Don't Blame Bucknor: Sox Lost Game One Themselves
by Randy Booth on Oct 9, 2009 1:10 AM EDT
in Game Stories
104 comments
It would be really easy to write that umpire C.B. Bucknor is a horrible umpire that blew two calls tonight that swayed the momentum into the Angels' favor. It would be really easy to write that games -- especially ones in the postseason -- should not be decided by umpires. It would be really easy.
But it's not the reason why the Red Sox lost tonight.
Let's get this out of the way early, though: no matter what team you root for, you can say that Bucknor blew two easy calls. One was a Kevin Youkilis tag of Howie Kendrick. The other was a Youkilis tag of first base, with Kendrick running on the play. Bucknor called Kendrick safe for both. I don't care how tight you hold your Rally Monkey at night, we can all agree those were blown plays.
With that said, it doesn't really matter.
The Red Sox didn't hit the ball -- Torii Hunter did. The Red Sox didn't really pressure John Lackey -- Bobby Abreu, single-handedly, pressured Jon Lester. The Red Sox lost. The Angels won.
Not only did the Angels win, but they shut out the Red Sox, 5-0. Instead of looking at what the Sox did wrong tonight, let's look at what they did right.
What did they do right?
The offense managed four hits all game, all off Lackey in his 7.1 innings of work. Lackey looked like a fat Roy Halladay out on the mound. Darren Oliver, who worked the final 1.2 innings, looked like a circa-1996 Heathcliff Slocumb.
Lackey isn't an amazing pitcher, but he certainly toyed with the Sox all night. He threw a ton of pitches (115), but it also didn't seem like he struggled to get any outs. Lackey is a pitcher that works off of adrenaline -- if you give him the upper hand, he takes it and slashes your throat with it. That happened tonight.
On the flipside, Jon Lester could not find the strikezone. He walked four batters in his 6 innings of work. That's completely unacceptable. You should not win a postseason game if your ace is giving up four walks in six innings. Five strikeouts is fine, but you can't walk batters and expect to win a ballgame cleanly. One thing is for sure: if Lester walked, say, only one batter, this would have been a completely different game.
Still, though, Hunter hit that bomb. And it was a bomb. I'm not a fan of Torii Hunter (unlike everyone else in the world, it seems) but there certainly was nothing cheap about that. Kudos, Mr. Hunter. You deserved to trot around the bases.
And that's about it, folks. We can't complain about Bucknor (well, we can, but it's not going to make this loss feel any better). The only thing we can do is hope the Sox learned something from this.
I, for one, hope the Sox learned a few things: 1) you can't dink around with this team. The Angels are good, but no one can afford to walk any player four times, let alone Abreu. 2) don't put the game in the ump's hands. Sure, Bucknor blew it bad, and there were some questionable calls behind the plate, but why even get it to that point? Pound the strike zone, get the strikeouts. Throw the ball on a line. Take Bucknor out of the game (which will be difficult considering he's behind the plate for game two).
Lastly, No. 3: the Red Sox are a much better team than we saw tonight. Much better. This was a bush-league effort from them tonight. We didn't really see much emotion out of them until the screwjobs cropped up late in the game. Carry that into tomorrow's game and mash the hell out of Jered Weaver. Make him wish he was his brother -- which would take a helluva a beating to accomplish.
What we saw tonight was not Boston Red Sox baseball. And if that Boston Red Sox baseball doesn't show up Friday night, you can kiss any chance of a November duck parade goodbye.
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class act there buddy ... ass
any hoo …. at least angel hernandez isnt there two … then it would essentially be 3 guys making bad calls just for the opportunity to throw people out ….
you guys gotta pick it up … i dont think the yankees can beat the angels and damn … its not an ALCS if its not AL east ….
rough game … just hope beckett doesnt keep giving up the bombs
by blindmole on Oct 9, 2009 1:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He got past that a while ago, I'm pretty sure.
@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Oct 9, 2009 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, that's a nice troll.
@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Oct 9, 2009 1:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
While doing the whole blame-no blame deal, might as well mention the catchers interference that was news to Elisbury
and the safe at third … all “momentum”(???) changing events.
Officiating sucked, joe west is a fat pile of shit, and I look forward to fridays game. good luck guys
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 9, 2009 1:25 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
All true.
If both teams refused to play, they’d have to change umps, right?
@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Oct 9, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
while I agree
the officiating sucked, and the Sox did not lose the game because of it, why is it not some sort of home-town conspiracy when it goes against teams playing the Angels? If fans here were like HH, there would be some sort of “Bucknor has it out for the Sox” crap. Isn’t it obvious that the umps just suck, period? I mean as recently as yesterday, we all still had to hear about Nick Green/Brian Fuentes.
by Buzzy on Oct 9, 2009 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where comes all the fear of Abreu all of a sudden
Yeah he can walk, but get ahead in the count is the first key, he never swings at the first pitch anyway. Throwing him a 1st pitch Ball is completly unacceptable. Lester was working from behind on to many hitters. Why is Ramirez facing him in the 7?
On the other hand Lackey wasnt even that sharp but our offense looked like it did the 2 weeks after the All Star Break.
by German Red Sox Fan on Oct 9, 2009 1:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Drama Angels
Am I the only one who thinks that the Nick Adenhardt tributes that the Angels do has jumped the shark?
by Fred on Oct 9, 2009 1:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
RE:
I think any team would be doing the same thing right now.
by Randy Booth on Oct 9, 2009 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
thank you
you don’t really realize the situation until your in it (in some form or another). as fans, we’re nowhere near as close to Nick as those guys were, and we’re still wanting them to win every game for Nick. now imagine yourself in the players’ position… you’d be doing the exact same thing.
so no, Fred, i don’t think it’s “jumped the shark”. i think those guys are playing emotional and inspired games.
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Oct 9, 2009 1:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed
it gives them a cause to rally around and more energy in the process;
I did think that pouring beer on Adenhardt’s jersey during the AL west cliching party was a tad disrespectful, however
by fenwaypark97 on Oct 9, 2009 1:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not at all
it’s part of the celebration. i can guarantee you NONE of those guys thought twice about how Adenhart was killed during that celebration. all they were doing was making him a part of it.
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Oct 9, 2009 2:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
okay, but really?
I guess we’re all allowed to grieve in our own way, but pouring ‘tribute’ beers on the uniform of a man who was killed by a drunk is kinda tactless and strikes me as juvenile.
That’s just me, I guess.
Some of the Old New England insane puritanism probably got baked into me growing up. One didn’t speak of the dead. I always had a strange mixed reaction to those well-intentioned roadside ‘tributes’ where teenagers would pile memorabilia next to the barkless tree… like, I appreciate that you care, but, a framed Bob Marley poster?
by Fred on Oct 9, 2009 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree about the beer
The jersey should have been held up or something in the midst of it all, above everyone. Not in the line of fire.
But hey, the Angels wanted to do it, and they thought it was right, so…
by Randy Booth on Oct 9, 2009 2:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
again
i really don’t think they thought about it. they were just trying to celebrate with him like he was there. most of us (if not all of us) viewed it as innocent and a pretty sentimental tribute.
i guess it just depends on your viewpoint. the players had a few quotes in the LA Times the next day saying pretty much the same thing.
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Oct 9, 2009 2:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really don't think it's up to anyone to decide...
except for the people who raised him, bathed him, taught him how to catch and throw, stood by him in the minors and carried his casket. When Jim Adenhart (Nick’s dad) called Scioscia crying because he was so touched that they remembered his son the issue should have been settled. (Also remember Weaver looked at Nick like a little brother, they were in the process of sharing a house together).
He will always be part of the team and he should celebrate as though he’s part of the team.
The only magic number now is #34
by Teixeira Who? on Oct 9, 2009 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
looking it at that way...
you do have a point. To them, Nick is still a vital part of the organization. I always just thought of the death as a somber thing.
by fenwaypark97 on Oct 9, 2009 2:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I couldn't agree more with that
I do wish the media would take a breath.
The only magic number now is #34
by Teixeira Who? on Oct 9, 2009 2:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
nice icon bud
Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
by DougieWentDeep on Oct 9, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nick and his friends were murdered by a sociopath pile of shit about a block from my house.
This wasn’t Suzy Sorority who was a little tipsy on cosmos, taking her jetta out for a spin. Andrew Gallo was on a collision course to murder somebody, and made a conscious decision to do so.
This isn’t about alcohol being poured on Nicks jersey..this is about nick being a part of the team, where he should have been if his life wasnt cut short..He would be there, soaked in shitty beer and champagne.
His parents were so proud of the team, and pretty much thats the be-all end-all on the ridiculous topic of “they should have poured capri-suns on his jersey instead of bud light.”
sorry if im coming across as a douche. cheers
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 9, 2009 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and yes, TBS is exploiting the hell out of his death, and I totally understand the backlash that its getting.
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 9, 2009 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I drove through that intersection
about 15 minutes before Nick was killed. (I drove through around 11:45 and he was hit about midnight. Disgusting. This hit So Cal really hard and you’re right, TBS needs to take a fucking breath.
The only magic number now is #34
by Teixeira Who? on Oct 9, 2009 2:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is what's really fucking horrible.
The Angels celebrations and tributes are OK. Hell, they’re damn near a requirement. To not remember a man on his way to a fantastic life that had it cut so short would be…I don’t know…insensitive.
The fact that TBS sees it as a selling point for a series is disgusting. They don’t care—I think everyone who sees those commercials know that they don’t. It’s just…It sucks. It really does.
by USG on Oct 9, 2009 3:01 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree
There are genuine tributes to Nick’s memory by those closest to him, and TBS is turning them into mass-produced hallmark cards with their corporate logo stamped all over.
by Rev Halofan on Oct 9, 2009 4:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If the Angels got drunk...
got in the team bus, run a red light, and steam-pile over Adenhart’s jersey, that would have been disrespectful.
They were celebrating with their fallen teammate the same way they would’ve if he had been there. Drinking doesn’t equal drunk driving. They are different.
I was moved by the way they included him in the celebration.
Get off your high horse.
Peanuts...Get your Overpriced Peanuts!
by Angel Hawker on Oct 9, 2009 2:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it was directed at Fred, not you.
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Oct 9, 2009 2:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually, it probably wouldn't be so bad if
the media weren’t such a bunch of pearl-clutching Heathers – idiotic vapid leeches who feed on human pain.
the occasional public displays (gaudy though some may be) and the few tongue-tied post-game tributes to Nick’s magic ghost as the reason a 2-2 curveball was able to get blooped into left would not have become such a dominant narrative if our news media didn’t think that they have to pack drama, sex, and death into every single thing.
by Fred on Oct 9, 2009 2:17 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
understandable
the media does tend to go overboard
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Oct 9, 2009 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
we can all agree the umps sucked
they blew all kinds of calls (benefiting both teams). it’s disgusting that that group of umpires is officiating a postseason series.
but, i expect tomorrow’s game to be a bit closer. and i also expect someone to get plunked for the cheap shot at Torii. seriously, was that necessary?
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Oct 9, 2009 1:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm going to have to see the Torii HBP/situation again
Because, from what I remember, I don’t think it was a cheap shot. But I was also caught up with everything at that point, so I’d have to re-watch.
by Randy Booth on Oct 9, 2009 2:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think it was intentional.
It was a three-run game, no way he wants two on with no out. He was just nervous.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Oct 9, 2009 2:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it was a 3-run game
and he got nailed in the ribs on the first pitch (IIRC). he seemed okay the batter before. i’m just sayin…
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Oct 9, 2009 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Martinez
showed great sportsmanship when he checked on Torii. I thought that was really impressive.
The only magic number now is #34
by Teixeira Who? on Oct 9, 2009 2:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Give it a rest
Ramirez had no control. Why would he throw at Hunter? The HR wasn’t hit off Ramirez.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Oct 9, 2009 7:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
intentional? really?
1 on nobody out, 3 runs behind, in game 1 of a best of 5 series.
The game is still within reach especially against the Angels Bullpen. This was 110% not intentional and all circumstances should make that quite obvious.
by German Red Sox Fan on Oct 9, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
one more thing
it was actually Howie Kendrick on both of the blown calls by Bucknor, not Morales.
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Oct 9, 2009 2:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks
“Kendrick” – “Kendry” — brain was racing.
by Randy Booth on Oct 9, 2009 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ehh it happens.
not a huge deal. you just have to be pissed at the right person. :P
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
by howiestheman on Oct 9, 2009 2:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
though you gotta admit that West's strikezone for Lester kept moving
he was painting the lines and not getting any love.
by fred g on Oct 9, 2009 2:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He was absolutely painting…. and no love. Unlike Lackey who got more love from West than a hooker in front of a 7-11.
by AustinRedSox on Oct 9, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can't hide in the post season
I’ve been saying this since the all star break. This team has never jelled and lost there way into the post season. Yes, 95 games is a great feat, but let’s be honest. This has got to be the worst team that we have sent to the post season since the advent of the wild card. Tonight was an embarrasing display all around. The only bright spot was Bard’s one, two, three eighth. Everybody else was terrible and there is no denying that. To be a successful post season team you have to do everything the Sox didn’t do tonight. Where was the solid defense? We committed 4 errors. Where was the lights out pitching? We were affraid to pitch to Abreau and it bit us in the ass, and we gave up two strike base runners and two out runs. Where were the clutch hits from our big bats? 4 hits in 9 innings. Piss poor. I’m not surprised though. I have been saying this for most of the year. If you look at all of the other teams in the post season from both leagues we are the worst. And it has nothing to do with who has the best record it has to do with who is playing the best baseball and we are definitely the worst in that area. We will be lucky if we don’t get swept and we’ll probably lose this series at Fenway. It’s still a great achievement to make the post season, but if it wasn’t for a weak September schedule and a total implosion by the Rangers and the Rays, Tito and the boys would be at home watching all of this on TV.
by 75bandwagon on Oct 9, 2009 2:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey bandwagon
So strange to see you popst after a Sox loss.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Oct 9, 2009 7:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holy crap
I swear you love losses so you get a chance to dust off your keyboard.
but if it wasn’t for a weak September schedule
Divisional differences notwithstanding, everyone plays basically the same schedule, slick. Just at different times of the year. A weak September schedule means that the August schedule was a tough one.
They played a bad game. Why don’t you go chase those kids off your lawn now?
Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.
by Bloggy on Oct 9, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can no longer make such excuses as if
this is a great team that just got unlucky last night. Sooner or later you have to admit that crunch time has arrived, and if the team doesn’t then measure up, well maybe they are not such a good team after all. Rather than crap on this writer, maybe listen to him for once, as I find it hard to be pleased with this team right now.
Tonights game is critical, and if the team looks as badly as last night, well it IS time to do some housecleaning before next year if winning in the playoffs is what you want.
by NG on Oct 9, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BTW, I personally hope they rally back big tonight, but
if they don’t, I stand strongly behind my post above.
by NG on Oct 9, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This isn't football.
It’s not one-and-out in the playoffs. There’s a reason these are multi-game series.
Not only that, but you can’t expect to run the board on the the whole league on your way to the crown. There will be losses. The Angels, as much as they’ve been our bitch for the past number years in the playoffs, are a fantastic team and I sure as hell didn’t expect to sweep them while swing the bat with just one hand to make it interesting.
You find it hard to be pleased with this team. I find it hard to be pleased with that game. It sucked. And so did we. But it was an isolated game in a series and there is as much a chance to bounce back from it as there is to slide further south.
Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.
by Bloggy on Oct 9, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
dude, bandwagon
are you really that stupid…you honestly think the Twins, or the Rockies are a better team than the Sox this year. 4 errors, don’t forget that while the throws were bad, two of those should have been counted as outs instead of errors. We were shut down by a very formidable pitcher in the post season, our dominance over Lacky in the past was bound to come to an end eventually. It’s just one shitty bad game, get over it and go play in traffic or something. just whatever will get you to leave this site.
Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
by DougieWentDeep on Oct 9, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
whatever
It’s obvious that we are a BAD team as far as the post season in concerned. Most of the people out here have their heads in the clouds and act like they are in the Obama White House; don’t say anything bad about the administration (in this caese the Red Sox) or you won’t be looked upon as a true American (in this case Red Sox fan). I understand that this is just a game, but baseball is a passion for me and I really think that this team is going to need a complete over haul during the off season. We went into the post season once again as the wild card. We were actually healthier than we were last year and we are a complete embarrassment. 8 hits and 1 run in 18 innings? Are you kidding me? We lose with our number 1 and 2 starters on the mound? Are you kidding me. I was a the game in Annaheim and it was just something you could feel. You were waiting for Beckett to run out of gas and you knew Tito was going to leave him in one batter too many and that’s exactly what he did. Our talent level right now is not championship caliber. The games don’t lie. They played these two games as if it were a regular season series in May. It was awful to watch. Where is the Goddamn offense?
by 75bandwagon on Oct 10, 2009 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Swing
For me, the most frustrating part of this game occurred when Youkilis, representing the tying run, left the bat on his shoulder on a 3-1 fastball right down Broadway. This is not a May game against Baltimore, people! Swing.
by fred g on Oct 9, 2009 2:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah that bugged me too
But not as much as the strike one call.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Oct 9, 2009 7:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wondered
I wondered which Red Sox offense would show … they have been off and on all year … and I see the first of the year Ortiz flew west.
by Old Fan on Oct 9, 2009 6:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hat tip to the Halos played well, and we did not
But why would Francona not start the 7th with one of Bard/Oki/Wagner ?
RR should not be pitching in any close post season games outside of extra innings or a blow out. Don’t you have to go with your best players in the playoffs? We ended un not mattering because we could not score, but 3 runs is not much of a lead.
VARITEK MUST GO
Brandon Webb in 2010
by gizmosandy on Oct 9, 2009 7:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not surprised
On paper we’re a great team but way too inconsistent…hitters and pitchers…if we’re not hot as a team then we lose..when we lose this series at least we’ll be spared the embarrassment of being killed by the MFY…we can’t count on the bullpen anymore, the starting pitching or the hitting…this team is complacent and underachieving and Tito doesn’t light a fire under these slackers…
DB
by db24 on Oct 9, 2009 8:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Great Post
You hit right on the head in one paragraph. I’ve been saying this for the past few months and have been lambasted by all of these people who think there is nothing wrong with this team. I live in Orange County and will be going to the game tonight, but only because someone has an extra ticket. I doubt if I would pay to see them after what I saw last night.
by 75bandwagon on Oct 9, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
fuck a postseason game between the Angels and Red Sox, I wouldn’t want to go to that either….you’re a pathetic “fan” man
Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
by DougieWentDeep on Oct 9, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Double that and add twenty for me.
Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.
by Bloggy on Oct 9, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm in for another twenty
I’ve watched Sox playoff games at the Bronx Bedpan and took lots of abuse. But, being in the playoffs is a privilege. You don’t just go to see your team win. You go to support your team.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Oct 9, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve been fan longer than you’ve maybe been alive, so go fuck yourself with a big rubber dick.
by 75bandwagon on Oct 10, 2009 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Disgusting
when we lose this series at least we’ll be spared the embarrassment of being killed by the MFY
Your fair-weather ass should be drawn and quartered for making such a comment.
Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.
by Bloggy on Oct 9, 2009 8:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
fair weather?
I’ve been a fan since 1965 you asshole and I can say what I want….it doesn’t mean I don’t cheer as much as any of you…just frustrated with a team who I thought was better than they’ve played…but I guess I was wrong about their talent…obviously, they still have a chance in this series and I never write them off but there are too many holes in this team right now to beat the MFY in 7 games right now…imo
DB
by db24 on Oct 9, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lemme draw a line for you. Make a connection, if you will.
I never write them off
when we lose this series
That, my friend…is writing them off. Mind if I quote Ricky Bobby? No? Good.
THAT. JUST. HAPPENED.
I don’t care if you were a fan since Captain Caveman played first base. They lost one fucking game. They were rusty. Settle down.
It is completely possible that they will lose this series, because the Angels are a talented team. But to write them off, which you did, over one bad game riddled with shitty umpiring and a shit strikezone is moronic.
Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.
by Bloggy on Oct 9, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
+1
Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
by DougieWentDeep on Oct 9, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Amen, brother
You got me beat by 10 years in the cheering department and I feel EXACTLY the same way you do.
by 75bandwagon on Oct 10, 2009 1:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Join the club of senile old men.
At least Sandy’s making points – you two and NG are just sad.
@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Oct 10, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ramon Ramirez? Why?
Francona why on Earth would you let Ramon Ramirez, our worst reliever (on the roster) pitch in the 7th? And why would you let Ramon Ramirez face Bobby Abreu a left handed hitter although Ramirez sucks against lefties? Seriously i dont get it.
by German Red Sox Fan on Oct 9, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
CB Bucknor
Has his own wiki page
In a 2003 Sports Illustrated survey given to current major league players, Bucknor was voted as the league’s worst umpire, with 20.7% of the vote.2
In an updated 2006 Sports Illustrated survey given to current major league players, Bucknor was again voted the league’s worst umpire, with 21% of the vote.3 In 2008, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports also called him the worst umpire.4
During cold weather games, Bucknor wears a long-sleeve pullover shirt behind the plate, instead of the plate jacket. He is known to be very dramatic when calling third strikes.
.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Oct 9, 2009 9:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The LULZ
Some enterprising soul went about “updating” the page…until it was locked down
Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.
by Bloggy on Oct 9, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nice
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Oct 9, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
consistency!!
Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
by DougieWentDeep on Oct 9, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Magic strike zone
Gotta disagree with you — Lester did an amazing job of pitching, he just was never getting the outside corner… where Lackey lived. Was I the only one who saw the obvious called 3rd strike that was ruled a ball?
This game was totally blown by the umpires. Lackey’s strike zone was wider than the actual plate, Lester’s smaller. As far as I can tell there are 3 ways to win a ball game: pitching, defense, and hitting.
Pitching: Lester never got the corner, close calls, or even ones that the stingy Ameeca pitch zone tracker called as COMPLETELY INSIDE THE ZONE. That’s ok, sometimes you get squeezed. That’s why you can still win on hitting on defense.
Defense: Need we say more than CB Bucknor?
Hitting: Lackey consistently got every borderline call imaginable. If a guy is getting a called strike when the ball is a couple inches off the plate away, it means you have to open up and look away… do that and you give up the entire inner 1/3 of the plate. Lackey got every questionable call both inside and outside making the zone significantly larger than the official zone or anything that Youkilis could wrap his head around.
Home plate umpire has a tight zone? Fine. But be consistent with it. One bad ump? Fine. You can beat that. But an inconsistent strike zone from team to team, Bucknor’s blatant mistakes at 1st…. it’s not paranoia if they’re all actually out to get you.
by AustinRedSox on Oct 9, 2009 11:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
OK, someone get one of them charts up with the squares and the triangles.
You know, the ones with the green and the red that tells us ball and strike calls for both pitchers, so we can see if this guy is right and I can start officially blaming the umps.
Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.
by Bloggy on Oct 9, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your wish is my command
Lackey’s zone:
Lester’s zone:
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Oct 9, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just did the count
Both got 5 Strikes called a Ball!
And all the other images say Joe West had a narrow but pretty consistent Strike Zone.
by German Red Sox Fan on Oct 9, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Preface this with...Angels fan here
Let’s examine the bad calls: two calls on Kendrick at first in innings in which the Angels did not score any runs. What difference does that make? None. Look, Angels fans and players around the league all agree, Bucknor sucks. But, the call on Figgins at first went your way and was highly questionable. The play at third when Hunter clearly beat the tag by Lowell and was called out. Both of those plays came in the same inning when the Angels scored two runs. It would have been more (possibly) if not for those calls. Pipe down about the umpiring, because the bad calls were even if not more egregious against LAA.
Whining about the strike zone is rendered meaningless when the call some of you are whining about is a pitch to Torii Hunter in an inning, where again, the Angels didn’t score any runs. They loaded the bases, but Lester struck Vlad out.
There is plenty of Red Sox blame to go around. Lackey pitched a brilliant game. Lester pitched well too. Ramirez did not and your team had three errors, one of which did cost you a run.
I thought West’s strike zone was even all night. For what it’s worth, I thought there were quite a few pitches the Angels didn’t get the call on either (several by Darren Oliver). West did not give the outside corner, but he was consistent about it. Bucknor was bad both ways all night. To blame Bucknor for this loss is a gross misrepresentation of the truth.
NA, #34 SP, LAA
Light up the Halo for Nick!
More Howie please...
by hk47 on Oct 9, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nobody is blaming Bucknor or any other ump for last night's loss
Bucknor sucks. That’s a fact. The majority of MLB umpires miss calls. Nobody disputes that. The bad calls last night merely upped Lester’s pitch count (and cost the Sox two “errors”). It’s unfortunate, but it happens. The Sox lost last night because the Angels played a better game. It’s as simple as that. We’re not the ones who believe in consiparcy theories or the magic of dancing monkeys.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Oct 9, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are correct.
