Umpires Are to be Seen and Not Heard

by Bill Baer on August 25th, 2010
Posted in MLB, Philadelphia Phillies | Print | 57 Comments »

The old line “children are to be seen and not heard” tends to apply to umpires in Major League Baseball. If the broadcasters and fans haven’t noticed them, they’re probably doing a great job. We heard then first base umpire Greg Gibson’s name plenty yesterday, and a whole lot of Scott Barry in the bottom of the fourteenth inning tonight.

I’ll let the venerable Meech from The Fightins sum up the fiasco (click through to see moving pictures!):

Fast-forward to the bottom of the fourteenth, game still tied at 2, when Ryan Howard came up with runners at first and second and the game on the line. On an 0-1 pitch, Ryan Howard tried to check his swing on a pitch down and away, but third base umpire Scott Barry correctly called it a strike. Obviously mad at himself, Howard put his hands on his hips as if to say, “why the hell did I just swing at that?” and this Scott Barry prick puts his hands on his hips blatantly mocking Howard. Four pitches later, after Polanco and Utley moved up to 2nd & 3rd on a wild pitch, Howard once again attempted to check his swing and this minor league fill-in that substituted as the 3rd base ump tonight once again punched him out (figuratively). This time, though, Howard threw his helmet and bat, so Mr. Spotlight Scott Barry (did I mention he’s not even a real MLB ump?) tossed the big man from the game.

Most of the time, an umpire ejecting a player from a game is not a big deal, even if it was a knee-jerk decision. However, this game was very unique not only because it was the bottom of the fourteenth inning, but because the Phillies were out of regular players (including relievers as they had sent Kyle Kendrick to the bullpen as an emergency arm). Consider the context as well: the Phillies are right in the middle of a playoff race both for the division (two and a half games behind the Atlanta Braves entering tonight) and for the Wild Card (one game ahead of the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals).

It doesn’t matter what Howard says and does short of physical violence, he stays in the game. The umpire sucks it up and doesn’t put his ego ahead of the credibility of Major League Baseball games. Scott Barry didn’t do that. As Meech described, Barry had the gall to mock Howard before ejecting him with the shortest fuse known to man.

If it’s the second inning in a 0-0 game and Howard does that? Fine, eject him if you really need to. But in the fourteenth inning of a meaningful game? Never. And absolutely never should the umpire mock a player. It’s hypocritical, immature, and it makes Major League Baseball’s officiating look shoddy.

Now, let’s not forget that Barry isn’t the only one deserving of blame. The offense, for the fifth time in six games, failed to score more than two runs. Ryan Howard was 0-for-7 with five strikeouts. Charlie Manuel burned two position players for one at-bat in the seventh inning (Domonic Brown and Ben Francisco). The botched double-steal by Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco was ill advised, even if it had turned out positively. It seemed like for the last six innings, the Phillies were simply trying to hit home runs rather than settle for singles and doubles.

And let’s give credit where credit is due: Bud Norris pitched effectively, as did Cole Hamels. Both teams’ bullpens were near-immaculate. You can’t fault David Herndon for the way the top of the sixteenth went as none of the Astros’ hits left the infield. The Phillies’ #2, 3, 5 and 6 hitters combined for eight of the ten hits and drew five of the ten walks. Hunter Pence continues to kill the Phillies (1.081 OPS against entering tonight, highest against any team against which he’s logged 25 or more plate appearances).

For all of the great baseball moments the city of Philadelphia has seen over the past few years,  the Roy Oswalt catch in left field to start the fifteenth inning vaulted somewhere into the top-20. Ditto when he came up to bat, to chants of “Let’s go, Oswalt!”, with two outs and the game on the line in the bottom of the sixteenth. How cool was it seeing Chase Utley coaching first baseman Raul Ibanez when Michael Bourn entered the batter’s box? Unfortunately, those great moments evaporated with the realization that an umpire’s bruised ego cost them a very meaningful game in a playoff race.

