Luciano and Harvey plate jobs...

[RichMSN]

Luciano (from the 1978 ALCS):

 

 

Harvey (from 1978, Steve Carlton vs. Tom Seaver):

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2ghhUk7IVo

 

Interesting watching how they work the plate and compare it with how today's umpires do.

[Replacematt]

Did he say, "But when he does give up home runs, usually they're with nobody on, especially if it's the leadoff hitter of the game?"

[zm1283]

I could be completely off, but you are going to have a hard time convincing me that umpiring has gotten worse in the last 30 years like some media and fans want to claim.

[mstaylor]

Interesting that Harvey scissors RH batters and heel/toes left. Also, back then they made calls much faster. 

[noumpere]

I could be completely off, but you are going to have a hard time convincing me that umpiring has gotten worse in the last 30 years like some media and fans want to claim.

Umpiring hasn't gotten worse.  Technology has gotten better.

[mstaylor]

Mechanics have changed, philosophies have changed. Back then the NL guys were much lower, the AL guys much higher and they all were much faster. In interactions with managers they were much more confrontational and in your face than now. Calling safes and outs, probably about the same, as noted the technology is 1000 times better and there are cameras everywhere. 

[umpstu]

I could be completely off, but you are going to have a hard time convincing me that umpiring has gotten worse in the last 30 years like some media and fans want to claim.

The same thing when people say players aren't as good as past players. So much more instruction, nutrition and physical training now days. There is no way Luciano can see the ball the way he is hiding behind the catcher. Especially with that balloon. 

[Rich Ives]

 

I could be completely off, but you are going to have a hard time convincing me that umpiring has gotten worse in the last 30 years like some media and fans want to claim.

The same thing when people say players aren't as good as past players. So much more instruction, nutrition and physical training now days. There is no way Luciano can see the ball the way he is hiding behind the catcher. Especially with that balloon. What a pussy.

 

 

 

The man played college football (lineman) at Syracuse and was drafted into the NFL.  He had a career-ending injury and only played two games as a pro. Not much pussy there.

 

Using the balloon was standard practice back then. Has nothing to do with fortitude.

[zm1283]

 

I could be completely off, but you are going to have a hard time convincing me that umpiring has gotten worse in the last 30 years like some media and fans want to claim.

The same thing when people say players aren't as good as past players. So much more instruction, nutrition and physical training now days. There is no way Luciano can see the ball the way he is hiding behind the catcher. Especially with that balloon. What a pussy.

 

 

Yeah I don't think the old method of working the plate are nearly as good as umpires are taught now, but I don't think it has anything to do with him being a pussy.  

 

I could be completely off, but you are going to have a hard time convincing me that umpiring has gotten worse in the last 30 years like some media and fans want to claim.

Umpiring hasn't gotten worse.  Technology has gotten better.

 

I know, and I think umpiring has gotten better too.

[RichMSN]

Watch the Luciano video starting at 48:00.  Sac fly attempt.  Luciano calls Piniella OUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUT!

[RichMSN]

It took another half inning and a lot of whining from the Yankees announcers, but when they went back to Cosell and the ABC feed, they showed a third replay that showed Piniella right foot hitting the ground and going in the air and what ended up appearing to be a correct call by Luciano.

[mstaylor]

Luciano, if I remember correctly, was drafted by the Eagles and was injured twice in pre-season. That's when he went to pro school. He was a good umpire with a very personal style. 

[Rich Ives]

Watch the Luciano video starting at 48:00.  Sac fly attempt.  Luciano calls Piniella OUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUTOUT!

 

He used to "shoot" runners at 1B.

 

He'd stop by our summer tournament if he was off work (umps get vacation) and an Endicott team was playing.  Kids loved seeing him.

 

It took another half inning and a lot of whining from the Yankees announcers, but when they went back to Cosell and the ABC feed, they showed a third replay that showed Piniella right foot hitting the ground and going in the air and what ended up appearing to be a correct call by Luciano.

 

I remember that.  Lou's foot was in the air over the plate - by a lot. He never touched it.  RATS!  But the correct call.

[bam]

 

 

I could be completely off, but you are going to have a hard time convincing me that umpiring has gotten worse in the last 30 years like some media and fans want to claim.

