Comments on: Pirates issue statement: Jerry Meals “got this one wrong”

By: aronmantoo

aronmantoo — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:27:41 +0000

I thought you couldn’t protest a call? Umpiring in baseball is the worst this year than I’ve ever seen it. Been watching baseball since 1951

By: florida76

florida76 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:59:02 +0000

Actually, the Bucs were serious playoff contenders most of 1997, were only 2.5 games out in early September. The other 17 years have been terrible, no doubt about it.

By: 24may98

24may98 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:16:49 +0000

I watch from the 15th and thought that the ump got dinged by a foul tip shortly before – perhaps in the previous half inning. I’m not certain, but he could have been dizzy. I hope so, because there is not any excuse for that bad call. It’s the most egregious I’ve seen this season of too many bad calls.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:12:22 +0000

Thanks. Someone has finally cut through the noise about umpiring and expanded instant replay (I’m all for it, BTW).

Today is July 27, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are protesting an umpire’s call, claiming that it could affect their playoff chances. [Insert voice of Jim Mora, Sr. here.] Think about that for a moment.

By: thomas2727

thomas2727 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:25:15 +0000

The loss last night knocked the Pirates out of first place.

Now either good or bad they will find out what they are made of.

Contenders or the same old Pirates of the last 19 years?

By: dailyrev

dailyrev — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:22:47 +0000

It’s not a hard sell to Reason, only to Ideology. Copy football: each mgr. gets 2 or 3 little red socks to throw out of the dugout each game. Sell it to the umps this way: if the mgr. comes out of the dugout (except for mound visits/pitching-personnel changes) he’s tossed. Only the red sock can come out of the dugout, that’s the replay challenge sign. What’s his name, the zombie who’s the commissioner, says it would slow the game down. I say it would have the opposite effect: no long arguments on the field, just a minute for an extra ump located in the press box to review the play (you could put the crew chief in that position and even have one less ump on the field except in the post-season). Again, it’s perfectly appealing to Reason, but swaying ideologues is tougher. It will take time and change.

By: kopy

kopy — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:09:07 +0000

I wish all teams would react to injustices like this. How else are we going to get replay in baseball?

By: rundmc81

rundmc81 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:00:44 +0000

Dear Pirates, this has been the first time an umpires call has made a difference in one of your games in 20 years.. Get over it!