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From: rossiter@cornell.UUCP (David Rossiter)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: amateur vs. major league umpires
Message-ID: <1645@cornell.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Oct-84 13:00:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: cornell.1645
Posted: Wed Oct 17 13:00:29 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Oct-84 14:22:06 EDT
References: <537@loral.UUCP> <392@uwmacc.UUCP> <1594@cornell.UUCP> <871@hou3c.UUCP>
Reply-To: rossiter@gvax.UUCP (David Rossiter)
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Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept.
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In response to Bob Switzer's comments about umpires:  the issue wasn't a
particular ball or strike, it was the CONSISTENCY of the call.  Officiating
is very difficult in any sport, but the main thing is always consistency.
Get a consistent referee in basketball, and the game flows well (whether
they're calling the fouls or letting them play); if the same infraction
is called differently (and unpredictably) the result is a frustrating game
to play in or watch.  It's the same with balls and strikes.  I felt that
the amateurs were quite inconsistent with their calls.  I know we can't
see too well from center field, and the announcers can't be trusted, but
you could see the reaction of pitchers, catchers, and batters: truly
baffled by the calls (not necessarily angry, just baffled).  A good control
pitcher is really bothered by an inconsistent strike zone, the same for
a hitter with a good eye.  It's not so bad for a free swinger or a power
pitcher.  The difference in the 5th game of the LCS was noticable.  Hitters
walked up to the plate with a different look, confident of how to watch for
their pitch, and the pitchers were able to 'work' the batter.

I'm very pleased that Uberroth gave the umps a big settlement in arbitration.
They are tops and deserve it.  (Of course, you get jerks like Luciano every
once in a while, but after all he was AL, which isn't real baseball).