WBC--USA! USA!

Bad calls are part of the game, but this one was very strange.

For those that didn't see it... Japan had a runner tag up at 3B and score. USA appealed that he left early and the umpire decided he had tagged up.

Then Buck Martinez argued with the Umpire in Chief that the wrong umpire made the call. It worked! they called the Japanese runner out for leaving early. This would have given Japan at least a one run lead going to the bottom of the 9th.

Here's the worst part... The replay clearly showed the runner had tagged up and the run should have counted. In other words the umpires changed the call based on something they did not see!

It's a tough job (umpiring) but this call STUNK! It's too bad that had to happen! Many people in other countries are going to be very skepticle! And rightfully so IMO!!!

Heck of a game --- had everything, great D, scary pitching (in both senses of the word!), some clutch and so Oh No at the plate, close plays, and controversy. Well worth watching.

I still couldn't decide if Nishioka left early, no matter how many times they showed it (the first replay, I thought yes....but the later ones, not so sure). Although the throw was rubbish, it did seem very shallow for him to score....maybe the guy's just that fast.

This hasn't been a cakewalk for the US; I hope that does spawn more interest in the idea.

I'm concerned about that aspect as well, PG ---I hope other countries don't sour on the WBC because of a pivotal call that went the US' way. Japan really held it together after that, classy. They would have still been batting with two outs and two on in the 8th; conversely, we would have still been batting with one out, potentially tied, with the bases loaded in the ninth. It's a good thing this isn't single elimination!

WBC gets what they paid for.
Worst umpiring crew I've seen in years, if ever!

You don't reverse that call unless you are ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY certain which clearly was not the case.

The Japenese reliever was pretty nasty but the Griffey AB in the 9th was horrendous in that spot. It was (ESPN) walkoff grandslam or bust. No glory in walking in that winning run I guess.

Wondering if the Japenese team forget their meal money back home as those boys don't look like their eating on a regular basis

They don't look much different than the MLB players...
...from the 1970's! Watch ESPN Classic sometime and you will see.

JT, I was watching baseball in the 70's
(Big Red Machine Fan!) and they weren't even close to being that thin.

It's to bad that call had to be made.
The umpire and chief should have not intervined.
Just from the throw alone should have given the run to Japan.
You don't reward a team for a play like that.
I know that's not how you should see things, but come on.

I know what the Umpire and Chief Seen!!
The Japan runner at third had a little hitch in his drive off the bag, and from the front it would have looked like he started running early.
Maybe instant replay?? That going to start a topic???LOL

Well you can see that Japan has no steroid problem!!!

It's not the size of the Dog in the Fight
But the Size of the Fight in the Dog!!!

EH,

Not a big believer in having instant replay on everything, but maybe isolated important situations… like that play today. I would think that umpires would want it when they’re not positive on a certain call. Tag up, plays on the bases, whether the ball left the park or not (there are parks now days that have lines… over the line HR, below still playable). Can anyone be certain without instant replay. Often these calls have been proven wrong by instant replay.

Football never used to use it, basketball never used to use it and baseball never used to use it. Baseball is the only one that doesn’t use it at all, these days. Why is that? Baseball has some of the hardest plays to call correctly.

Regarding umpires who might like it; a friend of ours is Don Denkinger… Some might remember him… especially St Louis and Kansas City fans. He made one of the most famous bad calls in baseball history. He received death threats and was treated miserably for years because of that one bad call. Too bad for “Don Denkinger” they didn’t use instant replay in that World Series. It would have saved him and his family a lot of grief!

I know some like the human element including the mistakes. It’s part of the game and I like it most all the time, too. Then there are the times I just wish they would get it right and allow the players to determine the outcome of a game. I don’t want to replace umpires, just give them as much help as possible.

I think that umpire is not going to like watching the replay of that Japanese runner tagging up.

Don't...mention...Don...Denkinger

Good post PG.
Maybe just for the WBC, in the future.
That way no bias, are hurt feelings.

How did you like the respect the Japanese players showed there Manager, not going out to the field until he told them to after he was done argueing the play. Thats Honer.

Orlando… See what I mean.

He was an excellent Major League umpire for over 30 years and I bet there’s only one instant in his life that you can recall.

Sorry…. Here it is again and it bothered him as much as it ate at all you die hard Cardinal fans who will hate him forever.

The worst call in World Series history!
Don Denkinger called a Royals' runner safe at first base in the 9th inning of Game 6 in the 1985 Series. TV replays showed the runner was easily out… it wasn’t even a close play!!! St Louis was leading the series 3 games to 2 at the time and had a 1-0 lead in the 9th. After the famous blown call, Kansas City scored 2 and won the game 2-1, then they also won game 7 to win the World Series Championship.

If only the umpires could have got together and viewed the replay… baseball history would have been changed! Then only those who knew Don Denkinger well, would remember him and without any hatred! Very nice man!

EH,

Sadaharo Oh managing Japans' team is like Babe Ruth managing the USA team. Other than Sadaharo is still alive. That's the legend he is in Japan.

Never been much of an autograph person, but the one autographed baseball I prize the most is signed by Sadaharo Oh. Don't have one signed by Babe!

Why does Baseball bring out such passion for the Fan.
Its a Game, not life or death.
You let it Go and move to the next Game or Season.
Sure it's a bad call, SO WHAT.
Nobody, I mean Nobody should have a death threat because of a Game.
It make's me wonder what state of mind these people are in.
I feel for all the Umps/Players that have to go thru this.

Fan's let it go. Its a GAME.

PG,
Can we play in the Sandlot with it? LOL

I was listening to the Broadcast of the USA/Japan WBC.
And Sadaharo had a very unique stance at the plate. They said it was a Flamingo stance, and he used it to get more power out of his bat. Much like a pitcher Lifting his Leg and driving off the Mound.