The same thing when people say players aren't as good as past players. So much more instruction, nutrition and physical training now days. There is no way Luciano can see the ball the way he is hiding behind the catcher. Especially with that balloon. What a pussy.

 

 

 

The man played college football (lineman) at Syracuse and was drafted into the NFL.  He had a career-ending injury and only played two games as a pro. Not much pussy there.

 

Using the balloon was standard practice back then. Has nothing to do with fortitude.

 

Once again we learn rats have no sense of humor. 

[Texas Manny]

 

The same thing when people say players aren't as good as past players. So much more instruction, nutrition and physical training now days. There is no way Luciano can see the ball the way he is hiding behind the catcher. Especially with that balloon. What a pussy.

 

 

Do you not have any respect for the dead? Or for a fellow brother in umpiring lost? Unbelievable.

[bam]

 

 

 

I could be completely off, but you are going to have a hard time convincing me that umpiring has gotten worse in the last 30 years like some media and fans want to claim.

The same thing when people say players aren't as good as past players. So much more instruction, nutrition and physical training now days. There is no way Luciano can see the ball the way he is hiding behind the catcher. Especially with that balloon. What a pussy.

 

 

Do you not have any respect for the dead? Or for a fellow brother in umpiring lost? Unbelievable.

 

Rats aren't the only ones without a sense of humor, apparently. 

 

Lighten up, Francis

[Mr Umpire]

 

 

 

 

I could be completely off, but you are going to have a hard time convincing me that umpiring has gotten worse in the last 30 years like some media and fans want to claim.

The same thing when people say players aren't as good as past players. So much more instruction, nutrition and physical training now days. There is no way Luciano can see the ball the way he is hiding behind the catcher. Especially with that balloon. What a pussy.

 

 

Do you not have any respect for the dead? Or for a fellow brother in umpiring lost? Unbelievable.

 

Rats aren't the only ones without a sense of humor, apparently. 

 

Lighten up, Francis

 

Well, if it was suppose to be funny, it was in poor taste.

[JHSump]

I just got back from doing a 12U rec game.  I was hit in the wrist and thigh on pitches that were completely whiffed by the catcher  And numerous other pitches (also whiffs) just missed me.  I get hit often when doing these low-age rec games --- sometimes on called strikes!

 

I'm thinking of studying Luciano's game, and buying an outside protector for these low-age rec games!

 

Anyone have a recommendation for a nice outside protector?

[Richvee]

 

 

 

I could be completely off, but you are going to have a hard time convincing me that umpiring has gotten worse in the last 30 years like some media and fans want to claim.

The same thing when people say players aren't as good as past players. So much more instruction, nutrition and physical training now days. There is no way Luciano can see the ball the way he is hiding behind the catcher. Especially with that balloon. What a pussy.

 

 

 

The man played college football (lineman) at Syracuse and was drafted into the NFL.  He had a career-ending injury and only played two games as a pro. Not much pussy there.

 

Using the balloon was standard practice back then. Has nothing to do with fortitude.

 

Once again we learn rats have no sense of humor. 

 

The "joke" was lost on me too. Maybe a  would have helped. I took it as a put down

[bam]

"Poor taste" and "a put down". 

 

Jesus, we have some thin-skinned umpires around here!

[Richvee]

"Poor taste" and "a put down". 

 

Jesus, we have some thin-skinned umpires around here!

Thin skinned because I missed the joke? Maybe umpstu can confirm he meant it to be funny. Even if it was meant to be funny, I'm thinned skinned because I didn't think a particular joke was funny? THAT'S funny. 

[mstaylor]

Bam, I missed it too. I assumed it was intended to be tongue in cheek, it wasn't. Jokes like that are like Impractical Jokers or Jackass, poor attempts to be funny that fall way short. 

[Mr Umpire]

"Poor taste" and "a put down". 

 

Jesus, we have some thin-skinned umpires around here!

So be it.  I'm thin-skinned.

[bam]

Bam, I missed it too. I assumed it was intended to be tongue in cheek, it wasn't. Jokes like that are like Impractical Jokers or Jackass, poor attempts to be funny that fall way short. 

Some of that Jackass stuff is uproariously funny. 

[mstaylor]

If you say so, I don't find do stupid things funny. I am a fan of slap stick, subtle humor or even things like Monty Python, dumb but smart. I haven't seen anything on Jackass that approach funny.