Red Sox manager Terry Francona’s Game 2 postgame news conference was brief. Only three questions were asked, and there was no mention of plate umpire Sam Holbrook ejecting Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell in the bottom of the 11th.
In the top of inning, the Red Sox had runners on first and second with one out when Holbrook called a pitch from Rays reliever David Price that was clearly off the plate a strike, punching out Mark Kotsay. The PitchTrax box showed what my naked, weary eyes could see: the ball wasn’t even close to being in the strike zone.
It was a huge call and looked even costlier to the Red Sox when Coco Crisp, the next batter, grounded out to end the threat and keep the score tied at 8.
Then in the bottom of the inning, Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin was squeezed by Holbrook. There was a pitch to Dioner Navarro, leading off the inning, that was called a ball even though it was in virtually the same identical location as the pitch that Price struck out Kotsay. PitchTrax showed that pitch was clearly outside, but Timlin didn’t get the makeup call. Navarro wound up walking.
Holbrook missed another call with Ben Zobrist at the plate. A 1-and-0 pitch by Timlin looked to be in the strike zone, and the PitchTrax box showed it was. Holbrook called it a ball as Timlin stared in disbelief. Zobrist ended up drawing a walk, putting two on with none out, a jam that Timlin could not escape.
After the game, Francona didn’t mention Holbrook’s calls. But he seemed to be referring to the questionable pitches in one of his answers.
“Both teams went about it a little differently, got to the same place in the end, and we’re on the road in extra innings, and there’s no margin for error,” Francona said.
Clearly, the margin for error was eliminated by Holbrook’s questionable calls.
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i thought it was interesting hearing the commentators equivocate. when pitchtrax showed a strike called on an obvious ball, they would have to say "and it just caught the outside corner." then when an obvious strike at the knees was missed, you could hear their skepticism with "just a little low."
zeiss
Total Comments (78)
i saw that too... the commentators were always going with the call, no matter what the PitchTrax showed. More like backing up the umpire with some weird logic.
I say, at least dont have the PitchTrax....That makes us fans seeth more when we see how blatantly wrong the call was... If we dont see it, then atleast we can say the "umpire knows best"
Jeez !!!
Inxsible
Total Comments (39)
We should have computers making the ball/strikes calls instead of humans.
jaxrad
Total Comments (1)
i watched the game, and that was horrible umping...if there was ever a time for showing complete and utter home field advantage....Umps were trying hard to give that one to Tampa
Steveo16220 says: FF…
Total Comments (5392)
Francona is a class act, Heuschkel provides more Red Sox mamby pamby whining. Ump missed the first call, got it correct the second time. Stop complaining.
ayadaddy91
Total Comments (8)
no he really didnt get it right the second time...what game were you watching?
Steveo16220 says: FF…
Total Comments (5392)
Yeah....The Red Sox probably got screwed on those calls, but that's just home field advantage. I don't have a problem with it if the Umps do the same to the Rays at Fenway
salvaje50
Total Comments (823)
Oh no, the poor small, scrappy Sox and their miniscule, timid, and entirely humble fan base didn't get a couple of ball-strike calls going their way. How EVER will they manage? And to think, they're the only team this ever happens to, too! The audacity of it all. It's so especially unfair, considering their entire series with the Angels never ONCE gave the Red Sox a beneficial call going their way at a crucial moment in games.
skelley
Arcadia , CA
Total Comments (38)
Let me first say that I'm a Red Sox fan. I thought that (a) the strike 3 call on Kotsay was appalling, that ball was at least 2-3 inches off the black; (b) that doesn't mean Timlin should get the same call in the bottom half of the inning; (c) Kazmir was getting pinched pretty tightly in the first few innings; and (d) the call of 'ball' on Timlin's pitch at the knees was not as bad as the strike Price got, but it was close. All of that being said, Timlin somehow couldn't throw strikes to a guy simply looking to bunt the runner over, and that's what really cost us the game. The runner was pushed into scoring position, and I think Timlin should get more blame than the umpire.
