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Saturday, October 8, 2011

Discussions: 2011 Championship Series

As the ALCS & NLCS get underway, we again open the umpire forum to discussion, below. Notes include home plate umpire performance according to pitch f/x and UEFL Rules 6.b.ii.a. (horizontal bound, "Kulpa Rule") and 6.b.ii.b. (vertical strike zone, "Miller Rule"). Plays include significant plays, if such plays occur. For future games, notes include home plate umpire probables. "If necessary" games are not included. ALCS = Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers. NLCS = St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers.

- Final, STL@MIL, 6: Winters finishes the Championship Series with 95.1%.
- Final, DET@TEX, 6: Hallion called 94.8% during a Texas rout.
- Final, MIL@STL, 5: Miller scores 90.3% in one of the shortest CS games to date.
- Final, MIL@STL, 4: Everitt struck by foul in 5th; finishes with 91.8% (Pre-5: 90.8% (79-87) Post-5: 93.3% (56-60)).
- Final, TEX@DET, 5: Nelson misses just two pitches and calls a remarkable 98.7%, best of the postseason.
- Final, MIL@STL, 3: Holbrook keeps the NL crew average above the AL crew with a 91.9% performance.
- Final, TEX@DET, 4: Culbreth calls 92.6% during his contest's extra innings affair.
- Final, TEX@DET, 3: Wolf earns 90.2% during his Championship Series debut at Comerica Park.
- Final, STL@MIL, 2: Timmons goes 93.3% during a Cardinals dominated offensive spectacle.
- Final, DET@TEX, 2: Vanover finishes at 92.0% as his game goes a postseason-leading 11 innings.
- Final: DET@TEX, 1: Welke starts off the ALCS with <90.0% through stormy Texas weather.
- Final: STL@MIL, 1: Darling finishes with a very impressive 95.8% after issuing warnings in the 1st inning.

Notes and Archives
DET@TEX, Gm1: HP Umpire Tim Welke: pfx (50-53 Called Strikes, 87-102 Balls = <90.0%)
STL@MIL, Gm1: HP Umpire Gary Darling: pfx (51-53 Called Strikes, 107-112 Balls = 95.8%)

DET@TEX, Gm2: HP Umpire Larry Vanover: pfx (49-56 Called Strikes, 113-120 Balls = 92.0%)
STL@MIL, Gm2: HP Umpire Tim Timmons: pfx (49-52 Called Strikes, 104-111 Balls = 93.3%)

TEX@DET, Gm3: HP Umpire Jim Wolf: pfx (41-48 Called Strikes, 79-85 Balls = 90.2%)
MIL@STL, Gm3: HP Umpire Sam Holbrook: pfx (32-40 Called Strikes, 104-108 Balls = 91.9%)

TEX@DET, Gm4: HP Umpire Fieldin Culbreth: pfx (46-50 Called Strikes, 104-112 Balls = 92.6%)
MIL@STL, Gm4: HP Umpire Mike Everitt: pfx (46-54 Called Strikes, 89-93 Balls = 91.8%)

TEX@DET, Gm5: HP Umpire Jeff Nelson: pfx (54-56 Called Strikes, 93-93 Balls = 98.7%)
MIL@STL, Gm5: HP Umpire Bill Miller: pfx (39-50 Called Strikes, 82-84 Balls = 90.3%)

DET@TEX, Gm6: HP Umpire Tom Hallion: pfx (35-37 Called Strikes, 111-117 Balls = 94.8%)
STL@MIL, Gm6: HP Umpire Mike Winters: pfx (47-53 Called Strikes, 108-110 Balls = 95.1%)

