Is umpiring the worst it has ever been?

[MikeThierry]

I have seen so many bad things with umps this year in which I have to ask that question. Take a look at this article. If this is true, this is an absolute abuse of power by the umps.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-bi...144549402.html

[RollyInRaleigh]

Craziest thing I ever heard.

[MikeThierry]

Craziest thing I ever heard.

I was shocked when I read this story. Diaz should be suspended in my opinion over this if it's true.

[RollyInRaleigh]

He should definitely be reprimanded. Umpires need to have control in the game but they don't have to be a horse's @$$.

[westofyou]

No way

The umpires are better trained than ever, and despite the recent stuff way less combative

There is no comparison to the past

[bucksfan2]

He should definitely be reprimanded. Umpires need to have control in the game but they don't have to be a horse's @$$.

Is this anything out of the ordinary? I have watched enough baseball games to realize that some umps hand the catcher the new baseball and others throw it back to the pitcher himself. If Diaz always throws the ball pack himself then this is much ado about nothing. If he doesn't always throw the ball back to the pitcher than Diaz is being petty, but I don't really see how this changes the game one way or another.

[GoReds]

No way

The umpires are better trained than ever, and despite the recent stuff way less combative

There is no comparison to the past

That's not to say there still isn't room for vast improvement.

[MikeThierry]

Is this anything out of the ordinary? I have watched enough baseball games to realize that some umps hand the catcher the new baseball and others throw it back to the pitcher himself. If Diaz always throws the ball pack himself then this is much ado about nothing. If he doesn't always throw the ball back to the pitcher than Diaz is being petty, but I don't really see how this changes the game one way or another.

As Martin pointed out, it's a way to keep his arm loose so it's easier for him to throw out potential runners on base. It might be a minor thing, technically speaking, but it's a perfect example of the power trip these umps have formed over the years.

[RollyInRaleigh]

Is this anything out of the ordinary? I have watched enough baseball games to realize that some umps hand the catcher the new baseball and others throw it back to the pitcher himself. If Diaz always throws the ball pack himself then this is much ado about nothing. If he doesn't always throw the ball back to the pitcher than Diaz is being petty, but I don't really see how this changes the game one way or another.

If the catcher asks to throw the ball back, the umpire should let him and have no objection. The umpire does not have to throw the ball back to the pitcher. If the catcher doesn't request it, I have no problem, but to say "you haven't earned it," is a slap in the face to any major league baseball player and reason enough to raise question with that particular umpire.

[George Anderson]

No way

The umpires are better trained than ever, and despite the recent stuff way less combative

There is no comparison to the past

No question, the problem is like I have said several times is the camera work is so advanced now that we can see plays missed that years ago we would not of seen. Also we now have 24/7 news that if a controversial play did happen every knows about it as with years past it was a simple blurb in the paper.

I have a hard time watching old games because the umpiring is so atrocious, todays umpires while far from perfect are the best in the history of the game.

[RedlegJake]

Umps today can't get away with half the stuff they used to. They are better and more professional than ever. The other night I was watching the Yanks/Detroit and the pitcher got angry at the ump. The announcers said in the old days the next two pitches would have been balls no matter what he threw. Yet the next pitch was a called strike on the corner - and it was close. Would have been easy for that ump to "get even" and call that a ball. Sure, they make mistakes and sometimes they might irritate a player like this situation, but it's hardly a game changing thing. The old days of literally "umpiring with a vengeance" are gone.

[RollyInRaleigh]

I would agree that umpiring is better than it's ever been. This incident had nothing to do with the quality of umpiring. It had everything to do with the character of the umpire and being a little bit of a.........

[MikeThierry]

I'm a younger guy so I didn't get to see what Umpiring was like back in the 60's, 70's, or 80's. My perspective on this is from the 90's on. I feel though that there has at least been some regression in umpiring since the mid-2000's. Even if today's standard is better than it was 40 years ago, that doesn't mean that there hasn't been any regression as of recent.

[westofyou]

I'm a younger guy so I didn't get to see what Umpiring was like back in the 60's, 70's, or 80's. My perspective on this is from the 90's on. I feel though that there has at least been some regression in umpiring since the mid-2000's. Even if today's standard is better than it was 40 years ago, that doesn't mean that there hasn't been any regression as of recent.

I see the opposite

They consult each other more, allow a little more venting, don't act as combative, are in better shape to be in the right place

[AtomicDumpling]

I think umpiring is better than it has ever been, but it still has a LOT of room for improvement. The missed calls can be corrected with technology and instant replay. The egotistical, attention-seeking, antagonistic, hot-headed, player-baiting umpires can only be corrected with an increased commitment from the league office to impose strong disciplinary action when needed.