MLB's Black Eye: Not P-E-Ds, but U-M-Ps

I could not agree more. Why are these umps so thin-skinned? You would think that the best thing to do, and the most dignified, in all of these situations would be to not engage in arguments, as opposed to the polar opposite, creating one. Do they not watch the tapes? Are their egos that fragile? Someone in the league office needs to set some guidelines for umpire behavior.

Mr. Levy, your column is so confusing and convoluted it is difficult to ascertain what you’re writing about. Your criticism of umpires and umpiring is unjustified and juvenile. Everyone knows if you argue balls/strikes you’re skating on thin ice. Catchers are the traditional conduit for discussing b/s without all of the theatrics. The Phillies are faltering and they played poorly. There is far more that goes on between the dugout and the umpires than most fans know about. Rarely do umpires interject themselves into the flow of the game unless they have been provoked several times before the final "that’s it" ejection. If anything managers and coaches have an obligation to their team and players to act professionally and with restraint. Your article was inflammatory and poorly written. Would you prefer going back to the days of Earl Weaver/Billy Martin histrionics? I hope not.

baseballguy1968, did you and I even read the same article? What in God’s name is confusing and convoluted? It’s a short, succint article concerning the behavior of umpires in Major League Baseball, with several recent annecdotes as factual support. I can tell from the rest of your post that you simply disagree with the basis of the article, but don’t be so derisive as to the quality and content, both of which have nothing to do with the opinion that the writer possesses. As for your idea that there is more going on between the dugout and umpires, I believe it would be relatively clear to fans and those watching the game that something was awry, as the ump would most-likely warn a bench, have a word with a coach, etc. before throwing out a **** center-fielder. Your statement was inflamatory and poorly written.

They should get the umps into the steroids, maybe give them vision like a falcon.

What Ed Rapuano did to Victorino is nothing compared to how Billy Hohn acted against the Braves and Bobby Cox.  Hohn heard something from the dugout, stopped the game, and marched over to the Braves dugout.  When Bobby came to the top of the steps Hohn pulled out his lineup card and said that he was ejecting "someone"….and did Bobby want to choose or did he want Hohn to choose who gets ejected.  Bobby chose himself and was immediately ejected.  Hohn then threw out Brian McCann to start the next inning.  This happened after Hohn called a strike on McCann the previous inning that was about two feet outside of the strike zone.

Earlier in the season Hohn ejected Cox, Eric O’Flaherty, and Chipper Jones in Boston.  Hohn repeatedly baits Braves players and Bobby….but MLB has done NOTHING to stop him.  At least nothing that anyone has heard about.

It’s time that umpires face punishment similar to the players.  If a player gets out of line they are publicly fined and suspended.  Why aren’t umpires subjected to the same rules?  I agree that they are out of control and something needs to be done before one of these power tripping fools keeps a team out of the playoffs.

This is a strange season in all areas are umpires check for drugs and do they have medical exams, also do they get training for handling situations in a calm unbias way or is it that  they are never spoken to about their failures more like the players union and how much of what is happening now is due to the commissioner and his band of lackadascal operators.

Well said Dan.

After the blown call in yesterday’s Cubs-Rockies game which got Lou Pinella tossed, I had about enough. It’s amazing how an umpire can blatantly miss a call and then throw out the manager for pointing out how he was wrong. Something in there just doesn’t seem to add up.

If they are going to fine the players  and managers when they run afoul of the rules, then they should " FINE " the umps when they fu$k up royally also.    They need to be reigned in they are (the Umps) are out of control.  That ump that bumped the player early in the season should have been suspended for a hefty amount of games ( I don’t remember the ump or the player but the next night he was involved in another blow up).  The call in the Lou pinella game was really bad.  The Umps are paid to watch for things like the first baseman’s’ foot being on the bag..  How could he have missed a call where the foot was 6 inches off the bag when he caught the ball?  Maybe he is betting on games ALSO.  And don’t try and tell me that the Umps are above such actions, the ref in the NBA proved that it is possible and more likely probable.

I have turned off several games this year owing to clearly incompetent ball and strike calling … cannot recall having done so as frequently in the past. Anyway, umpires are consistent regarding ejecting players for arguing balls and strikes … the players know this … and the Umps will typically give the player a chance to back down after an initial outburst … the player has the choice to calm down and walk away; or not.  I don’t agree with this particular "rule" but it is what it is.  In this case, IMHO, Mr Levy got this call wrong.

Victorino didn’t ignite the OF grass, so the ump abused his power.

That said, the ump did Chollie Manuel an unintentional favor — a great example to show how the Phillies have been unfocused.

Here’s the Philly fans viewpoint on the whole situation.http://www.phinallyphilly.com/2009/08/10/philly-fans-show-their-love-for-ed-rapuano-through-wikipedia/

Come on baseball time to get technology to call balls and strikes. Too many games ruined due to consistant inconsistancies behind home plate.

Victorino’s behaviour was professional, particularly his post-game comments.

More than I can say about the ump…

I don’t know about playing “grab ass” with the umps, but I agree completely with Levy. Frankly, it needed to be said sooner. The umpires clearly think they are the reason the fans come to the game. They aren’t. And it goes beyond the outrageous ejections, “look at me!!” called-strike theatrics and blown calls. Name me another sport where the officials get up in the face of players and coaches. I’ll wait here………..nothing come to mind? Probably because officials in other sports are professionals paid to maintain order, not disrupt it.

Dan, thank you so much for stating something that needed to be said for a long time. I’ve said this before and people have looked at me like I’m nuts, but it needs to be stated. Long-term. THIS is the biggest factor that could cause damage to the game. It’s almost like the umpires treat the players with arrogance — why? Is it their contracts? Do the umps have contempt for what the players make? Are they being told by a third party to be this way? What gets me every time, like a previous poster said, is the umpire who blatantly blows a call and then proceeds to toss out the manager or the player in a show of "how dare you criticize me!" I don’t condone what Roberto Alomar did to John Hirschbeck all those years ago, but take a look at the replay on that strikeout. Hirschbeck called strike three on a pitch that was waaaaaay off the plate. I agree with most everyone here. Something needs to be done before we have another Don Denkinger type call and all hell breaks loose.