Plays
DET@TEX, Gm 1: Welke calls for the tarp a second time during a downpour in Arlington, Texas
STL@MIL, Gm 1: Darling issues warnings to Cards and Brewers after Fielder is hit by a pitch in the 1st
DET@TEX, Gm 2: Umpires conference, overturn wild pitch call to hit by pitch
- ALCS, Gm 2: Jim Leyland is upset because he alleges that umpires are not allowed to ask for help
STL@MIL, Gm 2: Cardinals get a double play with a little help from 1B Umpire Sam Holbrook
TEX@DET, Gm 3: Wolf is mic'd up, jokes with the Tigers clubhouse attendants/ball boys and players
TEX@DET, Gm 4: Culbreth orders stadium security to remove distracting gold colored jacket from seating area
MIL@STL, Gm 4: Everitt makes a terrific safe call at home plate / Foul ball strikes below padding
MIL@STL, Gm 4: Darling calls time, but play continues; Dotel strikes out Weeks anyway
TEX@DET, Gm 5: Umpire Nelson Falls Two Pitches Short of Perfection [Bleacher Report Article]
DET@TEX, Gm 6: Culbreth elects not to call spectator interference on Bartman-like foul ball
DET@TEX, Gm 6: Hallion speaks with George W. Bush, perception of bias strikes Tigers fans
DET@TEX, Gm 6: Welke rules no swing on Cruz, broadcasters waste no time in offering disagreement
STL@MIL, Gm 6: Darling calls Braun out on a close diving play at first base

*Live accuracy rates are not available during reviews, challenges or during suspiciously normalized contests.
'The UEFL reports all sub-90.0% accuracy games as "<90.0%"
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61 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 8, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    1. Think it is of note that UEFL favorites Wolf and Timmons both make their CS debuts this years

    2. Gary Darling must be a great balls and strikes umpire (I do not know yes or no) because he is about the worst game mgmt. crew chief there is. And he is crew chief of the NLCS.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 9, 2011 at 7:24 AM

    Anonymous said...

    2. Gary Darling must be a great balls and strikes umpire (I do not know yes or no) because he is about the worst game mgmt. crew chief there is. And he is crew chief of the NLCS.
    October 8, 2011 5:07 PM

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Apparently Joe Torre and those under his command doing the ratings and making the assignments do not feel the same way. Since Torre et al. "are management", with exceptional skills in the management area" and Gary just umpires and gets rated by them on all the skills involved including game management, maybe a note to the commissioner's office expressing Joe Torre's incompetence are in order. I am sure the commissioner and Joe will vet each letter of concern.

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  3. PeteOctober 10, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    I have to hand it to Darling; he did a great job with issuing warnings in the St Louis/Milwaukee series. With the history between the two teams this year, it was expected. Good job by Darling maintaining order and not letting the situation spiral. Also, a very impressive pfx.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousOctober 10, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    I know off the top of my head that Leyland has been ejected by Hallion (I believe it was unofficial), Culbreth, Nelson, Wolf, Vanover (Spring Training), and I couldn't find Welke, but in all their years, I have to assume he's been tossed by Welke. That is a pretty good record of getting run by good LCS Umps! 5/6 at least!

    Vanover: http://info.detnews.com/pix/photogalleries/sportsgallery/03102007_tigers_sox/index9.htm

    Nelson: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=4870437

    Culbreth: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=9414829

    Wolf: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=17292295

    Hallion: Video taken down--http://cascreamindude.livejournal.com/60757.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousOctober 10, 2011 at 7:46 PM

    Seems like every game I watch Sam Holbrook umpire he misses a call.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousOctober 10, 2011 at 8:59 PM

    I agree with anonymous 7:46. I have no idea what the MLB sees in this guy. He must be a good balls and strikes umpire because he is certainly not the strongest on the bases. I know people are going to rip on me for ripping on Holbrook, but I am just saying what I feel. I have never been a fan of Holbrook's attitude, it seems like he has a chip on his shoulder. Especially during the Pat Corrales ejection this year.

    He also ejects coaches from the dugout a lot. I am not even saying that is a bad thing, he just seems to throw them out more often than others.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousOctober 10, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    Concerning the Leyland argument, I really have no idea what he was arguing. it seemed pretty obviously to be a HBP. If this was a regular season game Leyland gets tossed, If Joe West, Dan Bellino, Bob Davidson or Hunter Wendlsedt was an umpire, Leyland would have been tossed. Hell, Bellino would have tossed him for walking on to the field.

