MLB needs a new rule

[tenureplan]

The home plate ump should be banned from calling whether a hitter goes around. He has no way of really telling. I've seen several instances already this year where it was called and it was wrong.

Not a Boston fan, but Drew got hosed by that in the bottom of the 9th.

Paps may only get 10 or so close attempts this year...

 

[drt7891]

No umpire is really in a position to make the call. I don't know how it needs to be fixed, but asking a home plate umpire or any of the others for that matter are in a position to make the call and it can really make a difference.

 

[57stratdawg]

The home plate Ump can see rather he goes around better than the other umps. He's only 2 feet away, it's not that hard to see if a guy stopped his bat over the plate or if he went around.

 

[drt7891]

maybe not as often at the pro level, but at the college level, it is. The home plate umpire is not looking how far the bat goes forward, he is watching the ball as it crosses the plate. Unless it is an obvious call, he is not going to be paying attention to the bat as much as the ball. That is why he checks with another umpire for appeals.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

As in a moneymaker?

 

[tenureplan]

The home plate ump should call balls and strikes only and the opposite base ump has the call on whether the batter went around. The opposite base ump has the best view, so that should be his call each and every time.

 

[tenureplan]

The home plate ump for the Boston-Tampa game might had made some cash on a side deal tonight.</p>

 

[drt7891]

I am studying for accounting and I meant to say something else.

 

[saltslugs]

nm

 

[drt7891]

because no umpire is really in a position to make it" but I honestly forgot. I was trying to do too much **** at one time and said something that didn't make any sense. Bash away.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

[No message]

 

[patdog]

I don't see what the big deal is. It's a tough call for any umpire.

 

[tenureplan]

But the opposite base ump has the best view. That's why the home plate ump should ALWAYS defer to him.

edit to add:

Because it is such a hard call, the home plate ump(who doesn't even have the best angle) should never call it without an appeal.

 

[drt7891]

There is no other vantage point that is beneficial unless an umpire camps out in a dugout or something. It does need to be addressed, though... in some way. These kind of calls can impact the games themselves. Measures should be taken to make sure they are called right.

 

[Todd4State]

Ok, yeah, I know they're doing it as a hobby, or for extra money or whatever, but already this year, I've seen so many umpires out of position, act unprofessional, have a horribly inconsistent strike zone, and make all other assorted ridiculous decisions. And I'm talking about for and agianst MSU and their opponents.

And I just don't understand that. Even if it's a hobby- have some pride and do your job right. Maybe they're being taught wrong because it's so widespread- I don't know.

To me- making this partucular call an automatic deferral is a little redundant since they probably do that about 80% of the time anyway, and I don't think it will solve anything because the jackass on first and third are just as crappy as the guy behind the plate. And I would hate to have replay on every little check swing that happens in a game.

All I expect out of an umpire is consistency and for them to do their job- that's not asking too much.

 

[drt7891]

particularly in the strike zone, but also at other positions. It is ridiculous to have umpires at first out of position to make calls for tag-outs, or him just calling whatever he feels the baseball gods tell him to call when a batter legitimately beats a throw to first. It is absolutely sickening. <div>
</div><div>Don't mistake me saying what i did about video replay to mean "we need video replay now in baseball" or we would be spending the entire game checking the monitor because a coach calls bulls*** on a call. However, if a check swing crosses the front plane of home plate, it is a strike, and if it doesn't (depending if the pitch falls in the strike zone), it is a ball, and no umpire on the field is in any position to make that call consistently. I'm definitely not talking down to you at all, but I am saying is missing that call can change the outcome of a game. There was a specific instance this weekend when Florida had the bases loaded and the score was 3-0. We had 2 outs and the count was 3-2 (in the second inning). Well whoever the piddle17er ump sleeping at first was, called a check swing (which I CLEARLY saw cross the front plane of home plate) a ball. The ensuing walk brought in a run. We then changed pitchers (because there were 2 outs, instead of heading to the dugout only being down 3-0, it is now 4-0 with the bases loaded) and Girodo came in. First pitch, grand slam.</div><div>
</div><div>I'm not saying we would have, or even could have won that game, but to tell me that one call didn't affect the outcome of the game, I'd call you crazy. One bad call changed a 3-0 lead to an 8-0 lead one pitch later. That is what college umpires don't realize. They think, "well it is only one call. What does one call matter?" In this case, it mattered 5 runs.</div><div>
</div><div>*EDIT* since I danced around my point, I think a camera set up with a good angle at home plate can be used to help make sure that call is made right (that or bring in a few more umpires). Hell, in the majors (during playoffs) they have an umpire that does nothing that stands in the outfield. They could bring an extra umpire along and put him in a position to watch check swings (since those calls actually matter). The system we have right now is terrible, though.</div>

 

[Conman90]

...then this is a completely subjective call anyway. No where in the rule book does it address the "check swing". Some umps say your wrists have to break, others that the wrists and part of the bat have to cross the plate, others just the bat regardless of what the wrists do. So, no matter who makes the damn call, until you clearly define what they are calling then you have a problem.

Having said all that, I like it just the way it is. It is one of the little idiosyncrasies of baseball. Just like the strike zone. All I ever ask for is an ump to be consistent between the two teams, no matter how he calls the judgement stuff.