In my mind complaining about the umps is a loser thing to do. They are not machines, some are better than others, and bad calls go both ways. The only thing I think is ironic is that in a meaningless game, all of the Angel fans that we came across here were convinced of a MLB-wide ump conspiracy against the Angels.
I also agree that the calls likely did not change the game. The one call that got me most mad was the called strike to Youkilis on a 3-0 count after Lackey has just thrown 7 straight balls. You can find just how far off the plate the ball was on the same brooksbaseball site that Drugs got his charts from (It is the red squre all the way outside to the right (umps view) on the Lackey zone above). That puts the go ahead run at the plate, loads the bases, and perhaps after 8 straight balls, gets to Lackey a bit. Do I think Ortiz does something there? Probably not-but it was the one bad call that stuck with me last night.
by Buzzy on Oct 9, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
two calls on Kendrick at first in innings in which the Angels did not score any runs. What difference does that make? None.
It may not have an impact on that inning, but to say it doesn’t effect the game is foolish. Same deal with Jacoby’s catcher’s interference. If those outs were recorded properly the Angels would have had a different line up in their next at bat. Lester would have approached the inning differently, etc etc. It’s a ripple effect, just because it had no negative impact right away does not mean it did not have a negative impact. Perhaps Hunter would not have been up with two on. The great thing about baseball is this, the fact that one play/pitch has the chance to change the outcome of the game dramatically.
Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
by DougieWentDeep on Oct 9, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
point is
In postseason baseball, these types of blown calls should not be happening, especially with this crazy invention called television allowing everybody and their mother to see how wrong the calls are. Figgins play went our way because why? it was the right call? it was also much much closer than the other two plays. so we should laud Bucknor for actually getting one right when he blew two other blatent ones?
Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
by DougieWentDeep on Oct 9, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right, the umpiring on the bases was pathetic last night both ways
I completely agree. It shouldn’t be happening at this point in the season. I really would most prefer to see a series devoid of umpiring controversies. We all deserve that, on both sides of the equation.
NA, #34 SP, LAA
Light up the Halo for Nick!
More Howie please...
by hk47 on Oct 9, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
just a fact of life
i enjoy the fact that baseball retains the uniqueness of the human factor in the umpires, but it’s just hard to swallow at times. I, in no way blame the game on the umps, but it shouldn’t just be glossed over.
Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
by DougieWentDeep on Oct 9, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's tough
I am sure both sides felt picked on at one time or another last night. My wife isn’t a baseball fan, so she has no team- from a neutral view…she thought West was pretty consistent on his calls of balls and strikes. Like I say, I’d like a series free of umpiring controversy. It’s tough when everything is under the microscope in October.
NA, #34 SP, LAA
Light up the Halo for Nick!
More Howie please...
by hk47 on Oct 9, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's hard to play the "if" game, though
Sure, they extended the innings in each case (calls on Kendrick and catcher’s interference). But they did not directly contribute to the score changing in that inning…
Whereas the Hunter call was blown and the Figgins call was questionable. We all know baseball is a hard game to call, I don’t envy the umps at all. And as an Angel fan, I agree with you guys, the base umpires sucked last night. I thought Joe West called it pretty consistently both ways. The 3-0 pitch to Youk looked outside, but… to lose 5-0 and be arguing balls and strikes is sort of fruitless.
NA, #34 SP, LAA
Light up the Halo for Nick!
More Howie please...
by hk47 on Oct 9, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
should be fun with bucknor behind the plate tonight
Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
by DougieWentDeep on Oct 9, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no kidding
I’m scared for both sides
NA, #34 SP, LAA
Light up the Halo for Nick!
More Howie please...
by hk47 on Oct 9, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
His balls and strike calls are totally random
and very loud on the punchouts.
by Buzzy on Oct 9, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let me tell you something else about his balls....
Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.
by Bloggy on Oct 9, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it had to be done
Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
by DougieWentDeep on Oct 9, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree
I have to totally agree with you on the strike zone. But in the end our offense simply sucks.
by 75bandwagon on Oct 10, 2009 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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