    My point is good job by the crew to let Leyland have his say even though I am sure there were some magic words. They realize the stakes are higher and let the Manager vent. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousOctober 10, 2011 at 9:13 PM

    interesting that in the leyland video, cubby looks like he's doing most of the talking to the crew and then jim...was he the one to confirm the changed call?

    ReplyDelete
  9. JackOctober 10, 2011 at 9:19 PM

    Culbreth probably had the best vantage point to see the HBP so his input was probably most valuable. Wolf likely only had the swing/no swing call.

    And Leyland knew he wasn't going to get tossed, that's why he did what he did. He knew there were no repercussions - it's the ALCS.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousOctober 10, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    Sam Holbrook threw out John Farrell of ALCS Game 2 in 2008 for arguing balls and strikes so it is not a given you won't be tossed, but that was a little amateurish of Holbrook back then and usually it has to be way way way over the top ffor you to get tossed from and LCS game.

    ReplyDelete
  11. jrdOctober 10, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    When Leyland and Umpires go back and forth:

    Talkers- Hallion (he seemed to be explaining how overturning calls work, since Leyland obviously doesnt know), Welke (crew chief who seems to jump in to tell Leyland to slow his roll or risk ejection), Culbreth (probably explaining what he saw), and Vanover (explaning his actions)

    Nelson and Wolf, out of the converstation. not a bad place to be

    ReplyDelete
  12. ScottOctober 10, 2011 at 10:13 PM

    Not sure where the announcers at coming from, but it seemed pretty clear to me that it hit his leg... "it MAY have hit his pants"...???

    ReplyDelete
  13. JasomOctober 10, 2011 at 10:15 PM

    Umps probably gave Leyland more leeway because the umps screwed the pooch to begin with. If the call was right from the start, you have no argument. The reversal is why Leyland came out to do what Leyland does best: complain, argue, manage the umpires instead of his team.

    Of course, the Tigers lost... Leyland should manage his team and not the umpires.

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousOctober 11, 2011 at 8:59 PM

    the "sounds of the game" clip of "wolfy" is great

    wish we had more of this stuff and could hear the interactions with umpires and players/managers

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousOctober 11, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    Link?

    ReplyDelete
  16. ScottOctober 11, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19883621

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousOctober 12, 2011 at 12:54 AM

    @ 9:09...

    Bellino usually has some of the longest leash I've seen, except for his last ejection of the season.

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousOctober 12, 2011 at 3:03 AM

    Wolf's pitch f/x is proof the computer strike zone can be off. According to the computer, he went way off the plate on the same side (outside on lefties and inside on righties), and missed pitches on the plate outside on righties and inside on lefties). He looked very consistant on TV and if anything he was tight to outside pitches on lefties. According to pitch f/x he was 6-8 inches outside! No way! If it can be off that much, it can be off anywhere in-between also. These computers work off of cameras, so a computer may be accurate, but there must be something that can be adjusted (like a camera) that lets the computer know where the plate is left to right and where the plate starts and ends front to back. I understand this is one way to evaluate the pitches, but way to much is given to how exact we think it is.

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousOctober 12, 2011 at 6:03 AM

    I agree with Anonymous 3:03am - From watching the game on TV, looking at batter/pitcher's reactions (or lack thereof) & not hearing the broadcasters point out (correctly or incorrectly, mostly the latter) any missed calls, it appeared that "Wolfy" had a solid game. I think his "presence" on the field and perhaps, how he deals w/ players & coaches, affords him a little more respect or benefit of the doubt from people. I was surprised to see the f/x chart but the idea behind it is a tool to analyze "trends" or certain areas around the plate where you may not be as accurate. Thus, if this information was available after my plate work, I would look review the tape on each inside/outside called strike to try to verify the potential problem area. Was my slot positioning different or did I move my head to track those strikes that were outside the zone? I do agree that the chart may be off but as the players say, they just want consistency and I think Wolfe did a good job of that regardless of what the "computer" says.

