Friday night, Yankees-Royals. 2-1 Kansas City, bottom 8. Two on, two out, two strikes on Giambi. Now, keep in mind that I'm rooting for the Royals here. But Giambi takes maybe 1/8 of a swing. Not even close to going around, no matter how you define it. I don't even know if Buck was going to ask for an appeal.Home plate umpire calls it a swing, inning over. Way to be, Ed Montague.
This just happened again (Joba! is pitching, how could I not watch), with the feared Mike Aviles at the plate. Today's version wasn't nearly as egregious-- it was hard to tell on the replay, although I don't think he went-- but that's not the point.
Is it a power thing? If you're the HP umpire, you have to be pretty much positive before making that call. You are taking away the opportunity for someone with a much better angle to make it. It is essentially like an NBA ref 50 feet away from the play overruling the ref who was 10 feet away, and getting it wrong.
I guess this is probably unrealistic, but wouldn't it be cool if the batter could appeal? Just like the catcher does, the batter can ask to get a ruling from the 1B/3B ump after a bad call on one of these. This would make sense because, well, they have a better angle.
Photo: MLB.com.
6 comments:
I was at the game today, and yeah, that swing was questionable from where we were sitting (and we had a good view).
Also - I think you mean Olivo and not Moeller as he's on the Yankees, but that's just a minor nitpick.
I'm an idiot. Although I doubt Moeller would've appealed either, since it wouldn't accomplish much from the dugout.
You would have a good view.
I don't think Olivo would have either, since he was also in the dugout. John Buck was catching Friday.
I actually just watched the archive and George Brett was catching that game. Jacob, get fixin'!
Another terrible call by Montague who is the 1B ump in today's Royals-Yanks game. Blew a call at first.
Instant replay, please.
They'd have to make multiple changes to the appeal rule, really. The home plate umpire doesn't actually have to grant an appeal by the catcher (or whomever asks for it).
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