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    This article is not about how bad the homeplate umpire was today, because as a matter of fact he did a good job, unlike the 1st base ump who called Ryan Theriot safe, but hey, who’s complaining? ( except for Mets and Brewers fans!)  This post is about the homeplate ump and his desire to call a late strike three for both teams. It was very frustrating when he did it. I first noticed it when the count was 2-2 to Moises Alou and Ted Lilly threw a beautiful curve ball right over the plate. At first I was yelling at the ump because I thought he had called ball three, but after what seemed like a few minutes later he did his hand motions to call it a strike.  I was a little confused at first, but then he kept on doing it throughout the game and then it just got flat out annoying. A 3-2 pitch  to Aramis Ramirez and he thinks he has a walk and starts heading to first base and then the ump calls strike 3.

Now why would he do this?  What is going on through his head for the one or two seconds that he is just sitting there. Is he trying to remember if it was a strike or not? Was he not paying attention?  Calling a strike is pretty much all instincts; Once the ball hits the glove you know the answer.  He is only causing trouble when he makes such a late call. Put yourselves in the hitters shoes. It is a 3-2 count and the ball hits the glove. The umpire does not say anything, so you go to take your base. On your way to the base you hear the umpire say strike 3 or even catch his arm pumping at the corner of your eye. I dunno about you, but that would really piss me off.  You go from getting a free base or staying alive in the count to being called out on strikes.  Hopefully, Bud Selig takes a break from his “Herculean Effort” and addresses this umpire about this.

Filed under: Random Rant