C.B. Bucknor out for World Series?

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. I suppose better late than never but what does it say about the state of umpiring in the MLB.

28 days ago Doggie Stalker 36 comments 0 recs |

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What it says is....

… we need replay review. Now.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 23, 2009 8:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So is this their way of doing something without really doing anything

in hopes to shut the fans up about replay?

"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Oct 23, 2009 8:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sadly, we haven't reached the tipping point yet

As bad as these calls have been, they really haven’t affected the outcome of a game. The Yanks still won 10-1. The Twins still loaded the bases and didn’t score.

It is going to take a monumentally horrid call that also is the difference — or at least most of the difference — between a win and a loss.

And sadly, it’s going to take a call that goes AGAINST the Yankees.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Oct 23, 2009 8:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sad as that is...

… I think you’re right. Let’s hope for that, then; it might be the only way to get the obvious right thing done.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 23, 2009 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joe West is hardly a solution.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 23, 2009 10:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's exactly what I thought when I saw his name.

OTOH, maybe he IS the solution — he’ll be so bad that they’ll have to institute replay review.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 23, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's plausible

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 23, 2009 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Replay

Such a simple, easy to institute solution. With all the HD cameras and millions of angles, it would take all of about 20 seconds to reverse a clearly brutal call.

Enough is enough. The umps obviously need some help.

Scott Bora$ is satan.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on Oct 23, 2009 10:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They didn't have replay in 1927

So replay must be BAD!

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Oct 23, 2009 10:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is clarified later in the article, but I found this sentance hilarious

Stung by a rash of blown calls in the playoffs, Major League Baseball is breaking tradition and sticking with only experienced umpires for the World Series.

Really?! use experienced umpires in the World Series – revolutionary

"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella

by El Borto on Oct 23, 2009 12:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And that's irrelevant, because...

… two of the worst blown calls were made by Tim McClelland, who has over 30 years’ experience.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 23, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And who is generally regarded as one of the better ones

Humans will make mistakes. Where I diverge — sharply — from the usual purist nonsense is that when it comes to umpires, those mistakes do not have to be lived with.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Oct 23, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

I’m as traditionalist/purist a fan as you’ll find. And I am 100% in favor of replay review.

Just get the calls right.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 23, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's ridiculous that the highest-rated umpires don't work the entire playoffs.

In other sports, the assignment to a championship event is one that is coveted, but must be earned through constant reviews of one’s work.

To hand out World Series (or even a simple Divisional Series) honors to any umpires who aren’t considered the top 6 (or top 24 in the case of the Divisional Series, 12 in the Championship Series) umpires in their profession is simply ludicrous. I could care less if the umpire has 30 years under his belt or is in his first season as a Major League umpire, if he is rated among the top 6 in the sport, then put him on the World Series crew.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Oct 23, 2009 2:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, but...

… given that Tim McClelland made two of the worst mistakes in this year’s postseason, and he almost certainly would have been ranked that high, that wouldn’t entirely solve the problem.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 23, 2009 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can continue evaluating officials through the Playoffs

Start with the top 24, then whittle it down to the best 12 and so on. McClelland’s gaffe probably would have prevented him from gaining a World Series spot in this scenario, too.

The fact that umpires with zero credibility (i.e., C.B. Bucknor) were receiving World Series assignments in the first place is quite disturbing. At least make the umpires have a standard to reach in order to receive an honored position in the World Series, not just the equivalent of a participatory trophy because they’ve umpired for a certain amount of time.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Oct 23, 2009 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I'm not disagreeing with you.

But we also need replay review.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 23, 2009 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

The approach I favor is one I saw in Australia, in their National Rugby League (it’s different from Rugby Union). Anyways, they have video replay (an official in the booth to communicate with the ref on the field) and have the highest-rated official always referee their biggest game. Being known as the best official in a particular series is a point of pride that I’m sure Major League umpires would want bestowed upon them.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Oct 23, 2009 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

but then,

someone will be listed as ‘the worst’ as well. that could hurt an umpire’s fragile ego. especially an ego like cb bucknor. or angel hernandez.

by tim815 on Oct 24, 2009 7:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

god forbid someone's ego gets hurt.

