Major League Baseball has an image it likes to promote and it goes something like this: their Umpires are Wise and Fair Men just trying to get each and every call right, their Players are Hard-Working, Clean-Living Athletes who just love to compete and their Owners are Stewards of the Game doing their best to promote and protect our National Pastime.
"Throwback" is the best baseball book I've read. In fact, I have 2 copies, one for reference and another to (hopefully) get signed one day. It should be mandatory reading before you can call yourself a fan.
Thanks, John. If we're ever in the same vicinity, I'd be happy to sign that for you. (Jason's signature would be better, but you wake what you can get.)
Yup, knowing what's going on makes it way more interesting. Didn't squeeze it in, but not showing anybody up goes both ways: if an umpire wants to tell the catcher or the hitter to shut up, he's heard enough, he'll suddenly decide to clean home plate. That way he can get into their faces without fans knowing he's chewing them out.
I’m taking off my Royals fan hat for a moment and agreeing with you—only in the spirit of yep, that was amazing… and it’s because of that game, I became a serous fan of the Royals and the game.
Most batters take a pitch when the count is 3-0, but why does it seem like umpires are reluctant to call the following pitch a ball? Point of emphasis from the league office to cut down on walks (pace of play) or to encourage batters to put the ball in play (action)? The umpire is biased towards the underdog (pitcher behind in the count), especially if he has tenure? The umpire is trying to speed up the game (perhaps he is very tired, has a flight to catch or dinner reservations)?
I just found your column a few months ago, through CSotD, and I've especially enjoyed your baseball columns -- so many things I wish I had known before! But today's really caught me by surprise. I have been disappointed that I could no longer watch games on TV (I'm not willing to pay so much extra!), but maybe I don't care anymore if that's really the way the game is played. Umpires really are that thin-skinned? I do have an overly strong sense of fairness, but this seems so totally uncalled-for.
Becky, feel free to reach your own conclusions, but I see it as a tradition (you don't show me up and I won't show you up) and expecting the new guys in the league to respect that tradition. Some of the new guys don't like that...if you got a multi-million dollar signing bonus you might think you don't have to listen to anybody.
But veteran players will explain the unwritten rules and if a rookie glares back at an umpire after a call he doesn't like, a veteran might tell him to cool it and apologize to the umpire. It doesn't mean the rookie has to think the call was right, it just means show some respect to the guys who have been here a while.
As I explained in an earlier comment, it goes both ways: umpires aren't supposed to show up players either and it's considered unprofessional when they do.
Yes, I see. Tradition and the fact that it goes both ways is probably the best way of looking at it. But it's like a mini-kingdom. The umpire's ruling stands even when it's not consistent with the rule book, and there's no recourse for the batter.
Thanks, Matt. But I always redirect praise to the players and coaches and point out that I'm just trying accurately reflect what the players and coaches told me (although I do tend to agree with them and think their contribution has been ignored far too often).
When someone wanted to start an argument with me (and a lot of sabermetric fans did and probably still do) I'd point out that they weren't really arguing with me, they were actually arguing with the players and coaches who went out and stood on dirt and played the game.
And if you think the people who actually play the game have nothing to teach you, you're kidding yourself.
Who would have thought a guy from El Dorado Hills would have become such a gifted authority on the "Game-within the Game". I respect and appreciate your knowledge. Custer
John: I appreciate the appreciation, but I don't consider myself a gifted authority and I don't think most players would either. Thinking you know it all is a sure sign you don't. The players (OK, most of them...not all) appreciated that I wanted to learn and would listen and if you came at them with that attitude, most of them are happy to talk about what they do for a living. I was lucky so many players and coaches were willing to talk and I'm happy to share what they shared with me.
"Throwback" is the best baseball book I've read. In fact, I have 2 copies, one for reference and another to (hopefully) get signed one day. It should be mandatory reading before you can call yourself a fan.
