Fair / Foul miss.....

[Thunderheads]

Before I even paste this link, please read first so no one gets all worked up. I know at full speed everthing is different, but ....I want to try to understand how is this call missed? You know how we talk about missed tags,etc, ...umpire gets 'straightlined' or what-have-you ....but on this call, what are the factors that play into the miss? I remember when Cuzzi missed that call a couple years ago down the line in the Yankees/Twins game and we talked about him maybe being too close and it 'exploded' on him .......is this the case here maybe?

Discuss.......

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19818989

[mstaylor]

Don't know, he may have just smoked that one. Seemed the right distance and was set. :question1:

[yawetag]

My only thought is that the light/shadow might have played tricks.

[Thunderheads]

My only thought is that the light/shadow might have played tricks.

ok ....that's interesting!:hi5:

[Umpy]

I think he just wanted to emulate his heroes from the Little League World Series.

[Replacematt]

My only thought is that the light/shadow might have played tricks.

That's the rumor I'm hearing.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Who are we to criticize the fine work of a professional major league umpire? If he signaled foul, then it must have been foul.

I can't believe some of you guys.

[UmpJM]

Who are we to criticize the fine work of a professional major league umpire? If he signaled foul, then it must have been foul.

I can't believe some of you guys.

Kevin,

I don't understand what you are saying.

Everyone who has posted on this thread is bending over backwards to NOT criticize the umpire.

However, it is indisputable from the video that he missed the call.

Are you suggesting that we ignore that fact because it was a major league umpire who made an incorrect call and pretend that he got it right?

What's your point?

JM

[Rich Ives]

Who are we to criticize the fine work of a professional major league umpire? If he signaled foul, then it must have been foul.

I can't believe some of you guys.

Kevin,

I don't understand what you are saying.

Everyone who has posted on this thread is bending over backwards to NOT criticize the umpire.

However, it is indisputable from the video that he missed the call.

Are you suggesting that we ignore that fact because it was a major league umpire who made an incorrect call and pretend that he got it right?

What's your point?

JM

If this had been the LLWS then everyone would be all over the umpire. Criticism would be flowing like water over Niagara Falls. There would be no bending, only flogging.

[UmpJM]

Rich,

I gotta' disagree.

For example, I wouldn't.

Nor, I suspect would Warren, Michael Taylor, Rich Fronheiser, kylejt, semper-fi, yawetag, and a number of other people.

Now Thunderheads would likely have posted a video link of the botched call before they'd even finished the video review appeal at the game site, and, I suspect, quite a few others would have been arguing vehemently that the missed call "proved" that Little League umpires all suck (which they don't).

Perhaps Little League, Inc. should rethink their unholy alliance with ESPN.

Just a thought.

JM

[Thunderheads]

Rich,

I gotta' disagree.

For example, I wouldn't.

Nor, I suspect would Warren, Michael Taylor, Rich Fronheiser, kylejt, semper-fi, yawetag, and a number of other people.

Now Thunderheads would likely have posted a video link of the botched call before they'd even finished the video review appeal at the game site, and, I suspect, quite a few others would have been arguing vehemently that the missed call "proved" that Little League umpires all suck (which they don't).

Perhaps Little League, Inc. should rethink their unholy alliance with ESPN.

Just a thought.

JM

JM,

With ALL DUE respsect, and trust me sir, you have a TON of it from me, but I have NEVER posted a Little League WS video. And, please, don't get me going on the statistics of my video posts Your comment comes across that my job here is to slam MLB mistakes....couldn't be further....

People have become to depend on ME to provide everyone with discussion points ....that can't be all bad! Right?

p.s. Kevin Finnerty was joking around .......

Rich,

People tend NOT to slam MLB guys because they are who they are and are the best of the best. Especially on umpire boards, you'll find that no matter the situation, forum members will defend ANY call no matter how poor because it happened on an MLB field.

We need to understand that regardless of our fraternity, we all make mistakes, we're not perfect, and we need to use those situtations to make us all better in the end.

My personal opinion? LL umpires get raked over the coals because of the words "Little League", and the fact that most are voluntary. And because they're amateurs, it's easy for people to criticize them. Much easier (in their own minds) than an MLB umpire.:2cents:

[UmpJM]

Jeff,

I didn't say you would be one of the ones bashing the LL umps, just that you'd have the video link up! (I MAY have been pokin' a little fun at your tendency to be the "video librarian" of the board. )

Upon further review, I believe your assessment of Kevin F.'s post was correct. I fear I may have transferred "tone" from a different thread (which shall remain nameless) onto his post here.

My bad.

JM

[Thunderheads]

Jeff,

I didn't say you would be one of the ones bashing the LL umps, just that you'd have the video link up! (I MAY have been pokin' a little fun at your tendency to be the "video librarian" of the board. )

Upon further review, I believe your assessment of Kevin F.'s post was correct. I fear I may have transferred "tone" from a different thread (which shall remain nameless) onto his post here.