I’m reading As They See ’Em right now – I wonder if that will change the way I feel about this. I doubt it.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Oct 24, 2009 11:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thought I read

that some of the higher-ranked umps were injured or ill.

I have no real problem with the idea of rewarding young umps and also getting them experience. That’s actually more progressive than Bud usually thinks.

Replay. It’s your friend.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Oct 23, 2009 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Replay and a ratings system for umpires?

craziness.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Oct 23, 2009 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

omg IT'S HAPPENING!?!?!?!?!?

COOL BEANS!

by lexmarklover on Oct 23, 2009 3:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Some of these calls in the postseason weren't mistakes

They were done intentionally! Call me a conspiracy theorist or call me what you want but I believe it without a shadow of a doubt!

I would sleep with Blou if it meant the Cubs would win a WS. by Doggie Stalker on Aug 22, 2009 4:11 PM EDT

by cubsluver22 on Oct 23, 2009 8:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ok, you're a conspiracy theorist

Even if that, forgive me, baseless accusation were true, it doesn’t make sense. What is the motive? Bribery? You should have proof before making a claim like that. TV ratings? Then why not have the Yankees-Twins series go at least 4, if not 5 games? Some other reason? I’m listening . . . .

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 24, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That umpire

Saw that ball that Mauer hit down the line for one. The still frame showed his head fixed on that play. NO way he missed that, No Way!!

Do you have proof their not making bad calls on purpose?

I would sleep with Blou if it meant the Cubs would win a WS. by Doggie Stalker on Aug 22, 2009 4:11 PM EDT

by cubsluver22 on Oct 24, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you have proof that they ARE?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 24, 2009 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you have any proof they're not??

I would sleep with Blou if it meant the Cubs would win a WS. by Doggie Stalker on Aug 22, 2009 4:11 PM EDT

by cubsluver22 on Oct 24, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

… you’re the one making the claim of “intentional”. Thus, you should provide some evidence to prove your claim.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 24, 2009 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This still frame tells me everything

Link No way he didn’t see this ball land in foul territory. The balls/strike calls can be argued back and forth for ever. I understand there is a certain level of human error but NO way will I ever believe he didn’t see this call. There’s something fishy about this postseason!

I would sleep with Blou if it meant the Cubs would win a WS. by Doggie Stalker on Aug 22, 2009 4:11 PM EDT

by cubsluver22 on Oct 24, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The still frame proves nothing.

He blew the call. I see no proof of intentionally saying or thinking, “I’m going to screw over the Twins here.”

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Oct 24, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again, what's the motive?

You never answered that question.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 24, 2009 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's absurd.

I also have no proof that you’re not a counterfeiter. However, it doesn’t work that way.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 24, 2009 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Throwing the game?

For who? Gamblers? Steinbrenner?

OK, let’s play along.

What fish-brained mobster or gambler would pay off a LEFT FIELD umpire? Those guys can go entire games with two calls.

Also, the Twins LOADED the bases with no out and didn’t score. As bad as that call was, it wasn’t the difference between safe and out at the plate with two outs, either.

At the end of the day, only one umpire truly has the power to PLAN to throw a game, and even his power is limited to balls-and-strikes.

This is just incompetence, not evil.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Oct 25, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But . . . but . . . but . . .

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 26, 2009 7:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Quality...

I’ve been watching baseball since the 60’s, and it appears to me that the quality of performance by the umpires has greatly diminished in recent years. Years ago, the umpires were respected by players and fans alike. There were nowhere near the confrontation with players and managers that you have in todays game. In most cases, the umpire is provoking the argument. They used to try to diffuse the situation.

In 1988, I moved north from the Chicago area to take a new job in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. On a cold winter day after work, I stopped at one of the local bars for a beer or two. I pulled up behind a cadillac that had a license plate that read, UROUT. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but after I got settled in, I noticed that Dutch Rennert was sitting at the bar. I spent the next few hours drinking and talking baseball with Dutch. He used to spend the winter months in Oshkosh where much of his family is, but has since retired to Florida. One of his sons worked at the same place I do for a while.

by montecarlo on Oct 24, 2009 2:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs