I don’t know if he positions there for maximum view of any pickoff attempt, once a runner is on (it would be a reasonably good look at a catcher’s pick off attempt), but once the ball is hit into play, I really don’t think that is the best place to determine ball, glove, bag questions. Getting down and getting close is the way to the right call, imo.

If that 1st base ump thinks his only responsibility is to stare daggers at the first base bag, it makes it that much more incredible that they have missed the calls at first that they have missed this PS (I may have never missed a SINGLE call of this variety).

I start on the line, to determine fair or foul on the batted ball. I follow the hit ball. If there is a play at first coming, I continue to follow the ball, the run around behind the first baseman, and off at an angle, with the whole field still in front of me. I crouch down. which allows me to see ball, 1st baseman, and runner. Until the very moment of first impact by the runner’s foot or the caught ball, I am aware of everything else on the field.

And I damn well know if I’ve got a batsmen coming to first or a runner avoiding being doubled up play on my plate.

The whole thing is pathetic. Right down to the laughably bad check swing call that preceded it.

That rule isn’t even a rule. But I figure it’s “does the bat cross the plate” or “do your wrists break?” When neither one is close to happening, and you call swing, you should probably just shoot yourself in the face.

Disgusting.

And William, I don’t know enough about umping to know if the 1st base umps call should have been made in concert with the 2nd base umps, or independent. Nonetheless, the play was confusing for everyone… even the umps

It’s already forgotten. We ran into a great pitcher, tomorrow Pedro will not be like Lee..I have faith!

And I have already explained why the idea that the 1st base ump should not be taking in the 2nd base umps call is just illogical – you HAVE to know what that call is in order to properly do your job.

The only explanation I can even begin to fathom is that the 1st base ump missed the 2nd base ump’s call and therefore had Cano on first, safe by reaching first while Howard came off the bag. At which point he needed to have it explained to him that Cano, too, was out. That would not change that he

1) gave Matsui a misleading call and

2) wasn’t aware of the second base call, which, as I have painstakingly explained, is well within your responsibilities, particularly when that call is being made right next to the fielder (Rollins), whose every move you are picking up like a hawk, as you attempt to follow ball from hand, through air, into glove.

It looks to me as if Matsui doesn’t know that when a umpire raises his fist in the air, it indicates an out on the fly.

So those numbers are not that bad, except for the fact that only 3 players are responsible for most of it.

In the DS and CS combined, the Phillies posted a line of:
.261 .363 .478 .840
compared to a regular season line of:
.258 .334 .447 .781

This does not bode well for the Yankees, especially when you add tonights game to those numbers.