I think replay will cause the manager’s job to become less significant because it takes away one of their tools for changing a mood of a game. (Tough to get worked up and thrown out of a game on a reviewed call).
Yes, we want to see all the calls be made right, but at what cost to the game?
In football replays have become a crutch, and even then they aren’t always made right. It has made it more complex than before.
trisha,
I understand that umps are going to miss calls from time to time.
I have a real problem with McLelland calling Swisher out when he wasn’t even looking at him.
Also, when umps start missing 3+ calls in 1 game, it’s a bit of a problem.
off topic.. but a tie into for $ reasons for the city….anyone know why NYC doesn’t have casinos
Mike greenberg had a great quote this morning about the new “joba rules”. The new rule was to pitch cc when its jobas turn to pitch… I like it