Even worse is the realization that Barry will not be reprimanded for his actions. There is no oversight on umpires. While Howard will likely be fined and perhaps suspended for his tirade, Barry will go unpunished for being an instigator and for mocking one of baseball’s most iconic (and friendly, no less) sluggers. Matt Gelb tweeted a quote from Manuel on Howard’s tantrum, “I’ve never seen him upset like that.” Howard has been known to argue a call every now and then but always quietly and always respectfully as baseball players are taught.

Barry will take the field tomorrow. He will be given the same power he was given tonight and there will be no questioning on Major League Baseball’s behalf on a potential conflict of interest. When addressing problems, MLB moves at a glacier’s pace and progress is often 20 years behind, if not more. Players, coaches, broadcasters, analysts and fans alike have known for years and years that umpires have too much power and too little oversight. Last night’s Bourn incident as well as the infield single that cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game earlier in the year are perfect examples of why baseball needs to expand the use of instant replay as well as establish oversight for umpires.

Major League Baseball instead chooses to live in the past, adhering to Dark Ages logic and sticking their collective head in the sand. The 42 players who busted their ass for sixteen innings tonight deserved better. The managers and coaches who incessantly strategized for sixteen innings deserved better. The fans who stayed glued to their seats on a chilly late-August night deserved better. Patrons of Major League Baseball worldwide deserved better.

Addendum: For a better analysis of what went on in the fourteenth inning, listen to Larry Andersen, one of the Phillies’ radio broadcasters. He is a legend and belongs with the TV broadcast, but his outspokenness will keep him confined to the radio unfortunately. (Fist-bump to @Phylan for the audio.)

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  1. 57 Responses to “Umpires Are to be Seen and Not Heard”

  2. By Phillies Red on Aug 25, 2010

    Personally, I’d remove the “d” on that “deserved” in the penultimate sentence.

    Excellent write-up.

  3. By dino on Aug 25, 2010

    Umpires are like cops; arguing with them like that will only cause you more trouble. Howard has been hitting poorly since before he went on the DL, and he blew that play by not throwing to Utley to try and get Bourne. Take it like the man you’re paid to be Ryan

  4. By riderrock on Aug 25, 2010

    You are getting paid in the neighborhood of $10k per inning of baseball. Your team is in a tight race for the Division and Wildcard. It is the 14th inning and the bench is empty. You DO NOT argue with the umpires! After arguing one check swing and getting a serious evil eye, you ABSOLUTELY DO NOT do anything to get ejected when he rings you up.

    Howard needs to be a professional in that situation, even if the umpire isn’t.

  5. By Steve on Aug 25, 2010

    Personally, I’m more concerned with the fact that quietly, the offense has scored 2 runs or less in 5 of their last 6 games.

  6. By JR on Aug 25, 2010

    You can blame Howard for the 0 for 7, but to blame him for getting tossed. Not right. I think Bill sums it up well On a more ominous note, Howard and Utley don’t look like they are quite ready to contribute in a big way. Not a good situation at this point.

  7. By Scott G on Aug 25, 2010

    If you think Howard did anything wrong, you probably didn’t watch the game. After the first check swing call, Howard gestured to himself many times trying to say that he was mad at himself and not the umpire. All he did after the K was curse and toss his helmet, which is done pretty frequently. The umpire was trying to act tough (no other way for me to say it). I couldn’t believe the look on Scott Barry’s face from the point after Howard’s first checked swing to the end of the inning.

    Who the eff is he? Even if he were the best MLB umpire in the world, he’s still an umpire. Ryan Howard should have gotten closer to him, and we probably would have seen Scott Barry soil himself.

    Howard didn’t even argue with Barry. So to say that he shouldn’t argue with an umpire in that inning is insane. He didn’t argue. He cursed and tossed his helmet. Howard went off the handle after the ejection.