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousOctober 12, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    Thank you for doing this. Absolutely amazing stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  21. JeffreyOctober 12, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    Yes indeed, it's great to be able to come here and see a game with a group of people who understand baseball. Amazing numbers, though you really do see how each ump has his individual zone by the various ranges made in the plot of green points in the zone or red out of the zone. It's definately not the rulebook zone, but by and large, even the <90%ers are very consistent.

    Unfortunately, I don't think there's a % way to judge consistency, just rule book accuracy.

    ReplyDelete
  22. tmacOctober 12, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    Let me be the 1st on this site to congratulate Jerry Layne who will be CC for this year's world series :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousOctober 12, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    MLB didn't release it yet, is there another source out there?

    ReplyDelete
  24. tmacOctober 12, 2011 at 10:01 PM

    @ anon 9:40... Yes... Jerry Layne and MLB.. very lucky to know the right people ;)

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousOctober 12, 2011 at 10:06 PM

    Wow, good for Jerry! I guess his horrible crew didn't bring him down this year. I have always really liked Layne. I thought he might work the WS this year, but not as the main CC. I guess we will see hime for Game 1 behind the Plate. I thought Dale Scott was going to be the crew Chief for the World Series but his plate job for game 3 of Rangers-Rays was not very good.

    My other guesses for the WS (order they will work):

    Layne
    Kulpa
    Dreckman
    Barrett
    Hernandez
    Gorman

    ReplyDelete
  26. AnonymousOctober 12, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    Jerry Layne as World Series Umpire Crew Chief, congratulations. MLB owed him after assigning him the crew they did this year. Good end of season reward.

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 1:02 AM

    Are you kidding me....... With Marsh and Rieker and Montague in charge.......are you surprised Layne would be named chief. I bet Gibson and Kulpa are on the crew to.....

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 4:35 AM

    You'd be right, sir. I guess it pays to go to Wendlestet

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 4:37 AM

    Jerry Layne as CC for WS was posted 10/10/11 under the 2011 Championship Umpires heading as post #15.

    If Bob Davidson had Wolf's plate job (which I have no problem with whatsoever) everyone would be screaming. Just because he is highly rated should not count any more than the lower rated umpires who would turn in the same performance. They should not be berated either. Look's like Wolf gave 7 pitches to the pitcher and 6 pitches to the batter which was pretty even.
    It just shows that using the exact same zone, how umpires see the exact same pitches on the corners and the height differently. What just gets the corner to one, just missed to the other even though there is an inch or more difference. It also shows they miss pitches. With pitchf/x at every level of baseball, the results shown here would probably be the same everywhere with experienced umpires at the level they are working. And everywhere, some are better than others.

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 5:11 AM

    @ ANON 4:35...that will all change with the new PBUC school

    ReplyDelete
  31. jrdOctober 13, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    Layne
    Kulpa
    Gibson
    Hernandez
    Gorman
    Cederstrom

    Prediction

    ReplyDelete
  32. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 10:57 AM

    @ANON 5:11 -- Why, they aren't running the big leagues. Instructors with the Wendelstedt School are still in far better positions than any of the other programs'. It's about going to the big leagues, not the minor leagues.

    ReplyDelete
  33. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    Isn't that how most businesses work, all about knowing the right people, they give jobs to their friends who might not be the best, but they know the right people, and that's all that matters.

    ReplyDelete
  34. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    Do we know any of the other crew members for the WS besides CC Layne?

    ReplyDelete
  35. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    As a Cubs fan, assuming the Cardinals get to the WS, I would like to see:

    Jerry Layne (only because we know he's CC)
    Bob Davidson
    Hunter Wendelstedt
    Doug Eddings
    Bill Hohn
    Richie Garcia

    Thank you Bud Selig for making this happen.

    ReplyDelete
  36. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    This is a question that is not really relevant. I did not follow umpires when Rich Garcia was around but was he a good umpire who made a bad call (like Tschida's fantom tag) or was he consistently bad. What was his attitude usually like. Would he let you argue or did he have a short fuse? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  37. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Amazing game for Jeff Nelson.

