Hold the fucking phone...(Yanks v. Angels, game 4)

[WilliamPitt]

The UMP told the Angels' MANAGER where his CATCHER should be?

In case you missed it: The home-plate umpire requesterd a change in the playing position of a key player, the position of whom also affects the pitcher's aim. To wit: he told the Angel's manager to tell the catcher to squat down lower...so the ump could see better.

An umpire changed a player's positioning, i.e changed the game, to accomodate himself.

Um...no.

Wrong.

Am I crazy, or is that ALL fucked up?

The ump moved a player to make himself more comfortable.

ALL fucked up, yes?

[charlie and algernon]

1. that is totally fucked up

I guess the powers that be have decided the yankees have been out of the world series for too long

[charlie and algernon]

2. umps just missed another call

Swisher was tagged out and the umps didn't call it.

heh, nevermind, they just corrected themselves by screwing with swisher now for a double play.

[WilliamPitt]

3. Make-up call anyone?

He didn't leave early.

Jesus. Instant replay on the way.

[charlie and algernon]

5. this postseason has given the instant replay proponents PLENTY of ammunition

McClellan TOTALLY blew that call, lol. Or they were making up for missing the fact that Swisher should've been tagged out at 2nd.

[WilliamPitt]

6. More now

That play at 3rd in the ^5th?

Woooow.

[charlie and algernon]

7. missed it

I turned it off after ARoid's HR. What happened this time?

[Number9Dream]

17. Amen - Umpiring keeps getting worse & worse

Next season should have an instant reply challenge system like the NFL.

[madinmaryland]

4. The Bankees are back, Will. Thanks to Selig.

[DaveinMD]

10. lots of sour grapes

tisk tisk.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Can't they both lose?

Ah, shucks!!

[Auggie]

9. From the MLB rule book, Rule 9.05 (General Instructions to umpires)

"Most important rule for umpires is always “BE IN POSITION TO SEE EVERY PLAY.”"

You answered it: "so the ump could see better."

LINK: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2008/official_rules/09_the_umpire.pdf

------------------
Interesting reading. Umpires are GODS in the eyes of MLB -- they have divine rule.

[trumad]

11. Umm squatting lower doesn't make the glove go permanently lower...

All the catcher has to do is lift the glove a bit and it's in the original position.

Nice try there Red Socker...

[H2O Man]

12. 10-1

[trumad]

13. LOL

Yeah---- that 1/2 inch lower squat helped the Yanks to a 9 run win.

Meanwhile---did you notice that the Ump asked the Yankee pitcher(Sabathia)to make sure he smiled after each pitch. It seems to have worked.

[WilliamPitt]

14. The pitcher was bouncing balls in

and the catcher couldn't get to them as quickly because he was down lower.

And it's the principle of the thing anyhoo.

[trumad]

16. Coem on--- I use to Pitch for high school and college...

You hit the glove---period. If you can't hit the glove, then you're not throwing accurately.

Some think short batters have an advantage at the plate but that's not true. The catcher places the mitt...the pitcher hits it...

How's the honeymoon going?

[WilliamPitt]

18. It was great

and now finished. Back to work. :)

[trumad]

19. Holy crap---that was quick...

officially it lasts a year. Mine ended 18 years ago. ;-)

BTW: About to take a new job where my regional office is in Boston.

So---- the day is looming where you and I are gonna slap down some pints at your favorite watering hole in Beantown-- and where I'll proceed to kick your Patriot loving ass in darts.

[bigwillq]

20. Nice pic!

:)

[WilliamPitt]

21. Say the word

but don't bring that guy. ;)

[trumad]

22. He'll be there at 1pm on Nov. 8th.

At 4pm you'll be changing avatars.

[WilliamPitt]

23. Are you really going to be in town on the 8th?

If so,

[trumad]

24. I mean't Taylor....

Wish I could be there...

[WilliamPitt]

25. Argh.

Well, here's to ya.

Losing.

:toast:

;)

[PVnRT]

26. It changes how you hold the glove

By squatting "higher," there are more low pitches you either have to basically trap or flip your hand over and hope you don't get caught in-between. Besides, it's the ump's job to get in position to see what's going on, not move players around to make it easier on him.

[bigwillq]

15. The umps in Game 4 were terrible.

Just awful.