My bad.

JM

JM...

NO NEED to apologize sir, ...ever! I am the video freak, I'll admit that, and I don't mind the 'fun poking' at all in that regard! Also, you are very right, ....you did NOT say I'd be slamming the LL umps, but posting the video is another issue I did misread that and/or misinterpret that,...that's my bad!

Kevin is / can be VERY tongue in cheek, and sometimes, forgets to utilize the SMILEY page to show his true intent. But, you can't blame the guy for having a dry sense of humor!

Understood .... "that" thread took off into areas NOT expected or intended!

[Rich Ives]

Rich,

I gotta' disagree.

For example, I wouldn't.

Nor, I suspect would Warren, Michael Taylor, Rich Fronheiser, kylejt, semper-fi, yawetag, and a number of other people.

Now Thunderheads would likely have posted a video link of the botched call before they'd even finished the video review appeal at the game site, and, I suspect, quite a few others would have been arguing vehemently that the missed call "proved" that Little League umpires all suck (which they don't).

Perhaps Little League, Inc. should rethink their unholy alliance with ESPN.

Just a thought.

JM

I've been participating in several boards for MANY MANY years. Bashing LLWS umpires is a late summer ritual. This year wasn't as bad a some, but bashing the LLWS umpires is without a doubt a summer ritual for a lot of board posters.

[BigUmp56]

Don't know, he may have just smoked that one. Seemed the right distance and was set.

I'll go with Mike's answer for +500, Bob. I think he had a brain cramp and called it foul too quickly without processing what he actually saw. It happens to all of us, LL to MLB.

Tim.

[Umpire in Chief]

I've watched this clip a number of times trying to find a reason. Positioning looks good, timing looks good, it just looks like one of those times when you kick the heck out of one. I've done it, all of you have done it, it happens. Sometimes there are no explanations.

[Mr Umpire]

I wonder if he temporarily forgot which side of the field he was on. Being that this is not a normal crew having 6 of them. I don't know but I did it in my first 3 man.

I was U3. First ground ball down the line and just over the base. I turned with the ball and pointed with my left hand but said nothing. Immediately, I realized which side of the field I was on and pointed with my right hand. The players didn't see it but the coaches did and mentioned it between innings. At least, none of them seemed miffed by it b/c they seem to realize what happened. Plus, my dad explained to them that we don't do much 3 man. This was about 13 years ago but it could happen again if I find myself in that rare setup again.

[BigUmp56]

I wonder if he temporarily forgot which side of the field he was on. Being that this is not a normal crew having 6 of them. I don't know but I did it in my first 3 man.

I was U3. First ground ball down the line and just over the base. I turned with the ball and pointed with my left hand but said nothing. Immediately, I realized which side of the field I was on and pointed with my right hand. The players didn't see it but the coaches did and mentioned it between innings. At least, none of them seemed miffed by it b/c they seem to realize what happened. Plus, my dad explained to them that we don't do much 3 man. This was about 13 years ago but it could happen again if I find myself in that rare setup again.

LMAO - I have to tell you, brother, I've had some major brain farts in my time on the diamond, but I've never forgotten which side of the field I was on. This is priceless..................

Tim.

[Fittske24]

I would be willing to bet the Umpire may have lost the ball in the "surroundings". With fans wearing white shirts, and all the LED boards and stadium marketing found in today's big league ball parks, It is very, very, very, easy to lose a ball in the background of a stadium like this. I have had the opportunity to umpire in some AAA Minor league ball parks, and I will tell you, balls hit down the lines near the foul poles, sometimes you lose sight of the ball or just don't see it until the last second. I also think that there was probably added difficulty due to ball moving in and out of sunlight and shadows. Miller park has some terrible shadows due to the natural ambient light that comes into the stadium.

I think he lost it, knew he lost it, set up to watch the ball "land", never saw it until after it landed, then made a coin flip call.......he should chosen heads :-)

[yawetag]

I wonder if he temporarily forgot which side of the field he was on. Being that this is not a normal crew having 6 of them. I don't know but I did it in my first 3 man.

I was U3. First ground ball down the line and just over the base. I turned with the ball and pointed with my left hand but said nothing. Immediately, I realized which side of the field I was on and pointed with my right hand. The players didn't see it but the coaches did and mentioned it between innings. At least, none of them seemed miffed by it b/c they seem to realize what happened. Plus, my dad explained to them that we don't do much 3 man. This was about 13 years ago but it could happen again if I find myself in that rare setup again.

I was PU in one of the first games I did this year, back in March. In the first few innings, I had no less than 6 screamers down the 3B line, all of them fair. Just a few pitches after the last one, partner was in B or C, and the batter screams one about 2 feet fair down the 1B line. I stuck out my right hand.

Like you, it didn't change the play any. In fact, I didn't realize it until I heard a parent behind the fence say "If he's pointing foul, why isn't he saying 'FOUL' like he usually does."