WSU vs SIU - Game 2

[haysdb]

According to Warren Nolan, our RPI is now 22, despite the losses at Nebraska and yesterday against SIU. We obviously can't count on that continuing to happen, but the point is, no one game is going to knock us out of the running.

We need to win today. If we "win the series," the loss yesterday doesn't hurt us. We might drop a couple of spots in the polls if people just behind us had 4-0 or 5-0 weeks, but that will be about the extent of it.

Also of note, according to Warren Nolan, our SOS is now 88. Not great, but much better than it was.

[tripleshock]

game 3 update:

after 3 innings, it's Umpires 3, SIU 1.

makes me proud to be a Shocker fan, when this is what we have to do to score.

[shockerfanmas]

tripleshock, you can say that again. That 2 RBI single from Gillespie to get us on the board was a major gift, he shoulda been rung up on that curve ball right down the middle a couple pitches before that.

[WuDrWu]

game 3 update:

after 3 innings, it's Umpires 3, SIU 1.

makes me proud to be a Shocker fan, when this is what we have to do to score.

Some of you guys make me sick. Go be a fan of someone else.


I'm sorry the 30-7 record embarasses you so much and causes you so much personal pain.


Seriously, is there anything our athletic programs can do that would make you, shockerfanmas, lawmaker, etc proud?

[shockerfanmas]

oh don't get me wrong, I'm proud of this team, I was just agreeing that we got a few gift runs that we probably shouldn't have gotten. However, we have some big games coming up next week, it'll be important to at least get 4 or 5. And if you want to be technical, we're actually only 27-7, 3 of our wins weren't D1 wins. Still pretty impressive though

[Cdizzle]

tripleshock, you can say that again. That 2 RBI single from Gillespie to get us on the board was a major gift, he shoulda been rung up on that curve ball right down the middle a couple pitches before that.

So, you are in fact admitting that an official was wrong? I guess that's progress. Funny how every time it goes against us it's a difficult call that the ref probably got right, but when one goes our way it's a gift.

[shockerfanmas]

nope, I'll gladly admit when I think somebody blew a call, but being an umpire I understand certain reasonings of why some calls are made, and I like to try to explain it to the fans, which is pointless because most fans just don't get it. Today, I think we got our share of calls from the home plate umpire, and of course didn't really see a lot on the bases that was wrong

[SpanglerFan316]

nope, I'll gladly admit when I think somebody blew a call, but being an umpire I understand certain reasonings of why some calls are made, and I like to try to explain it to the fans, which is pointless because most fans just don't get it. Today, I think we got our share of calls from the home plate umpire, and of course didn't really see a lot on the bases that was wrong

I don't understand the calls at first (for and against us) where the runner reaches the bag before the ball is caught but is called out. Sometimes the play is very close and sometimes the runner is half of a step past the bag or an entire step past. I don't like it when we get the call and I don't like it when the other team gets the call. If it is extremely close, I'll trust the officials. When it is not close and a bad call is made, I get upset. This problem can be solved (e.g. set up a camera and look at the video on close plays).

[ShockerFever]

tripleshock, you can say that again. That 2 RBI single from Gillespie to get us on the board was a major gift, he shoulda been rung up on that curve ball right down the middle a couple pitches before that.

This goes to tripleshock too, not just you..

Do you not think SIU was given any gifts on Saturday? A questionable pitch called our way and maybe they don't go on to score 3 runs in an inning and go on to beat us? Why is it whenever we get a gift it's a big huge deal but when the other team gets a gift it goes unmentioned by you or other members of the peanut gallery?

And even so, the 5 run margin I think was more than enough to say that we weren't 'given' the game.

Is refereeing games your serious profession in life? That's fine and all, but maybe you should give up on being a Shocker fan since it's making you look like a pompous idiot.

[shockerfanmas]

Spanglerfan, this has been a touchy subject with me, and I have been given the same response from several umpires. When there is a bang bang play at first (and my definition of bang bang doesn't agree with some umpires definition), then as an umpire you take note of the fielder. If the fielder made a great play, a diving stop or something like that, then the defense is rewarded and the runner is called out. This is why you see so many bang bang plays that the runner looks safe and he is called out. If it's close, and the defense has made a great play, they'll get the call. Let's face it, everybody would want that call, right? Now, this is a different situation (for me anyways) if the runner is a half a step or more past the bag. If that's the case, the runner is safe in my mind. I do agree, you see a lot of umpires bang the guy even in that situation. I get a good laugh out of it because I know the intent of the call is right, but the call itself is wrong. Does that help some of you guys clear things up? Spanglerfan?

[RoyalShock]

To me, a "bang-bang" play means that the runner's safe/out status is inconclusive in realtime. If that is the case, I feel the runner should be safe. Along the same line as "innocent until proven guilty", the runner should be "safe until proven out".

I am not an umpire, nor I have I read the rulebook.

[shockerfanmas]

royal, I can understand your thinking, and that's where umpires judgement comes in. Let the play dictate whether the runner is safe tonight. The way it's explained to me, on a close play at first, if the defense makes a great play, then bang the runner out, because everybody wants that call and wants their defense rewarded. But if the fielder kicks the ball around, bobbles it, and the runner is busting hard down the line, bang bang, give it to the runner, because the defense lost their chance for an out by fieleding the ball cleanly.

Now, in my opinion, this is only on a bang bang play, where like you said, it's extremely hard to tell whether the runners foot hit the bag first, or if the ball went into the first basemans glove first. Those are tough calls.

However, some umpires take it to the extreme, considering it a bang bang play even when the runner is a half step or a step past the bag. My personal opinion is even though the fielder may have made a play worthy of ESPN webgems, if the runner has both feet past the first base bag, then he's obviously safe, and it's not a bang bang play. We can argue this all you want, i'm just telling you my philosophy on how this particular play is called.

[shockmonster]

You make it much too difficult. On a bang bang play at first, the umpire listens for the sound of the ball hittiing the glove and gets a good angle to see when the foot hits the bag.

[haysdb]

There is something distinctly uncomfortable about umpires taking "other factors" into consideration when making a call. The term "slippery slope" comes to mind.

[ShockerFever]

I agree with shockmonster and haysdb.

When calls are determined by the plays they make before the actual call, then you know there's something funky going on..

Which level of little league do you ump shockerfanmas?