the crew was easily the worst I’ve ever seen. Not only was the strike zone enormous, but there was an AB for Ortiz early in the game where he CLEARLY checked his swing (Hawk & DJ even agreed!) but it was ruled a swinging strike. I’m sure you’ll see it on SportsCenter.

The umpires establishing their own personal strike zone has got to be addressed by MLB and the umpires association, even if that means not giving veteran pitchers that extra 2 inches on the outside. The umps can waiver up and down in the zone all they want (well, within reason), since those pitches can usually still be at least fouled off, but taking away called balls on the outside or inside of the plate is a different story.

I just got back from swimming in Lake Michigan and I was riding my bike listening to the radio and the guys on 1000am said that the umpire crews on both sides of town this weekend are th worst in baseball.

Spot on Kinky.

PS—-you gonna do another shirt run? I kid I kid.

been wanting to comment on this for awhile. I watch many many games. These umps are getting worse and worse. Not so sure they dont want some sorta pay increase and this is their way of taking out their frustrations.

Something has to be done about the product as a whole. Now I will agree players do their fair share of mouthing and that too needs to stop. I’m seeing countless amounts of F-bombs dropped by players in the batter box. Maybe this is a reason for umpires doing what their doing but I dont know.

Baseball is supposed to be entertaining and fun. Its evolving into a on-screen circus more and more. Prima donna players who have to adjust their batting gloves,scratch themselves,drop explecitives towards the umps etc. Umps who are making themselves more and more apart of the actual game instead of being in the background making sure the game is kept on an even keel.

the cards-astros game? the “caught” ball which clearly bounced?

could be worse, i suppose.

The umpiring was horrid all weekend, from ball/strike calls to the missed calls at 1B. Key was the missed call on the alleged “tag” of Lilly — he was safe. If that call is made right, the bases are loaded with one out and Soriano up. It might have changed the whole complexion of the game.

They were equal opportunity bad for both the Phillies and the Cubs. The Welke brothers were absolutely brutal.

This crew was certainly bad, that’s for sure. FWIW, here is a poll of players from 2006 on the worst umpires in baseball.

CB Bucknor…..21%
Bruce Froemming…..15%
Angel Hernandez…..12%
Joe West…..6%
Doug Eddings…..5%
Joe Brinkman…..4%
Chuck Meriwether…..3%
Larry Young…..3%
Greg Gibson,…..2%
Gary Darling…..2%

the umping was bad all over baseball. I saw horrible calls in the Angels/Rangers series, the Dodgers/Dbacks, and most egregiously, the Cubs/Phillies. It’s like they decided that since they didn’t like the replay rule being instituted, they wanted to cause trouble.

He’d do to the umps what he did to the air traffic controllers and kick all the garbage to the curb.

I hate the pitcher’s strike in a 3-0 count.

I hate the hitters ball in a 0-2 count.

I hate the “hitter move my arms cause I want it to look inside but it is a strike” ball.

I hate the Bobby Cox Effect. Bitch and Moan and get your pitchers two more inches on the corners.

I hate the Catcher did not move his glove but was two feet out of the zone strike call.

If it is a ball call it, if it is strike call it. If they really want to speed the game up, call the pitches correctly. I will call this Lean Umpiring. Prolonged ABs because of situtional ball and strike calls only add to the length of the game.

I also hate the HBP stuff. If you are standing on top of the plate, ala Utley and Victorino, and your appandage is in the Strike zone….that is your fault not the pitchers.

Bob Boone used to piss me off doing that all the time and getting a lot of balls called as strikes.