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Commentary for Game 4
Poor Umpiring in Game 4
May 12, 2007
By Andrew Wolan / MLSB.com
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the umpire’s strike-zone was grossly inconsistent
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Wolan comments on the bad play calling behind the plate.
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After the game, A-WOL made some comments about the umpire’s calls behind the plate. He didn’t hold-back any punches.
I don’t like to complain, but the umpire’s strike-zone was grossly inconsistent. For example: when I was at bat, the PHS pitcher landed a pitch a foot behind the plate for what should be a clean strike. However, it was called a ball. In my next at bat, the pitcher landed one deep behind home plate. It should have been a ball, but it was called strike. It seemed as if the back of the strike zone would shift during the course of the game.
And these are pitches that are landing straight behind home plate. I gave up trying to paint the edges of the strike-zone because he was not calling any of them. This forced me to resort to pitching ‘meatball’ pitches which I loath because it tends to yield line drives that are directed back at the pitcher. I had to contend with three in the game: two that went over my head and one that hit my shin.
In addition, the ump was awful at communicating the pitch count. He would only announce the pitch count when asked. Even then, he was not very responsive when asked. This caused me to loose sight of the pitch count and caused me to walk a batter after I though the count was 2 and 2. In hind sight, I think he thought it was 3 and 1, meaning he did not register a strike that he called.
Finally, the ump did not give any pitchers a chance to toss a few warm-up pitchers before each inning. When I stepped on the mound in the first inning to start the game, the PMA batter was already standing in the batters box. Instead of kicking him out so I can have my 10 warm-up pitches, the ump called the start of the game. Likewise, he did not give any pitcher a chance to toss three warm-up pitches after the first inning either.
In all, he did an awful job calling balls and strikes. I strongly suggest he draw a line in the dirt declaring the back of the strike zone and use that in future games.
However, I will admit that his play calling out on the bases was accurate.
Ciao,
Andy
Andy Wolan is a reporter and photographer for BWCS. This story was not subject to the approval of the league or its clubs.
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