It's been a horrible year for baseball umpires and this week just concluded is no exception. A few weeks ago one umpire crew didn't even know that a pitcher had to pitch to at least one batter before being taken out of a game. Another crew did not want to admit a mistake and refused to over turn an instant replay that clearly showed that the ball hit was a home run.. Saturday Giant fans were in an uproar over two blown calls one at home and another at third by the same umpire that cost them at least one run. . Those two calls were forgotten when Pagan hit a two run inside the park walk off home run to win it for the Giants. In Seattle on the same day the first base umpire called a runner out when the pitcher caught the ball at first base but the first basement had his foot on the bag. He apologized the next day but couldn't one of the other umpires over rule the play? Major league umpires are mediocre because they are protected by a strong union just like in other fields such as eduction. Ask any teacher about incompetent teachers at their school and they stay because it is almost impossible to fire them.
I know it easy to say with these glaring errors that the umpires deserve a failing grade. I would give them a grade of 'C' . I believe they get about 80% of all the calls they make right. When I was in school a few decades ago that was a 'C'. I know today with grade inflation that it is most likely an 'A+'. Major league baseball must use the same new criteria.
Homer Sweeney
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