Question of reffing/umpiring

[tornado]

We've talked many times on the boards whether refs or umps call "make-up calls" or whether they're biased one way or another - and some still believe they are fully objective, professional, and always above reproach...
but something that was discussed a few nights ago on the White Sox game got me thinking...

Here's what happened...the batter had a 3-ball count and when the pitch was outside he threw hit bat towards the dugout and headed towards first base.
Problem was - the ump unexpectedly called the pitch a strike..

As the batter headed back top the plate, Hawk Harrelson and the other announcer started in on a discussion of how the batter had better apologize to the ump because he wouldn't want to get on the ump's wrong side - or he'd be getting terrible ball/strike calls the rest of the night....and the conversation carried on from there...but the main point is this...

Harrelson is saying BEYOND question that if the ump believes you have shown him up or owe him an apology, then it affects his calls tremendously and he starts calling plays differently for you than he would for someone or anyone else...or differently than he was calling plays before you ticked him off.

If this is the case - and Harrelson assuredly claimed it was, then he's saying in effect that the refs/umps are all tremendously biased, easily influenced, and capable of changing their calls on a minute to minute basis which throws the entire integrity of the game - in fact ALL SPORTS - out the window for good.

so what gives - are umps that capable of getting mad at an individual and getting back at the player by intentionally making BAD CALLS??

[wily coyote]

We've talked many times on the boards whether refs or umps call "make-up calls" or whether they're biased one way or another - and some still believe they are fully objective, professional, and always above reproach...
but something that was discussed a few nights ago on the White Sox game got me thinking...

Here's what happened...the batter had a 3-ball count and when the pitch was outside he threw hit bat towards the dugout and headed towards first base.
Problem was - the ump unexpectedly called the pitch a strike..

As the batter headed back top the plate, Hawk Harrelson and the other announcer started in on a discussion of how the batter had better apologize to the ump because he wouldn't want to get on the ump's wrong side - or he'd be getting terrible ball/strike calls the rest of the night....and the conversation carried on from there...but the main point is this...

Harrelson is saying BEYOND question that if the ump believes you have shown him up or owe him an apology, then it affects his calls tremendously and he starts calling plays differently for you than he would for someone or anyone else...or differently than he was calling plays before you ticked him off.

If this is the case - and Harrelson assuredly claimed it was, then he's saying in effect that the refs/umps are all tremendously biased, easily influenced, and capable of changing their calls on a minute to minute basis which throws the entire integrity of the game - in fact ALL SPORTS - out the window for good.

so what gives - are umps that capable of getting mad at an individual and getting back at the player by intentionally making BAD CALLS??

I would never say it doesn't happen but I will tell you the good ones wouldn't make up a call. Baseball is a different animal. You have so many close pitches it probably would be easy to expand the strike zone a tad if some bozo is showing you up without argueing. To argue pitches in baseball gets you an automatic seat in the locker room. But it is easy to call a borderline pitch a strike. Balls and strikes are missed so often it's easy for Hawk to use that as an excuse for a make up call. I can only speak for myself and I NEVER had a make up call to even out a missed call or get even with a coach or player.

[Chico]

Last week I watched the replay of the MLB player who was suspended for throwing his helmet that accidentally bounced up and hit the umpire. On a 3-1 count he took a pitch and started to first base. It was called a strike. He was then called out on the next pitch. I have never seen a pitch so far out of the strike zone be called a strike. Obviously the umpire thought he was showed up the pitch before. Very unprofessional. Maybe he should be suspended also.