EH, the death threats were. of course, insanity. But 'so what' and 'let it go'?! methinks you're not a die hard fan, or you might understand.

'To Denkinger' is a verb amongst Cardinal fans, much like 'to Buckner' --- another gentleman who suffered the same fate: one play pretty much wiping out a good career.

I really felt bad for the Japanese team. They were robbed. Replay would have helped in this situation.

My apologies to any fans of Randy Winn, but how does a major league outfielder have such a bad arm combined with such poor mechanics?

Wow! Such a short throw...no way the runner should have tagged. Maybe the disbelief that a major leaguer could be run on from such a short fly ball had the ump thinking "impossible...he must have left early."

I wonder what David Rawnsley would think about that play?

Mike F

Calls that go against you are part of the game

One thing I would like is to see umpires from other countries involved along with the US guys but then we would still have the same accusations of siding with teams as in the Cuban Umps wont want the US to win etc

Bottom line--no matter where you go you will have missed calls--it is part of the game

People... Remember when the cyclops was first introduced into tournament tennis play? Very controversial, yet gradually accepted as a part of the game. I'm not saying it was an improvement, but it certainly would seem to have reduced the number of errant linesman calls, IMHO.

Fast forward to current day baseball.

Arguably, the technology exists today to all but eliminate the umpires on the field. Sensors, lasers and the like could reduce baseball officiating to a single "tech weenie" in a conditioned booth somewhere flashing calls on the scoreboard. But who among us would want that?

Baseball is a great game with all its flaws.

I'm glad I got to see the USA/Japan game, however flawed it may have been. There will be another game. That's part of the beauty of baseball.

Orlando: You must let it goooooo.LOL

FloridaHokie:Not for any other baseball but the WBC!!
Just close plays, get the call right.
Must make the Call quik.
It doesn't have to be like football, and bury the Ump in a booth.
Just a single review Ump making the call via Radio. If Asked.
Same appeal rules.

Never thought I would enjoy the WBC but boy has it pulled me in. Plus my son a Yankee fan, just loves the fact I’m rooting for Arod and Jeter.

I saw an idea (on an MLB fan board) mooted a while back about video appeals for MLB, with the idea being that each Manager would be allowed a maximum of, say, two such appeals per game. The concensus was that it would be a good idea in post-season play, but not for regular season.

I think the WBC would be an excellant place to try out the idea.

You can sure tell who is in shape and who is not.
You Have to prepare for the different style's of pitching and hitting that you will see, that's for sure.
It was nice to see Griffey and AROD together again.
The Whole Griffey Family are in the DugOut.
That's Fun to See Trey JR"S Son, Give his Dad advice on How to lay off the High Hard One's. And Griffey SR. Coaching First Base.

People go crazy about the obvious blown call and the way it impacts a game. But think about blown calls in a wider scope.

How many times in baseball history has one pitch changed the outcome of a game, and how often one game changes the outcome of a season? An unpire misses what was a strike, calls it a ball, and what would have been an inning-ender allows continuation and leads to runs that would not have scored had the right call been mage.

An ump calls a runner safe on a bang-bang play with two outs. Replay shows the baseball beat him, but he's safe anyway. Next guy cranks one out. Game changed. Happens every day in MLB.

We all remember Don Denkinger because of the magnitude and the result. Like everyone remembers Bill Buckner for a play he didn't make and forget what a great player he was in a very long career. It's the timing of the mistake that causes it to be memorable. We don't notice the subtle game-changers, only the BIG mistakes that go bad.

You probably have Royal fans who would elect Don Denkinger mayor of Kansas City today.

Don't be silly, Baseballdad; there are no Royals fans.

Orlando, you are right, what was I thinking?

The fact is that Japan takes a beating because MLB/WBC wouldn't pay the real umps to do these games.

Makes MLB and the WBC look bad....and that the US team is being favored!

They could easily be 2-2 or 1-3 in this thing.

I have a brother that thanks Don Denkinger every time he looks at his World Series ring!

There are a "few" Royals fans around they just don't have a lot to cheer about.

I forgot that Greg was on that championship team. How's he doing Moc1? Anymore talented young ones running around in the family?

BTW, anyone seen Pudge Rodriguez on the Puerto Rico team? Talk about "the incredible shrinking man"!

Bonds ain't the only guy who bulked up on steroids in the late '90's and early part of this decade.

The sad thing is, Pudge is obviously still one of the best, esp. defensively. How sad that his resume has to have a question mark over it.

If only Bonds were the only one....

PG-Greg is doing fine-takes a fantasy KC baseball team to Arizona every year-and comes
back stiff as a board .

Got another son with Dusty Rhodes at UNF/Jax. He's redshirting this year as a freshman.

Most proud of my Daughter-just rec'd an appointment to the Naval Academy. Thanks for asking.

This was on Foxsports.
Several Japanese baseball commentators pointed out that Nishioka was shifting his weight to his front foot before the ball reached Winn's glove but that his back foot was still on the bag and Davidson might have been fooled by this.

This is also what I seen, just enough of a hitch to fool the Ump.

This was reported in the news also, The American dugout was really giving it to the Blues, Yelling he left early, He left early!! trying to get the call.

Is that good baseball, Are BUSH LEAGUE??

This happened to me once as a coach of LL Minors.
My runner scored from second on a ball hit to OF.
The other teams coaches started yelling he missed the plate, He missed the plate. Catcher gets the ball tags runner after he scored, Young Ump calls him out.
I went to young Ump and asked, did you see my runner not touch the plate, are you takeing the other teams word for it.
He looked at me and called my runner safe.
I told the young Ump later thats the oldest bush league trick in the book.