In the space of about 35-40 minutes, the umpires have blown 3 very easy calls in tonight's game:
1. Scott Kazmir easily picks Nick Swisher off second base. The umpire is right in front of the play and inexplicably denies the Angels the out as he decides to give the Yankees an additional out.
2. The third base umpire, Tim McClelland* inadvertently evens it up by calling Nick Swisher out for leaving third base early on a sacrifice fly. Replays clearly show that Swisher did not leave early and also show that the umpire was watching the outfielder and did not look at Swisher at all so he has no idea as to when Swisher left the bag. He calls him out anyway.
3. McClelland then decides that things should not remain even and that somebody must have an artificial advantage so he denies the Angels a double play when their catcher tags two Yankees in a rundown; neither of which are on a base but the Angels are only awarded one out. McClelland was standing right in front of the play and apparently will feel no shame in cashing his check this week.
Don't umpires evolve like the rest of us?
It's like they are stuck in the Mesozoic Age.**
*If I spelled it right, it is dumb luck. I could easily look it up but there is a game on you know. (It is "McClelland" and I have made the change)
**Post inspired by my friend, Rick Watzke who I have been chatting with online about umpiring while posting this. No royalty checks for Rick this time though.
