Umps Under Fire After Rash of Botched Calls

Female umpire speaks out against baseball's 'stained-grass ceiling'

(NEWSER) - Forget blown calls. The real problem with umpires in the MLB, says Perry Barber: A complete lack of females. Barber, who has been in the business since 1981, works high school, college, spring training, and Independent League games—and tells DoubleX , “ We’re just going to have to storm the Bastille, baby, and flood the schools with women candidates and shatter what I call the stained-grass ceiling.” 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»

These managers are an ump's worst nightmare

(NEWSER) - Among baseball managers, 10 have perfected the theatrics of fighting umps. Forbes looks at the skippers ejected most since 2004:

1. Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves: Also the all-time ejection king, Cox (34 ejections since '04) was once booted over stadium lights.
2. Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins: Fiery former player has 32 ejections.
3. Charlie Manuel, Philadelphia Phillies: Fans once egged on Manuel (21) as he berated an ump for two full minutes.

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»