  8. By Mary B. on Aug 25, 2010

    It is too bad there is not oversight over umpires. Barry is arrogant and it was obvious to anyone watching. It’s a shame Howard lost his cool, but Barry is an idiot.

  9. By Tony P on Aug 25, 2010

    Umpires can be reprimanded – and if Barry “mocked” Howard as you claim, he likely will be. When Jerry Manuel was taunted by an umpire either last season or two years ago both he and the umpire were suspended.

    I agree with your main premise, that umpires aren’t held accountable nearly as often as they should be – Joe West has been working how many years?

    But there is some hope that Mr. Barry will get some sort of disciplinary action – or perhaps remain a minor league umpire and not work his way up the ladder – for his actions last night.

  10. By Richard on Aug 25, 2010

    I don’t mind missed calls. I’m not a big fan of instant replay, though I’m sure we’ll get it eventually. Absent that, calls are missed. My big concern with umpiring is the attitude. Refusing to ask for help is terrible. No excuse for it. And Scott Barry’s behavior last night was beyond the pale. He should be fired immediately.

  11. By Jim D on Aug 25, 2010

    Seems to me the ump did the Phils a favor. At least Oswalt was able to get the bat on the ball.

  12. By Michael Jack on Aug 25, 2010

    Great piece, Bill. Sure Howard shouldn’t have been arguing balls and strikes (though I don’t even think he went around), but Barry shouldn’t have made himself such a vital part of the game. Gross loss last night.

    I was watching on TV so I’m very grateful for the LA link and agree with your sentiments about which booth he should be in.

  13. By James on Aug 25, 2010

    Why are people talking about arguing with the Ump? Howard never argued anything or even gave any indication he was displeased with the Ump before he was wrongly ejected. This is the same guy that wrongly ejected Ryan Zimmerman a while back also for doing nothing at all.

    MLB needs to do something about their unions, they are way too powerful and get away with way too much, and its a detriment to the game.

  14. By chris on Aug 25, 2010

    Lets get this straight ESPN; Howard tossed his bat, immediately got ejected, then tossed his helmet.

  15. By Elmer on Aug 25, 2010

    I think the call was terrible. Howard should not have been thrown out. I agree with Steve though, the offense has been terrible lately, and nobody is really talking about it. The Phils have had two missed opportunities to pick games up on the Braves in the last two nights. They should be able to beat the Astros, especially at home.

  16. By gator32301 on Aug 25, 2010

    Not that I disagree with Howard being thrown out, but I take issue with a variety of your statements in this entry.

    “It doesn’t matter what Howard says and does short of physical violence, he stays in the game.” How many ejections over the course of baseball history only happened after physical violence? Were they all incorrect decisions if they did not include violence? I know that as a student of this game you do not believe his statement.

    “There is no oversight on umpires.” While not very transparent, you know this is not the case. I can’t even predict what will become of this, if anything, but there is a vehicle in place.

    “Barry will go unpunished for being an instigator and for mocking one of baseball’s most iconic (and friendly, no less) sluggers” I’m not sure the reasoning for the inclusion of some of these adjectives. Should there be punishment (or a harsher one) because you feel he is an “icon?”

    I think your argument would have considerable more merit if you had checked your emotions at the door and ruminated on what you were writing.

  17. By gator32301 on Aug 25, 2010

    I meant to say “not that I disagree with protesting Howard being thrown out.”

  18. By Lee on Aug 25, 2010

    I don’t know. Regardless of whether or not Howard’s actions were worthy of getting him tossed, I think it’s silly to insist that these types of actions should be perceived differently at different points during the game.

    This is the same argument as basketball’s shape-shifting foul rules near the end of a tight game.

    If it’s a foul, it’s a foul. If it’s worthy of getting you tossed in the 2nd, then it’s worthy of getting you tossed in 14th, no matter what the stakes.

  19. By Bill Baer on Aug 25, 2010

    So an umpire should have the ability to decimate a team’s lineup in the 14th inning? That completely ruins the integrity of the game. Fans didn’t buy their tickets to see Roy Oswalt hitting cleanup in the 14th.

