As you can see in the photo below, the standard for being called out on your way to first base has changed a bit. Now, apparently, not only must you tag the runner, but you must also tackle him before he reaches the base and tie his feet, rodeo style. At least if the umpire is C.B. Bucknor.
Red Sox Nation is a little miffed this morning over a couple of blown calls by Bucknor, who not only inexplicably missed this tag by Kevin Youkilis, but botched another call at first in the sixth. And within minutes of the conclusion of the Angels’ 5-0 win in Game 1, the assault on Bucknor’s Wikipedia page had begun. Fun!
One of the new entries, via RED SOX MONSTER:
“During the offseason, Bucknor, who is legally blind, speaks at the Helen Keller Institute for Sensor Impaired Children.”
Then there was this:
C.B. Bucknor has to go. Two incredibly missed calls. What is he doing in a game of this magnitude? – Peter King tweet at 11:45pm on Oct 8, 2009
Yeah, there’s more.
And our own Brooks, who has been everywhere and seen more blown calls than just about anyone, checks in with this observation:
“I actually called dozens of his games in the minors going back to Class A ball! He was BRUTAL back then. A joke.”
But I’m sure all of these are gentle brickbats; said with love.
Yes, umpires blow calls. But what’s particularly galling to many is the perceived lack of consequences. Bucknor has twice been voted the worst umpire in the majors, yet he still gets a playoff gig. Strong union? Or just Selig’s sick sense of humor?
And most of all, you don’t upset Red Sox fans during a loss. They never forget.
10:00 am on October 9th, 2009
Fat Cow!
10:42 am on October 9th, 2009
I don’t understand how they get away with it. When coaches lose games, they get fired. When players don’t produce, they get released. When umpires blow calls they can not only affect the games but the coaches and players’ careers yet they get no repercussions. This is just wrong.
How many of us would lose our jobs if we ever made a mistake of this magnitude?
11:16 am on October 9th, 2009
Seems to me, being selected for an umpiring crew in a playoff series should be a reward for doing a good job throughout the season like in the NFL and NBA. This ump is consistently ranked the worst. He should never be allowed to ump in post-season game.
11:21 am on October 9th, 2009
Be careful Red Sox fans, don’t criticize him too much. This card carrying member of the three blind mice will be behind the plate tonight with Beckett pitching. Pay attention to the moving, amoeba-like strike zone during tonights game.
Again, who is in charge of correcting these umpires’ mistakes?
12:23 pm on October 9th, 2009
Red Sox fans crying? Nooooooo! Yes, the calls were blown, but they can sweep the rest of the series and move on. But fans of every Boston team are just not happy unless they are crying about something.
1:58 pm on October 9th, 2009
Bucknor. At first base. Too good to be true.
3:01 pm on October 9th, 2009
LOL, Booze Jockey. I thought about that too when I first read the story.
Here’s the thing Red Sox fans, the ump wasn’t up there at the plate all night long. He wasn’t in the box getting only 4 hits and going 0 for 5 with RISP.
The ump didn’t cause your team to lose, your Red Sox did. Move on, game 2.
4:27 pm on October 9th, 2009
BoozeJacky- my thoughts exactly