...may be the worst umpire I've ever seen. Two horribly blown calls in a couple days, both favoring the same team. If the U.S. wins because of that one blown call, he will have singlehandely eliminated Japan from the semis. Twice.
Update: Mexico managed to score the run, thankfully. Still, how the HELL do you call that ball a double? To change direction, it'd have to hit something. It's like the Magic Bullet Theory.
Amen brother. Funny how the three most talked about calls in the last year have all happened at the Big A.
ReplyDeleteThe US squad sure looks pedestrian - again. And I know Buck is under a lot of pressure, but I still wonder about some of his choices. Francouer is about the least experienced player on the team (maybe tied with Huston Street) and who makes the mental error that may end up costing them the game. You guessed it. All this to make sure you "give everyone a chance to start." How noble. We'll come in fifth. But hey, at least all the players got the chance to play. And I know he got one of the three hits but still I don't like it.
ReplyDeleteA familiar site - ARod looking out over the Big A wondering what the hell just happened.
ReplyDeleteWeird - comments are not showing up. I guess the US would actually be no better than 6th, since they would lose a tiebreaker in round 2 with Mexico based on head to head.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so, I wasn't rooting for the US, but those tiebreaking rules are ridiculous. If the score had been the same (2-1) but Mexico had gotten its second run in the bottom of the 9th (with 2 outs), the US advances. That's just dumb.
ReplyDeleteThis whole WBC thing is crazy. The umps are terrible. The tie break rules are just bizarre.
ReplyDeleteWhat we have learned:
ReplyDeleteIf you offer up a forgiveness of an obligated military service to baseball players, they will perform very well. (Korea, 2006 WBC)
If you assemble a very talented group of all-stars and put them all together, you are guaranteed nothing in the end (USA, 2006 WBC and NY Yankees (nee Yankess) circa 2001-present)
Wow... I didn't see the replay, but was it as bad as this makes it sound, "A television replay showed Valenzuela's fly ball hit the right field foul pole at least 10 feet off the ground and bounced back onto the field. However, first base umpire Bob Davidson didn't see it that way, and Valenzuela wound up at second"?
ReplyDeleteI just love the fact that A-Rod still doesn't have a championship...hehehe
ReplyDelete