  20. By whaleman on Aug 25, 2010

    I have to agree with Lee. If Howard did enough to get tossed (and I don’t think he really did), context doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t be able to get away with things just because the game’s in extra innings or because all the bench players have been used. Of course an umpire has the ability to decimate a team’s lineup in the 14th inning if the player’s actions warrant an ejection.

  21. By Hunter on Aug 25, 2010

    Speaking about the umps/rules…Yes Bill, the rules are the rules, and they should be enforced the same way throughout the game. The onus is on the player to be mindful of what the situation is. The onus on the umpire is to apply the rules evenly at all times. If by applying the rules fairly, the game becomes a laughingstock, then it’s time for MLB to change the rules…it’s not on the umpires to change the rules to fit the situation.

  22. By mikkyld on Aug 25, 2010

    I think the premise that an ump has to sit on his hands for anything short of violence just because it is the 14th inning or because the team’s manager has left himself without any players on the bench is 100% mistaken.

    The rules are the rules at every point in the game. Period.

    Argue that the ump overreacted, fine – they do that often enough – but don’t change the rules of the game because of which part of the game is currently happening.

  23. By Mark on Aug 25, 2010

    This isn’t a black and white rule. It’s not a safe or out call or a fair or foul call. Context absolutely does matter. Howard being ejected was a judgment call, and judgment calls need to take into account the situation. It happens in every sport, you people need to get a clue. Now add in the fact that Howard did nothing to merit an ejection and Scotty Barry looks that much worse.

  24. By Bill Baer on Aug 25, 2010

    When the umpire can force a team to bat a pitcher in the clean-up spot and play left field, the integrity of the game is called into question.

  25. By radar on Aug 25, 2010

    This Scott Barry character was looking for a fight. It isn’t simply that he mocked Howard. It isn’t simply that Howard obviously checked his swing. You could tell that Barry was going to punch Howard out no matter what, given the chance. If you watch the video, you see Barry just waiting for the chance to pounce on Howard and it appears that he tossed Howard out unjustly after making a terrible call. I am a Red’s and White Sox fan. But I am a baseball fan. Umpires need to be reined in. Fire Barry, suspend Joe West, somebody do SOMETHING, the fans don’t come to see the umps.

  26. By Kevin S. on Aug 25, 2010

    Bill and Mark, you essentially seem to be arguing that high-leverage situations give players greater license to be jerks to umpires. If an offense is ejectionable (and from what I’ve read, Howard’s wasn’t), it’s ejectionable in the 2nd or the 14th inning. You don’t think having a player get run early in a game can wreak havoc on a team’s chances of winning, especially in the NL where the bench gets used more? Scott Barry’s actions were inexcusable, but they were inexcusable because of what they were, not when they happened.

  27. By whaleman on Aug 25, 2010

    Bill, the umpire didn’t force the Phillies to do anything. Surely it’s not the 3rd base umpire’s responsibility to keep track of who the Phillies have available on their bench in the 14th inning and to then determine whether or not a call should be made.

  28. By Kevin S. on Aug 25, 2010

    “When the umpire can force a team to bat a pitcher in the clean-up spot and play left field, the integrity of the game is called into question.”

    If the player did something to warrant the ejection, it’s not the umpire who’s forcing the team into that situation – it’s the player who committed the offense. Ryan Howard shouldn’t have been ejected even if Albert Pujols was sitting on the bench.

  29. By Jim on Aug 25, 2010

    Your position is that if player decides to show up an umpire and then fling equipment around, the umpire should consult the standings, the inning in which this occurred, the depth of the players bench at the time, as well as the length of his tenure in MLB before deciding whether to toss the guy or “suck it up.”

    I don’t blame you for being annoyed, but some day, you will realize this position is insane.