    ReplyDelete
  38. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    @ 10:57 am....the minor league guys do almost all of the teaching at Wendelstedt's...PBUC school will do very well because the guys coming out of the PBUC school will be ahead of the guys from the other schools. The PBUC evaluators are the instructors at the school so the PBUC students will already know what they are looking for.

    ReplyDelete
  39. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    Jeff Nelson.

    Say what you want about pfx but that performance is just awesome. Thats saving your best for last. a performance like that HAS to go a long way in getting the promotion to crew chief.

    At this point I would be surprised if it isnt Nelson or O'Nora that is the next cc in MLB

    ReplyDelete
  40. AnonymousOctober 14, 2011 at 2:06 AM

    Jeff is the best. I'd like to know what the 2 pitches were, pitch f/x is bullshit.

    ReplyDelete
  41. LindsayOctober 14, 2011 at 2:23 AM

    Both calls were against the winning Tigers, I checked them both, they were legitimately incorrect.

    From "ALCS Game 5: Umpire Falls Two Pitches Short of Perfection in Rangers-Tigers Game":

    Nelson's first missed pitch came in the bottom of the fourth inning, when he incorrectly called a first strike against Detroit's Jhonny Peralta. His second missed pitch came in the bottom of the sixth inning, when he incorrectly called a strike against Tigers catcher Alex Avila.

    That's it. Besides those two pitches, he was perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Big MarcOctober 14, 2011 at 2:36 AM

    Great article Gil. Wow.
    About the 2 missed. Could you do the numbers. I seen the pitch to Avila, I'm thinking it was a strike 1, curve ball outside corner. How close were the 2?
    Great article again.

    ReplyDelete
  43. AnonymousOctober 14, 2011 at 3:09 AM

    I heard....
    Layne
    Cederstom
    Barrett
    Marquez
    Gibson
    Kulpa

    Congrats to all of these guys...well deserved!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. AnonymousOctober 14, 2011 at 7:50 AM

    Marquez & Barrett are trememdous umpires... Heck, Fonzie is like Robinson Cano - makes it look so easy!

    ReplyDelete
  45. LindsayOctober 14, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    Both pitches missed off the right handed batter's box side of home plate, both were about belt high.

    Peralta's px value was -1.122 while Avila's was -1.182. Considering the margin of error takes us to a bounary of -1.0363, we have differences of .0857 and .1457: not all that far away. Enough to be incorrect strikes, but not glaringly obvious misses, either.

    ReplyDelete
  46. jrdOctober 14, 2011 at 6:09 PM

    Layne- Has to deserve this. Long Time in Big Leagues. And truly did a tremendous job this year with his crew. Very supportive crew chief. Not one of those ejections led to an ejection.

    Cederstom- Consistent umpire, seems to get calls right, did nice job in the Phillies-St. Louis Game 5.

    Barrett- Clearly someone MLB likes. Didnt have best game in his series, but is obviously doing well to be so favored by Tim McClleland as well as MLB.

    Marquez; As stated above, Fonzie makes it look easy. He is back on top after weak year last year and injury before it.

    Gibson- Great game in DS. He was 4th on last year's ESPN.COM poll of players choice of umpires.

    Kulpa- Not one of my favorites but has spent his dues and been involved with incidents (Carl Everett, Tori Hunter) that he may have provoked. But he is here.

    ReplyDelete
  47. AnonymousOctober 14, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    Miller was definitely a pitcher's umpire compared to Welke being a hitter's umpire. However, it does not look like he rung anyone up for strike 3 on a strike that was actually a ball.

    ReplyDelete
  48. DanOctober 14, 2011 at 10:48 PM

    Gil: Great article on the Jeff Nelson near perfect game! While reading that, I was curious if there's ever been an umpire that had 100% accuracy in a game?

    ReplyDelete
  49. AnonymousOctober 15, 2011 at 6:19 AM

    Jeff Nelson called two balls, strikes.
    100% and PERFECT in my humble opinion!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Big MarcOctober 16, 2011 at 5:25 AM

    Rich Garcia was a great umpire. Terry Tata was a great umpire. Both were part of the resignation fiasco.

