Look at this.
I am not one to subscribe to conspiracy theories, but after watching the game between the Twins and the Yankees last night I am having a hard time believing that baseball isn’t fixed.
Officials blow calls all the time, especially when it is something subjective like a charge in basketball or pass interference/holding in football. The game happens fast and bodies are contorted and flying around. This, however, was much different. All this guy had to do was watch and see if the ball landed on one side of the line or the other, and it appeared (I am admittedly no expert on officiating) that this umpire was in the perfect position to make the call. This wasn’t a 117mph serve off the racket of Roger Federer that is gone in a poof. It was a baseball that was in the air for several seconds that everyone in the building had a pretty good idea of where it would land. It was not even close to being foul, yet the ump inexplicably called it that way. It was the equivalent of showing the guy a photo of Lassie, asking him, “Dog or cat?” and having him proudly answer, “Cat.” What the hell?
Baseball umpires rotate positions, so this guy sometimes is behind home plate calling balls and strikes. We’re supposed to believe that he can decipher whether or not a baseball traveling upwards of 90mph fits into an imaginary strike-zone box, yet he cannot even make the correct call when a thick, chalky white line is provided for him? Does baseball really view its fans as being that stupid?
It’s hard enough to give a shit about baseball when (a) there are a bazillion games, most of which don’t matter, (b) the teams with the most money can just buy the best players, creating an extremely uneven playing field and (c) the performance enhancing drugs issue was handled so poorly by baseball’s leadership. (Hey, Selig, maybe you should not only legalize PEDs for your umps but actually require PED use for all umps, for their performance could clearly use some enhancement.) Now you’re telling me that your officials are being paid off, or are merely more incompetent than common sense can fathom. Really? This is the depth that “America’s Pastime” has sunk to? No thanks.
Fuck you, baseball. Go away. It’s football season.
Just lifetilted after that. Seriously seems like cheating. wtf
Great post. I might have been a ‘nay-sayer’ too if not for the Donaghy basketball scandal. It’s hard to believe he could blow such a simple call honestly, especially in such a crucial game-changing situation. Then again, if the guy WAS paid off, what are the chances he would ever get a CHANCE to make a crucial call like that?? Whatever the explanation, blatant fix or mind-numbing incompetence, it is a pile of shit for sure. Remembering Don Denkinger……
If only the consequences could be that of the 1919 Sox - banned for life - players or umps. Baseball is supposed to be pure, supposed to have an aura of chance to it. The last 20 years has shown that it is apparently more important to reward the PED taking heavy hitters for keeping the crowds as evidenced by the blind eye by the administration than the game itself.