  30. By Mark on Aug 25, 2010

    Kevin S. that’s exactly what I am arguing. It is a part of sports. In high leverage situations the umpires/refs let play go on more loosely. In football, a questionable pass interference penalty will not be called. Basketball, maybe a foul gets let go. You need to adjust your calls in high leverage situations to guarantee that the players decide the outcome of the game, and not the officiating.

  31. By Bill Baer on Aug 25, 2010

    Integrity of the game > uniformity

  32. By CH Phan on Aug 25, 2010

    I watched the whole game. I can’t believe I made it, but I did (esp considering how truly poor the Phillies played overall).

    Aside from that, Howard’s tossing of the bad was so clearly frustration w/himself that I found myself literally stunned at his ejection. It came w/o warning & was honestly so hard to believe that I thought I’d missed something.

    Bats are tossed, thrown, propelled, hurled, discharged – hastily, careless, forcefully, abruptly – in anger, frustration, exaltation, and relief – so routinely that I couldn’t believe the spinning bat was Barry’s excuse for the ejection. He assumed he knew what was in Howard’s head b/c he misread his actions. THAT induced ANGER in Howard, as it would & often does in anyone, in even a casual situation.

    (Btw, this is what I’ve been saying about Jayson Werth – never assume you know what anyone is thinking, or that you somehow understand their intent b/c you can “read their body language”. That’s ridiculous, most especially when you don’t know the person.)

    Apparently Gload was also ejected for yelling FROM THE DUGOUT that the final strike called on Howard was bad (w/an expletive or two thrown in). Ejected from the dugout?!

    This little situation would be just our little problem IF this had happened only once. However, that is not the case. This situation has happened at least twice – with SCOTT BARRY umping, in almost exactly the same scoring situation, on a 3rd strike, and he ejected another Ryan (Zimmerman) w/no warning at all & Riggleman who of course came out to find out what the heck happened. AND — this game was apprx a week ago.

    Mr. Scott Barry Umpire who runs the world at large — has anger management issues.

  33. By CH Phan on Aug 25, 2010

    Sorry – that would be *bat* not ‘bad’ (1st sentence).

  34. By bill on Aug 25, 2010

    That was honestly one of the weirdest ejections I’ve ever seen, the only one this year I can think of that was similar was the Buerhle one with Joe West…

    Here’s how it went down to me -
    Strike 1- Howard checks his swing, is called, gets frustrated and *clearly* says “I’m just mad at myself”. He puts his hands on his hips, which the umpire then does to mock him.
    Strike 3- Howard checks his swing again, is called out, immediately turns around, curses and tosses his bat. Ejection follows, a split-second later he tosses his helmet and goes after Barry.

    My question is, how does a guy at third base eject Howard when A) he only tossed his bat, which happens about 10 times per game at minimum, andB) he wasn’t even confronting the ump, he was just cursing.

    Sure, Howard has to keep his cool, but it was just such a quick-trigger ejection, so weird to see.

  35. By whaleman on Aug 25, 2010

    Integrity of the game > uniformity?

    How about

    Uniformity = Integrity of the game.

  36. By Scott G on Aug 25, 2010

    I think it’s completely outrageous that basis for fouls/penalties/ejections… should change based on the time of the game. There are no separate sections in the rule books for time of game/ quality of team.

    Overtime in hockey games is a perfect example of how absurd it is that more leniency is awarded the players so that “they decide the game.” As if interpretation of penalties isn’t random enough, you are now giving the officials that much more room for arbitrary calls to be made.

    Howard did not deserve to be thrown out for his actions. Period.

    Along similar lines, I thought it was absolutely RIDICULOUS that the World Series game 5 was allowed to continue until the Rays tied the game up. Had those conditions existed in the regular season, the tarps would have been brought out immediately. The players were playing in a monsoon. God forbid though, the radar showed that the storm wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and had play been suspended for long enough with the Phillies ahead, the Phillies would have been awarded the WS in a rain-shortened game. If you can lose a rain-shortened game in May, you can lose a rain shortened game in the WS. That game in May might be the one loss that keeps you out of the playoffs, and thus keeps you away from the WS victory. Rules should not change based on situation.

