Anyone watching this game?

Can anyone tell me why both Posada and Cabrera weren't called out at that play on 3rd base a couple innings ago? Also, is Posada on drugs? He should have scored from 2nd on the flyball to center, then runs back to 3rd in the rundown even though he saw his own man standing there. Weird game.

Posada was too busy thinking about his last conversation with his accountant... you know, its tough managing all those millions...

Lets face it, Hobo, the game of baseball has lost its soul... its lost its integrity because of no accountability... PEDs, blind and bias umps... Derek Jeter gets 4-5 strikes, Chris Davis gets 2 1/2 per AB... its obvious sports is about ratings, about Vegas oddsmakers and we as fans are supposed to accept that and cheer on the almighty big market teams and playboys like the Yankees shortstop year after year?...arent we just sheep being led to the slaughter?... why play 162 games a season? Why not just have a series of World Series between the Yanks and Bosox and have them tour the nations ballparks? Or even the world?

The Stankees have 3 1/2 times the payroll of the Rangers... woo hoo!! Cant wait to see the "competition"... remind me again why the laser strike zone that would completely level the playing field of competition hasnt been employed?

ARod admits to using roids...with no accountability, no discipline... why? Because he fessed up once it was made public? Remind me to tell the judge next time i get a speeding ticket... yup your honor, i fess up, i was speeding... and see if he lets me go without a fine... Why is it that way for AFraud? Because he wears pinstripes? Or because he has alot of greenbacks and MLB doesnt want the cost of a lawsuit?

The greed of the players and their union is astonishing. The owners are just as bad. And the fans?? Its bend over and take it, baby!! And we do. And as long as we do - as in keep buying tickets and $5 hot dogs - MLB will keep sticking it to us... its really quite sad, cause i used to love baseball. I had a dream of playing myself til i blew out my shoulder in college... But i have to admit, i didnt watch a single game this season. ive just lost interest in a soul-less game.

And the playoffs? Can you say "big market"? 2 LA teams, the Yankees and another nor'eastern team... imagine that... whodda thunk? Or i should i say... who cares?

Lane did an excellent job behind the plate last night. Too bad you didn't see it. But the fact remains; MLB annexed the Umpires under the pretense of standardizing the strike zone, and it's just as unstandardized as ever. I'm actually kinda surprised MLB doesn't ban the networks from replaying all the poor calls. Even when a hitter finally figures out what one ump will call a strike, he's just as likely to see another out of "that" strike zone called a strike. The exceptions are fewer than otherwise. And the hypocrisy of allowing veteran pitchers a different strike zone than young arms, or off-plate strikes just because that pitcher has been consistant, is the biggest joke of them all - it's either in the zone or not.

I'm still amazed how the Yankees got away with that Posada play at 3rdbase. Obviously a double play. Surely at least one other umpire had to have seen it. Right?

Then there's the two plays involving Johnny Damon. He was obviously out at 2nd on the pick-off attempt, and obviously scored on the sac fly by tagging properly at 3rdbase. I'd assume the latter was a make-up call, but.....

And this is suppose to be the best umpires in baseball? Kinda makes me wonder if any game is legit.

that entire game last night was strange.

Wasnt that Swiser and not Damon??

Both were out no matter HOW you spin it. I tried to justify that by him tagging cano first then tagging posada that somehow made posada safe by taking away the force. But no luck I still say they were both out. I am confused...

Yes. I butchered a couple of the plays with wrong names. Guess I'm not much of a Yankees fan.

Still, that's suppose to be the best umpires. It's a joke. And a complete reflection on MLB.

Until there is accountability of the umpires, nothing will change. The umpire at 3rd base last night should be removed from the rest of the series.

If I'm not mistaken, he's the same guy who blew the call on Mauer's double down the line, ruled foul, in the Yankees series.

I think there are going to be MAJOR changes, like instant replay similar to what the NFL has, implemented in the next 5 years. I like the human element of the game and traditionalists are going to throw a hissy fit, but the amount of blatant mistakes made in the opening two rounds of the playoffs are inexcusable.