    ReplyDelete
  51. AnonymousOctober 16, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    Hallion spoke with President Bush, not a bad thing in of itself, but Fox in their infinite wisdom decided to make it a "sounds of the game." Being a Detroit fan, it gave the impression of a rigged game. For us in Detroit, nothing is worse than seeing an umpire chat away with the home team's former owner sitting right next to the current owner - during the game. The audio of "my wife's your biggest fan" didn't help a bit.

    Did they put the video online?

    ReplyDelete
  52. AnonymousOctober 16, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    Never mind that last question, it's in the post above as "DET@TEX, Gm 6: Hallion speaks with George W. Bush, perception of bias strikes Tigers fans."

    Description is completely accurate.

    ReplyDelete
  53. AnonymousOctober 16, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    I think Hallion was "stroking" or "working" or "posturing" the president for a positive outcome for future umpire negotiations if the former President comes in as an arbitrator like former president Nixon did in 1985 after his presidency. MLB expanded the LCS 40% from a 5 games series to a 7 games yet MLB was going to leave the umpires pay the same. Nixon ruled the umpires deserved a 40% increase in pay for the series.
    In case they go to a best of 7 in the Division Series as has been mentioned, I think Hallion was posturing for a possible favorable outcome if Mr. Bush were to become the arbitrator as an ex-President just like Nixon did. I do not know if this posturing looks bad in either incidence, about the game in the title of this article or about a possible future umpire negotiations mediator.

    ReplyDelete
  54. AnonymousOctober 16, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    The whole controversy over Hallion speaking with George Bush and Nolan Ryan is totally preposterous. News flash: The umpires know the people involved in the game and actually do speak to them, just normally not when miked. I attend numerous Dodger games and it is common to see the umpires stop to chat with Tommy Lasorda as they walk out onto the field prior to the start of the game. This does not influence how they call a game. It is unfair to assume Hallion had any nefarious intentions when speaking to the former president. All that conversation did in my mind was cause me to seriously question the political views of Hallion and his wife!

    ReplyDelete
  55. AnonymousOctober 16, 2011 at 4:36 PM

    There is no question Cruz attempted to strike the ball.

    --------------------------------

    "All that conversation did in my mind was cause me to seriously question the political views of Hallion and his wife!"

    :eyeroll:

    ReplyDelete
  56. AnonymousOctober 16, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Welke blew a call... what's new...

    But for FOX, showing the Hallion/Bush meeting is only a bad move because now Detroit can say "oh, he's biased." A standard gripe made by fans who can't come to grips with the fact that their team lost by freakin' 10 runs.

    Fans will always blame umpires for being biased. Even if they don't have meetings with former owners or presidents during the game.

    Heck, Hawk the human trash can Harrelson thinks Joe West is biased against the White Sox because Joe is one of the only umps with enough guts to call the balk that Mark Buerhle does on almost every pick off throw.

    ReplyDelete
  57. AnonymousOctober 16, 2011 at 6:30 PM

    In regards to Bush's politics, I think the cartoon meeting between Hank Hill, huge republican, and Jimmy Carter, obviously a democrat, summed it up best: "You ran our country... America."

    Bush has been and will always be a baseball man, and a Rangers man. It's a pleasure to see a former president take such a passionate interest in our national pastime, regardless of their politics.

    ReplyDelete
  58. AnonymousOctober 16, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    I hate to bring up a new subject on this already extensive thread, but...Darling blew that one. Lol

    ReplyDelete
  59. ScottOctober 16, 2011 at 9:13 PM

    Yep, sure did... But that's a real tough one

    ReplyDelete
  60. AnonymousOctober 17, 2011 at 8:11 AM

    If he did not go into trouble, he would not have missed that.

    If he is standing right on the line, he would have seen that Pujols missed the swipe. Where he was, there was no way he could see that the swipe was missed the first time.

    ReplyDelete
  61. ScottOctober 18, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    Gary - and everyone here - I am sorry. After viewing the replay many times I am certain Gary Darling made the correct call, and I withdraw my previous comment...

    ReplyDelete