    I am preemptively responding to comments that are sure to come: Yes, I would have been just as happy had the Phillies won the WS without finishing that game. The rules are in place, and that’s what matters.

  37. By Mark on Aug 25, 2010

    “If you can lose a rain-shortened game in May, you can lose a rain shortened game in the WS.”

    Completely not true. No chance a WS game would ever be called due to rain without finishing it another day. I’m sure everyone would agree, and that actually is a perfect example of my argument

  38. By Bill Baer on Aug 25, 2010

    Yeah… there would be a lot of outrage if Bud Selig allowed a game to finish in five innings due to weather during the World Series.

  39. By bigyaz on Aug 25, 2010

    Anyone who suggests Howard was strictly mad at himself and was not directing his anger (and helmet-tossing) at the umpire is hopelessly in love with the Phillies and will not listen to reason.

    And citing hometown announcer Larry Andersen as an unbiased observer here is laughable.

  40. By Bill Baer on Aug 25, 2010

    Never said he was unbiased…

  41. By Tom Malm on Aug 25, 2010

    Scott Barry can’t read this.

  42. By JC on Aug 25, 2010

    I think Howard’s reaction after the first check swing call looked like a frustrated “are you kidding me?” (It didn’t look like he went around.) I know you can’t argue balls and strikes, but I think he’s entitled to be human and show some frustration.

    For Scott Barry to then mock Howard, stare him down arrogantly, – essentially stand on the field in a Major League Baseball game and taunt a player – should get him fired outright. The punch-out (again I didn’t think Howard went around) and ejection are just icing on the cake. It smacks of childish retribution. Barry has a terrible attitude problem and just doesn’t deserve to work at the MLB level. (With his attitude he probably shouldn’t even ump little league. I play rec softball and umps with bad attitudes are just awful to have on the field.) LA was right – the whole thing was a travesty.

  43. By Kevin S. on Aug 25, 2010

    Bill, again, it is the player who is hurting the integrity of the game, not the umpire. If the player does something deserving of being tossed, he gets tossed. Whenever it happens. Likewise, the umpire violates the integrity of the game with a capricious ejection whenever it happens.

  44. By Josh on Aug 25, 2010

    Except the player didn’t do anything that deserved an ejection, the ump was just being an ass.

  45. By Scott G on Aug 25, 2010

    WHY DO FANS CHEER AFTER THE HOME RUN BALL IS THROWN BACK?! THE RUNS STILL COUNT AGAINST THE PHILLIES

  46. By Andy M. on Aug 25, 2010

    big yaz: he tossed the helmet after he was ejected. nice try, though.

  47. By Kurt on Aug 25, 2010

    Judging from the umpires actions after the first check swing call to the ejection I firmly believe the ump purposely made a bad call on the second check swing. I think that puts him in the class of the 1919 Black Sox. I hope he is finished in the big leagues.

  48. By Issa on Aug 25, 2010

    Scott Barry made the right call!!
    Howard needs to know the situation and keep his mouth shut. He cost his team the game.
    Blaming the ump is just a poor excuse for not being worth your salary

  49. By Kevin S. on Aug 25, 2010

    Josh, I fully agree that Howard didn’t deserve to get tossed – my contention is that the circumstance had nothing to do with that.

  50. By Tom G on Aug 26, 2010

    In the 14th inning of a big game Howard needs to control his emotions. To blame his blowup on the umpire is childish. Howard already hurt his team enough that day with his box score line.

  51. By Pat N on Aug 26, 2010

    Bill, first off the umpire did not “force a team to bat a pitcher in the clean-up spot and play left field”. Manuel’s rather strange decisions earlier in the game was a factor there.

