umpiring

Has this been the worst umpiring the post-season has ever seen? This has been an embarrassment to the game of baseball. It is that simple.

Tonight, the second base umpire missed a call. The difference is between bases juiced, noone out, and first and third with one out. The Cardinals managed a run, but it could have been a huge inning.

The Angels were robbed of a chance to win the second game of the ALCS. The umpires missed several calls against the Yankees that allowed the Angels to get there. The Angels lost to the better team once Colon was on the shelf, but a 2-0 lead coming home would have been mighty different.

The umpiring in game four of the Cardinals-Astros was horrible, especially the strike zone. And if you can't call strikes, don't compound it by throwing out the manager and key players.

Egads. I don't know that replay is the answer. It is boring to wait on the replays, and with the seventeen pitcher changes that can accompany the late innings, the last thing we need to do is slow up the games further.

That being said, something needs to be done. Too many games have had their outcomes partially determined by mistakes by the umpires, and it is saddening to me because this is the game I enjoy watching above all others, but not under these circumstances.