7/17/07: Three Blinds Umps...

As the old adage says, the only time you know an umpire is doing a good job is when you don't even notice him. Well, tonight all three were noticed, often. Quite possibly the worst umpiring I have seen in my time watching baseball helped distort an amazing pitchers duel at Alliance Bank Stadium on Tuesday night.

Rochester's Alexi Casilla led off the game with a home run off of Syracuse pitcher Josh Banks. That was the game, might as well have sent everyone home there, as neither team was able to muster another run. Banks ended up going 8 innings, giving up only 3 hits (the other 2 were by catcher Jose Morales) and walking no one. Red Wings' pitcher Kevin Slowey went the complete game, allowing three hits and a walk.

Things could have gone much different for Syracuse, however, as anytime they started to build momentum; Andrew Vincent, Pete Pedersen, and Mike Estabrook found a way to end it. These must be Rochester players, right? Nope, they were tonight's three umpires, whose incompetence on the field reminded me of Enron's board room.

Play #1: In the bottom of the fifth, Michael Vento reached first on an error. The next batter, Sal Fasano hit a ball up the middle. Casilla, the shortstop, flips the ball to second, seemingly pulling the second baseman, Matt Tolbert, off the base. Not in the eyes of the umpire (not sure if the call was by 3rd base ump, Estabrook, or Pedersen at first, tho I believe it was Estabrook). Now, we know the call must have been dropped, as manager Doug Davis comes out and argues. It goes without say that if Davis argues, there is no way the call was right.

Play #2: This will look a lot like a ninth inning play coming up, however this one was probably the one that no one could believe was blown. Russ Adams hit a double and was still at second with two outs. Up to bat was John-Ford Griffin. With a 1-2 count, Griffin takes a ball, while moving his bat no where near even a check swing. Home plate umpire Andrew Vincent doesn't even check with the third base umpire, calls it a swing, and punches Griffin out on strikes. Of course, again Davis comes to argue, this time being tossed by Vincent.

Play #3: After Fasano reached on a beautifully botched play by Tolbert and the first baseman, former Chief Glenn Williams, Ray Olmedo bunted Fasano over to second. Up came Wayne Lydon and dragged a beautiful bunt down the first base line. First base umpire Pedersen decided that even though Lydon was safe by a second, he would call him out. Pedersen put himself in a horrible position to see the play, which I am hoping is the reason he blew this one. Instead of two on and one out, Russ Adams ended up coming to bat, flying out to end the Chiefs' closest rally. Props to Al LeBeouf for coming out and arguing that call, as well as Lydon chiming in that Pedersen blew it.

Play #4: We go back to Vincent, as he much have wanted to have most of the attention, and figured he could get it against his apparent foe, John-Ford Griffin. That's right, Vincent again decides that Griffin doesn't deserve a fair fight, as he calls a horrific strike on a 2-1 count, to which Griffin did not take kindly. After striking out on a check swing, Griffin was then tossed by Vincent. Funny thing about Vincent, when you look at him, you can tell he must have some majorly big pads, to try to make his shoulders look broad and big. I think he is compensating for other "shortcomings", but I digress. I actually realized during the game that he blew calls last year against the Chiefs, as I remember commenting on the shoulders then too.

Anyways, Chiefs lose 1-0 and are now 10 games behind the new division leaders from Scranton. Tomorrow they'll play it all over again, but don't expect much different, as we look to have this same crew for the rest of the series.