Before I begin, I’ll set my own record straight: this is not a diatribe to follow the lines of Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference Finals in 2002.
I’m not going to sit here and point fingers about conspiracy theories, all the while playing mysterious music in the background .
I do not think that there was any sort of “fix” on Game 4 of the ALCS between the New York Yankees and formerly-California-then-Anaheim-now-Los Angeles Angels. I do not think the refs, namely Tim McClelland, intentionally missed or blew any of the calls that may or may not have aided the Yankees in their 10-1 rout of the Angels on Tuesday night (it also helps that one of the controversial calls went against the Yankees).
I do, however, think the MLB needs to look at this situation and address it very carefully.
I sat in my living room watching ESPN the morning after this game, dumbfounded at the number of times I was seeing these missed calls, and how blatantly obvious they were when seen on my TV screen.
First, second base umpire Dale Scott ruled Nick Swisher safe on a pick-off at second base where he was clearly out by several inches.
McClelland rectified the bad call moments later. On a fly ball to left field, Torii Hunter made the catch and threw home. The throw was wild, but Hunter contested that Nick Swisher left the bag before he had caught the ball. McClelland agreed, and ruled Swisher out.
Finally, on the most embarrassing missed call of the game, with both Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada near third base, Mike Napoli came to third for the tag on Posada. When he saw that both men were off base, he promptly tagged both out for the apparent double play...which only resulted in one out.
Why? McClelland only saw Posada off base, and assumed that Cano was on at the time of the tag.
Judging by their reactions, over 45,000 fans at Angel Stadium knew the calls were bad just moments after they were made.
45,000 people. And we put the faith and integrity of the game in one person’s hands.
Of course, there will be missed or blown calls when the ump(s) only get to see the play once, but to the extent which we witnessed in Game 4 is simply absurd on a professional level in any sport.
Even if the calls hadn’t changed the game, can we allow someone who makes a living off making the correct calls to miss so many in a championship series game?
Who’s more at fault here: the umpire for missing the calls in the first place, or the league for not implementing a system which would allow the ump to review those calls?
My answer to this question leads me to my Daily WTF.
The Daily WTF goes to...
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. With advancements in modern technology, having no instant replay seems almost primitive.
After this debacle, I’m sure it’ll be pretty high on Selig’s to-do list.
As stated earlier, it’s not feasible to expect one person to be able to see so many things simultaneously. With advancements in technology, including slow-motion, freeze-framing, high-definition screens, and multiple camera angles, there’s no practical reason to refrain from re-addressing the instant replay rules.
The NFL has been using a limited instant replay system since 1986, and adopted the ability of coaches to challenge calls on the field in 1999. Major League Baseball has been around over a century, and just a couple of years ago adopted a system to review certain calls.
Even the NHL reviews potential game-changing calls and goals that could fall into question.
The events of Game 4 are perfect proof that an instant replay system must be integrated into MLB’s rules somehow.
Officials must be held accountable for their calls, but it will be much easier to correct those calls if Selig simply opens up to change and forward thinking in his league.
WTF, Bud Selig?
Sources:
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
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