chenderson_10
Cleveland , OH
Total Comments (3)
All I am asking for, as a fan of the game, is that it be as fair as possible. For this level of umpiring, I can't help but think that these umpires have called sooooooo many balls and strikes over the course of the season.....that to get one right and one wrong with the pitch being virtually in the same spot, in the same inning (so close to each other in the game), that in this particular moment, it did cost one team the game. Don't do that at the end of the game to one team over the other is all I ask.
krp
Sitka , AK
Total Comments (38)
One clarifying thought......it did cost one team........did it cost them the game? That could be argued.....there were key moments throughout the game, but when making these two calls very distinctly different calls....that's tough to watch. All I ask for is consistency on the strike zone. It was an interesting discussion in my living room with several high school ballplayers who caught that difference right away.
krp
Sitka , AK
Total Comments (38)
There are only a few constants in the universe:
(1) Death
(2) The perceived inequity of what we pay in taxes and what we receive in governmental services.
(3) Whether a pitch is called a ball or strike, someone will be unhappy.
I've umpired several thousand games at the armature level, and all I can say is that human error is part of the game and it always hurts when the call goes against your team. For those of you that assert an umpire is consciously favoring one team when making judgment calls, I submit that you have not officiated a sufficient number of games. Otherwise you would realize that these (over analyzed) miscues are simply mistakes.
Old28
Total Comments (4)
the strike zone these guys call is a joke, I umpire from Little league to high school and their zone is the same as mine is supposed to be, midway from the armpit to the top of the belt and just above the ball of the knee, you never see a pitch called a strike that is on the belt
bbumpire6
Anderson , IN
Total Comments (1)
Oh no, the poor small, scrappy Sox and their miniscule, timid, and entirely humble fan base didn't get a couple of ball-strike calls going their way. How EVER will they manage? And to think, they're the only team this ever happens to, too! The audacity of it all. It's so especially unfair, considering their entire series with the Angels never ONCE gave the Red Sox a beneficial call going their way at a crucial moment in games.
******
Yeah like the three Angels fielders stopping and letting a ball fall between the three of them without a clue.....that was an awful call by all three.
Matt A.
North Attleboro, MA
Total Comments (17)
Another Blosox fan whining. During the entire 2004 WS, the Cards pitchers were constantly being squeezed by umps whereas Blosox pitchers were given a wide strike soon. That series was about PC. Blosox were allowed to win WS because of 87 years of futility; White Sox soon followed for their 1st in 88 years. PC in sports. A tragedy.
uncensored2008
Orange Park , FL
Total Comments (4)
testing
uncensored2008
Orange Park , FL
Total Comments (4)
Another Blosox fan whining. Or should I say fair weather fan. They only come out when their team has a winning season. During the 2004 WS, the Card pitchers were being totally queezed by umps. Can you say 18 walks in game one;whereas, Blosox pitchers enjoyed a wide strike zone. It's about being PC. Blosox hadn't won a WS in 87 zillion years. The following year the other Sox finally won after 88 years. It's all about PC. Now, it maybe Ray's turn.
uncensored2008
Orange Park , FL
Total Comments (4)
It's an 'integrity of the game issue' that is exacerbated by technology. MLB has yet to catch on to the fact that with HD and better camera angles the umpires are going to be under more scrutiny.
Sam Holbrook was horrible behind the plate from the first inning on Saturday, but the spotlight was bright because of the close score and the extra innings. MLB should be very concerned with which umpires get post-season assignments, and should base these assignments on something other than politics. Some of these umpires, like CB Bucknor and Marty Foster, should never be allowed behind the plate, let alone call balls and strikes in a playoff game. Please don't get me started on Doug Eddings, Gary Vanover, and Jim Reynolds.
If you really watch baseball over the course of the season you will see some great umpires and some really bad umpires. Unfortunately, I can't name the names of the great umpires because they are so good that they are not noticed.
TABCT
Middle Haddam , CT
Total Comments (1)
Yes. this is a relevant post and it is good that you made it because of its relevance. I'm glad we are having relevant discussion.
skelley
Arcadia , CA
Total Comments (38)
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