    Second, while I do agree Howard’s tossing the bat and cursing shouldn’t have been an ejection, it’s a little presumptuous of anyone to say Howard was “obviously mad at himself”. I was able to catch a replay of the at-bat and it wasn’t obvious to me at all that he was mad at himself. It looked like he was unhappy with the call on the checked swing. I don’t think it’s unfair to say that Barry might have taken it that way too. That doesn’t excuse his mocking with the hands on the hips also, and I don’t feel Howard should have been thrown out, but the Phillies had other oppertunities to win the game and the Astros are not a very good team. You cannot blame the loss on the umpire. The fact they couldn’t win the game in the first 14 innings is the Phillies fault, not Barry’s.

    Now that Utley, Victorino and Howard are all back and Oswalt has been added to this team, the Phillies should be rolling. They’re not. Utley’s been bad all year (which is surprising seeing I think he’s the best hitter on the team), Werth is back to slumping, Rollins’ play hasn’t been very strong, the bullpen is very shakey, the back of the rotation is weak and the offense has been very spotty. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, since they really should be the best team in the NL. Right now the Phillies have to blame themselves for where they are… no one else.

  52. By Jon on Aug 26, 2010

    Some of the comments on this blog amaze me. Of COURSE subjective calls need to take the context of the game into account. That’s why they’re subjective calls.

    The best officials in any sport aren’t necessarily the ones who get every single objective call right, but rather, the ones who best handle subjectivity. That’s why everyone rushed to defend Jim Joyce after the blown call in the “perfect” game, whereas Joe West could get every call right for the rest of his career and would still be lucky to have respect from 10% of baseball.

    Barry handled this situation atrociously and should be appropriately pilloried. The one possible bright spot in the whole situation is that since he isn’t already a tenured umpire, perhaps Major League Baseball can use this to keep him from ever becoming one.

  53. By DeLillo on Aug 26, 2010

    I fully agree with the majority of sensible commenters here.

    A correct call is a correct call regardless of the time of the game or the situation or the player in question. In the case currently being discussed, asking an umpire NOT to eject Howard when he normally would have is essentially asking that umpire to BAIL OUT the Phillies for having put themselves in such a bad position late in an extra inning game.

    The subjective and relativistic nature of calls in other sports (particularly the NBA) is routinely cited as examples of bad officiating; why would we want that here?

    Now, I don’t think the ejection here was warranted, I’m just commenting on the general sentiment in here.

  54. By Patter on Aug 26, 2010

    This goes out to Issa or whatever you call yourself !! You are an IDIOT Howard is worth every penny of his contract just because you are a loser Mets fan doesn’t give you a right to rip Phillies players!! You and your Mets Blow

  55. By Bill Baer on Aug 26, 2010

    I lol’d

  56. By Duane on Aug 27, 2010

    Great post Bill. I totally agree with your assessment on Umpiring. Scott Barry blows chunks. I think the T-Shirt vendors should update their shirts to say “I got drunk, I got high, I punched out Scott Barry and got tasered”

  57. By Duane on Aug 27, 2010

    As an addendum Dude, credit where credit is due. I log time number 1 that I’ve read a positive Ryan Howard post. Just me personally, I don’t presume to have read every one of your posts.

    Its really tough to take losing to the Astros once let alone 4 times here in Philly. If I didn’t have the Foreknowledge that the Phillies WILL lose somewhere between 65-70 or more games every year, I’d be really upset with these guys. On the other hand, what is certainly disparaging is the manner in which we lost to the Astros. An average of less than 2 runs per game really looks bad. Then again on the converse, you have to look really bad to lose to the Astros anyway. They didn’t exactly burn the barn on us. Kudos to the the Pitching Staff on a whole. THE PHILLIES WILL LOSE 65-70 or more games every year Folks, calm down. When there are 15 games left and they have 65 loses then we can seriously chide them.

  58. By jauer on Aug 28, 2010

    umpires should be viewed as constants, not variables. the whole reason this post exists is because scott barry acted as a variable. if he were a constant the phis still would have lost and this post would have been about the lineup instead of the umps.

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