Livid

Thursday, 13 Oct 2005 | Angels, Rants, Sports

I am just livid about umpire Doug Eddings' call in the bottom of the ninth inning of the ALCS Game 2 between the Angels and the White Sox. I'm trying to get past it, but I'm still upset about it. I'm not mad that the Angels lost the game. I'm mad that the botched call stole our chance to continue battling in extra innings. Both teams pitched a great game as evidenced by the 1-1 tie up through the ninth inning. The White Sox may have goone on to win in later innings, but at least it would have been a clean win.

It annoys me that Eddings as well as the other umpires would not even admit that there was even a chance that he made a bad call. From the replay, the ball appears to go into Josh Paul's glove without touching the dirt. Eddings sites that the ball seems to undergo a change in direction indicating that it contacted the ground, but it appears to me that the change in direction was caused by the ball striking the webbing of Paul's glove. What's also amazing is the the third base umpire, when consulted, said he didn't clearly see the play. According to mlb.com, Doug Eddings has been umpiring Major League Baseball since 1999 and this is his first ALCS officiating.

A.J. Pierzynski has been commended for running on to first base in a heads up play, but I can't help but think he was trying to put doubt into the mind of the home plate umpire in the off chance it would work; and it did.

What I don't understand is why Major League Baseball doesn't have a checks and balances system in place for umpires. Why can't an umpire be suspended or fined like a player? Why are they allowed to judge with impunity?

All I can say is the Angels will give it their best during the next 3 ALCS home games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I will be there cheering the Halos on to victory.

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