Thanks, John. If we're ever in the same vicinity, I'd be happy to sign that for you. (Jason's signature would be better, but you wake what you can get.)
I just ordered a copy from Amazon.
Oh man… GOLD. I actually gasped and laughed out loud.
If I’d known this game was going on within the game, I could’ve had so much more fun!
And who knew umpires were such delicate flowers.
Bumgarner forever.
Yup, knowing what's going on makes it way more interesting. Didn't squeeze it in, but not showing anybody up goes both ways: if an umpire wants to tell the catcher or the hitter to shut up, he's heard enough, he'll suddenly decide to clean home plate. That way he can get into their faces without fans knowing he's chewing them out.
Noted and filed.
Maybe Bellino was secretly a Royals fan and just waiting…waiting to stick it to Bumgarner.
Hate to say it, but Bumgarner deserves a ton of credit for stepping up and doing what he did against the Royals.
I’m taking off my Royals fan hat for a moment and agreeing with you—only in the spirit of yep, that was amazing… and it’s because of that game, I became a serous fan of the Royals and the game.
Love your "inside baseball" stuff.
Thanks, Joel. As always, the credit goes to the players like Jason Kendall. They're the ones that showed me what to look for.
Most batters take a pitch when the count is 3-0, but why does it seem like umpires are reluctant to call the following pitch a ball? Point of emphasis from the league office to cut down on walks (pace of play) or to encourage batters to put the ball in play (action)? The umpire is biased towards the underdog (pitcher behind in the count), especially if he has tenure? The umpire is trying to speed up the game (perhaps he is very tired, has a flight to catch or dinner reservations)?
I just found your column a few months ago, through CSotD, and I've especially enjoyed your baseball columns -- so many things I wish I had known before! But today's really caught me by surprise. I have been disappointed that I could no longer watch games on TV (I'm not willing to pay so much extra!), but maybe I don't care anymore if that's really the way the game is played. Umpires really are that thin-skinned? I do have an overly strong sense of fairness, but this seems so totally uncalled-for.
Becky, feel free to reach your own conclusions, but I see it as a tradition (you don't show me up and I won't show you up) and expecting the new guys in the league to respect that tradition. Some of the new guys don't like that...if you got a multi-million dollar signing bonus you might think you don't have to listen to anybody.
But veteran players will explain the unwritten rules and if a rookie glares back at an umpire after a call he doesn't like, a veteran might tell him to cool it and apologize to the umpire. It doesn't mean the rookie has to think the call was right, it just means show some respect to the guys who have been here a while.
As I explained in an earlier comment, it goes both ways: umpires aren't supposed to show up players either and it's considered unprofessional when they do.
Yes, I see. Tradition and the fact that it goes both ways is probably the best way of looking at it. But it's like a mini-kingdom. The umpire's ruling stands even when it's not consistent with the rule book, and there's no recourse for the batter.
I always enjoy your perspective on baseball. Well done.
Thanks, Matt. But I always redirect praise to the players and coaches and point out that I'm just trying accurately reflect what the players and coaches told me (although I do tend to agree with them and think their contribution has been ignored far too often).
When someone wanted to start an argument with me (and a lot of sabermetric fans did and probably still do) I'd point out that they weren't really arguing with me, they were actually arguing with the players and coaches who went out and stood on dirt and played the game.
And if you think the people who actually play the game have nothing to teach you, you're kidding yourself.
Who would have thought a guy from El Dorado Hills would have become such a gifted authority on the "Game-within the Game". I respect and appreciate your knowledge. Custer
John: I appreciate the appreciation, but I don't consider myself a gifted authority and I don't think most players would either. Thinking you know it all is a sure sign you don't. The players (OK, most of them...not all) appreciated that I wanted to learn and would listen and if you came at them with that attitude, most of them are happy to talk about what they do for a living. I was lucky so many players and coaches were willing to talk and I'm happy to share what they shared with me.
You are a humble man-it serves us better
Thanks, John...but as the saying goes I've got lots to be humble about.