OT: Worst called third strike ever?
That ump deserves the Three Blind Mice from the organ player.
I would have to say that was the worst stike call in any game I have watched. I'm not even kidding here, I have watched a ton of baseball, and that is the worst I've seen. Baseball has had it's fair share of bad calls over the past couple of years (as I'm sure all you tiger fans can attest after one of your own losing a perfect game because of one), but that was jsut horrible. I mean, that isn't even a split second decision like an out/safe call on a base running play. The ump looked like he just had it in his mind that he wanted to go home and was going to call a strike no matter where the pitch was...
"The ump looked like he just had it in his mind that he wanted to go home and was going to call a strike no matter where the pitch was..."
My thoughts exactly. The ump even seemed to have this "excuse me, but I have to go" kind of posture / look on his face. He seemed to want to do anything but sit there and argue.
The catcher looked surprised. You could see Joe Nathan say "WOW".
I also love how each play-by-play guy is "Ball 4. He walked him. NO! CALLED HIM OUT ON STRIKES!!!
Feel bad for those Rays fans out there.
That's because everyone that lives down here is from somewhere else. Every game I've been to has had an absurd amount of opposing fans in attendance. Location of the stadium really kills good attendance as well. I'd love to actually see them play in Tampa. I'd probably go to more games. I've only been to three games in the six years I've been down here. Hell, I've been to more Tiger's games in Detroit than Ray's games while I've lived in Florida.
a few years ago with a self-proclaimed "die-hard Rays fan" and we were gabbing about Rays this, Tigers that, and so forth.
Near the end of the baseball conversation I asked, "So you thinking about catching a few games this year?"
He laughed and said, "Anyway, I think I see a school of mackeral up there."
he blew the call.
Refs are the worst.
mouthing "WOW" is the best part of this entire clip
AHHA Not to mention his initial reaction of him pitching it outside. The hand goes to the back of his head in disbelief...and then what wait?...oh its a strike. Cut to: 'Wow'.
Umps/refs are human. They make mistakes. News at 11.
The worst part of the whole incident is that I doubt there will be any form of discipline for this umpire. I understand they have a hard job and most do a great job of getting the close plays right more times then not, but this call was inexcusable.
He made up his mind before the pitch was thrown and seemed to want to punish Zobrist for starting to go to first. There needs to be some way to hold guys responsible for blatantly missed calls that impact games like this.
Ok, sorry about that rant, maybe I'm still a tad bitter over the block call last night and Jim Joyce's call from a few years ago.
One missed ball over the course of 300+ pitches in last night's game should not result in discipline. If it's part of a pattern, that's a different story.
Why do people always think there are no reprecussions of poor officiating.
There are. Officials don't get "fired," they simply do not get games anymore. Or less games. Or games of less importance. This all happens all the time, it's just not announced to the world.
I'm not even sure if that pitch even touched the strikezone at some point on its way to the dirt, that's a terrible call.
I'm so sick of watching piss poor officiating. There has to be a better way.
Always robots.
My idea was to increase the number of officials on the basketball court to 15 and electronically connect their whistles such that a sound is only made when a 2/3rds majority blows.
Yeah, but last night all of the refs blew!
Hey-oooo!
Exactly. If only a 2/3rds majority blows, you know they're at peak performance.
"Dr. Nefario, I said Cookie Robots, not Boogie Robots."-Despicable Me
Madden said of the call: “Without getting to unload my brain, which I’d really like to do right now. That cannot happen in a Major League baseball game. That call cannot occur.” - from TheBigLead.com
I would have to agree with that - it definitely shouldn't occur, it was that bad - although part of wondered how Billy Martin or Earl Weaver would have handled that sort of situation. I have to believe their unloading of their brain would have been rather entertaining here.
The fact that the Rangers were in shock at the call says quite a bit about how terrible it was.
Eric Gregg would like to have a word with you...
Can't imbed, but if someone can find the Florida / Atlanta NLCS ending third strike from Livan Hernandez it would be appreciated.
I don't get it. Are you saying the umpires would try harder to be correct if they had to speak about it afterwards? Isn't that assuming they are not trying 100% already?
should work the Final Four next year !!!
Go Blue!
Wow, that terrible. Umps or refs being influenced by a crowd, momentum, or the timing of a particular play is getting ridiculous.
This reminded me of a Tigers game in Atlanta a few years ago when Johnny Damon was with Detroit. Tigers are making a comeback in the ninth, only down by one run with the bases loaded and Damon has a full count. This was called strike three to end the game:
Bring in the "lasers".
Boy, how can these guys lay off pitches that close?
It was almost impossible to watch Maddux and Glavine pitch if you were a fan of the opposing team. The low and away strike the umps used to give them were ridiculous.
Another reason why baseball blows, right next to the fact that it takes 10 baseball games equate to one NFL game in terms of season relevance. The ridiculous macho nature of baseball umpires, where if they make a blatant knee-jerk error they are somehow forbidden from changing their call, is absurd. When was the last time you ever saw an ump change his call that didn’t involve a foul line or foul post? Never. Baseball is almost unwatchable, even with the Tigers being as good as they are now. Hey MBL – “technology” – it makes the world a better place, and it’s been around for a while.
If that is a strike, I could pitch in the Major Leagues. Wow that is bad.
There are PITCHf/x cameras in every stadium. Time to do away with umpires calling balls and strikes.
It would be horrible if the Rays lost out on the division or a wild card spot by one game.
Right. Because one game in April is going to make or break their season. There's no guarantee the next guy would have gotten a hit.
guarantee that he wouldn't.
You'll have to forgive that ump, he was in a hurry, he was late for this basketball game in Atlanta that he was scheduled to referee.