Worst Umpire Calls in the 2010 MLB Playoffs (Part 2)
This is a continuation of the first article regarding bad calls by umpires in the 2010 postseason.
Similar to Jeffrey Maier’s incident at the 1996 World Series, the umpire in Game 4 of the Rangers versus the Yankees made a horrible call. In the second inning with one out, Yankees’ batter Robinson Cano hit a home run to right field which should have been
an easy catch by Nelson Cruz. But no, when the ball was just about to land in Cruz’s glove, a fan grabbed his glove, causing him to miss the catch. When a fan interferes with a ball that was catchable, it is ruled as spectator interference and the play is
not valid. But in this case, a home run was ruled and resulted with the Yankees winning the game, 10-3.
Possibly the worst umpire call in the playoffs took place during Game 1 of the Braves versus the Giants. It should have been a double play for the Braves, but, thanks to the umpire, it was not so. Seconds after Pat Burrell struck out, Giants rookie Buster
Posey was called safe at second, for his first career steal. The replays showed that he was indeed out, but was not called so. One out later, Posey scored the game’s only run after a single by Cody Ross. All Posey had to say after the game was “I'm glad there's
no instant replay.”
Although umpiring is a difficult task, most of the umpires in the above stated misinterpreted calls refused to change their verdict even after arguments by both players and managers. Although they cannot be sure what they saw, a smart move would be to confer
with other umpires to reach a decision, rather than stand firm on a bad judgment call. Most of these calls affected the outcome of the game, and, if called correctly, there might have been two different teams qualifying for the World Series.
With the World Series now underway, most teams that were victims of game-costing bad calls now sit at home and seethe over the umpires’ bad calls, but they can do nothing more than that. Most of the referees, after seeing replays, admit that they did make
a bad call, but it is too late to do anything about it. The Rangers and Giants are now well established in the World Series, with the Giants winning the openers, and they, at least, are thankful for the umpires’ misjudged calls.
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