MLB Ump Taking Heat Nothing New

West

I know umps and refs are to be seen and heard only when they are doing their job of enforcing the rules and aspects of sporting events. But many think MLB umpire Joe West went just a tad overboard in a recent story on NorthJersey.com. But I also think his comments deserve some merit, too.

By now you've heard or read of West's comments in reference to the sometimes excrutiating amount of time some baseball games take to be played. It is even longer when the games involve the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox as West points out in the story. In the three game series, the shortest game timewise was 3:21. The longest being 3:48.

West has been demonized by virtually every person that has some form of association with baseball because of his comments. Curt Schilling had a comment or two about West and his appoach to games in which he is an ump.

"Watch Joe West during the game. He never lets the catcher throw a ball in play. He rushes everything, and calls a small plate. He's decent behind there, consistent, but smaller than he can be. If he wants to pick up the pace he should get the pace of the game going by calling more strikes ... strikes.

"Not to mention he often times acts like he'd rather be any place in the world other than the field."

Schilling has never been one to mince words, but he does have another reason game times seem extended.

"... Part of the reason the games are slower is because their offenses are so deep, and so good. Hitters never give away at-bats. Every pitch matters, on both sides, for nine innings.

"The reason the games are slow is very clear, and one not many will print -- TV. Ad revenue has gotten to the point that TV is allowed to dictate pace of game, not the game itself."

Excellent points, Curt. Deep offenses and TV revenue. Got it and I agree. That still doesn't explain why during some at-bats an individual will ask for timeout on almost every pitch.

We know of the "pathetic and embarassing" comment by West, but what's getting lost in all the fray is that were not getting the whole scope of West's comments. He understands why it happens.

"I understand it's strategy," West said. "I understand they're trying to set up the count and take so many pitches."

West also understands that the Yanks and Red Sox have the ability to score a lot if runs and that tends to lead to slow play. West points out that the umpires receive evaluations on the time of games, too. West elaborates a bit more on game times.

"It's sad when school kids can't watch the end of the game because it ends too late."

Ah, the kids. Always a soft spot when we view sports as a whole. I remember many a time sneaking and turning on my radio just to listen to the end of a game...and getting in trouble because I got caught. That was usually because I had the radio too lound.

I think some are also pointing fingers at Joe West when he's merely trying to enforce an edict MLB laid down some five years ago. When umpires aren't granting timeouts, as Angel Hernandez was clearly doing during the Yanks-Sox game on Tuesday evening, they receive criticism from the players and managers. When they do, they get most likely a mark from evaluators for not quickening the game's pace. It your classic "no win" situation...or is it?

Not if MLB steps forward and tells both the teams and the umpires that enforcement of these "rules" is mandatory.