For Female Umps, No Field of Dreams

They cheapen the game: Bill Plaschke

(NEWSER) - Kick all the dirt you like, it won't change the call. But that doesn't stop MLB players and managers from harassing umpires. "Why is this the only sport where these childish rebellions against authority are not only accepted, but condoned and sometimes even celebrated?" writes Bill Plaschke in the Los Angeles Times . "Can you imagine the NFL allowing its coaches to run across the field to scream at a referee?" More»

Shouldn't Bud Selig just set matters right?

(NEWSER) - The baseball world is up in arms over the blown call that cost Armando Galarraga his perfect game. So here's a radical idea: Why can't Bud Selig just reverse the dang call? “Only a grinch would protest such a thing,” writes Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post . And “if Selig is powerful enough to have canceled a World Series, I'm guessing he is powerful enough to erase one measly infield single.” More»

Postseason miscues have MLB considering drastic changes

(NEWSER) - This year’s postseason has featured the usual thrills—pitchers' duels, come-from-behind victories—and an outbreak of something unusual: botched calls by umpires. The threat of more gaffes in next week’s World Series has the tradition-bound sport considering expanding the use of instant replay beyond the verification of home runs. And not everyone objects. More»

Machines might be able to do this job better

(NEWSER) - Joe Mauer smashed a ball to left field in the 11th inning Friday, and it landed fair, a foot inside the line. But it won’t show up on any box score, because umpire Phil Cuzzi, standing just 10 feet away, ruled it foul. It’s just one of several blown calls in this postseason, and as the errors pile up, some are wondering: Do we really need umpires—or could a machine do the job better? More»

It's no NBA—but it shouldn't be, argues blogger. Plus, some players are hot.

(NEWSER) - The WNBA finals are going on, which has—in the past—led Sam Greenspan to joke, “Man I hope one of the players lands a one-handed breakaway dunk to seal the best-of-one series!” The league is “universally ripped on,” he writes for 11points.com, but the time has come to give it a break, and here’s why:

• The playoffs don’t go on forever: “As much as I love them, even I find the NBA playoffs to be farcically slow.”