The veteran strike zone is a legit complaint. It'd not as bad as the NBA's superstar foul calling, but it's noticeable. I think back to the Joe Nathan strike of Chris Davis, even though that was a minor league ump, and the tiny strike zone for a guy like Youkilis, Jeter, Ichiro, Mauer, etc. The one common thread is they are all patient hitters and stars, but they need to play by the same rules. I think taking half an inch off the strike zone in four directions might help boost the ol' batting average, but we'll never know so it's all speculation.

You don't neccessarily need instant replay, they need to get off their pedestal and if another umpire saw something different, they need to speak up and make sure the call is correct. Who cares if they feel that is showing up the other umpire. Baseball is a team sports, the umpires need to act as a team also.

"If I'm not mistaken, he's the same guy who blew the call on Mauer's double down the line, ruled foul, in the Yankees series."

Tim McClelland.

<http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/12394692

The main challenge with that is every ump has a responsibility on the play, so it's hard to overrule what another ump called because the overruling guy will probably have a much worse angle and be watching a different part of the play.

It's a challenging concept, because how do you award a guy a double or triple if the balls ruled foul before he reaches first and he stops running? What about a guy who stops running when a player is ruled out at home when replay would overturn that? The situations are nearly limitless and the chances for somebody being unhappy are really high. Still, Selig has shown he's not afraid to change the game. The inconsistencies with the umps and what MLB does should be pretty interesting to watch play out over the next few years.

The funniest part of this whole conversation is that the umps have been making horrific calls forever and nobody ever does anything. I wish I was old enough to remember the call the first base ump in the Cardinal/Royals (I think) W.S. at first...that one was monumental. I do remember the A.J. Pierzenski play in Chicago though...real no brainers.

The one thing I don't like about the NFL challenge system is losing a challenge when you're right. If the refs blow the call, and you win the challenge, you shouldn't lose a challenge. The NFL only allows each team two challenges per game. That means that if you have refs as bad as MLB's umps you're eventually skrewed. I agree with a challenge system. But model it after tennis where the challenge isn't lost if you win.

I agree, and I think the systems in the NFL eliminate a lot of plays that really should be overturned because they don't have the exact angle they need. I've been watching a lot of games this year when a play is pretty much 90% overturnable, but they don't do it because it's not 100%. If it's over 50% they should probably over turn it.

I think having a replay ump in the booth who can page the home plate ump when a play SHOULD be overturned would be a good idea. If replay shows that the umps blew a call, page the hp ump, have him gather his crew and let them overturn it. This eliminates any question of whether or not a play should be overturned and still allows the umps to keep the control they so strongly desire by allowing them to direct which base a player should be on and etc. Obviously this idea could use some tweaking in itself as well.

The system will take a long time to overhaul, it will be a pain too, but I won't be surprised when they start making changes.

I believe the problem MLB has in starting any kind of replay system is getting the umpires union to agree with it. I think they're on record as not wanting one.

That makes sense from the union standpoint....there's always $$$ behind the motive it seems.

It's gotta make everyone wonder what is more important to the umpires. Getting the calls right, or their egos?

how about Damon taking advantage of the shift last night to get to third base, then Alex gets the big hit to put the Yanks in control. And nobody is more of a sure thing than Rivera to close out a game.

I kind of want the Phillies to win tonight just to see it go back to NY. I think they have a good chance with Lee pitching.

Im surprised no one heard me after that at bat by damon... Then when Alex had that hit I think i woke the neighbors...

These last two games I have been furious due to him getting hit 3 times! like you I want it to go back to NY and I also want Alex to be the one who gets the game winning hit. But if they take it tonight its all good :)

Lee had everyones number last start that dude was ballin... I never paid attention to him prior to that game, i had no idea just how good he was.

If Alex gets drilled tonight, I think he will go after the pitcher. I think AJ just might drill someone to show Alex he has his back unless both teams get warned before the game even starts. And yep, Lee is pretty darn good.lol