NL Divisional Series Preview

[Gator]

It has been a long baseball season, made a bit longer by the Tigers-Twins
one game playoff that had no end.

The Philadelphia Phillies led the National League East for much of the
year, leaving little doubt that they would take the division. The same can
be said for the St. Louis Cardinals who completely dominated the Central
Division the entire second half of the year. The West, however, was a
little dicey.

First we didn’t know who was going to win the Wild Card, then when the
Colorado Rockies became the last team to lock up a spot in the playoffs,
we didn’t know until the last day of the season whether the Rockies or the
LA Dodgers were going to win the division because the Rockies kept winning
and the Dodgers kept losing. The Dodgers finally ended up winning division
the last day of the season. Very exciting stuff.

Now, as we enter the post-season, we decided to take a look at how the
series would shape up. Here is how we, at Around the Bases, think the
National League Divisional Series are going to go (tomorrow we’ll look at
the American League Divisional Series):

Read more at:
Around The Bases Vol XVIII: NL Divisional Series Preview
http://www.tmrzoo.com/?p=4889

[Hooch]

There is no way baseball should be played in below freezing temps.

[Gator]

I am very surprised we haven't had any comments about the horrendous umpiring that we've seen over the course of all of 4 series, or a discussion centering on how the need for expanded instant replay becomes more apparennt every game.

As a fan, I am very discouraged by the fact that although the tools exist, and other sports use them with great success, baseball refuses to use the tools that will allow them the ability to get the calls right.

There is no good reason why they can't have a 5th umpire who sits in a room watching the same HD replays that we're watching at home. The calls can be corrected in moments, by a quick call to the crew chief.

Of course, balls and strikes could never be reviewed, but almost everything else should be. There's no reason why they wouldn't want to do whatever they can to make sure they get the calls correct, every time. And that includes using modern technology.

[Hooch]

The umpiring has been an abomination. It really has affected the result of multiple games in the first round. The local sports channel were killing the umps... and that is even after the Phillies benefited from some horrible calls. The national media needs to make it an issue.

I'm all for a realtime booth official in every sport. It's time.

[Securb]

It is because every year these officials have a new group of rules to enforce.

[3dR3]

at least they were consistent

consistently bad...

[Gator]

It is because every year these officials have a new group of rules to enforce.

I think it's more that they're not held to a standard. They make shit calls and get away with it, time and time again. Where's their penalty? What happens to C.B. Bucknor for making those 2 horrible calls the other day in the same game at 1st base?

What kind of fine will the umpire pay who made the WRONG call, calling Joe Mauer's ground rule double a foul ball, even though it clearly bounced in fair territory? His crew chief even said right after the game that the ball was fair.

There is no accountability. And unitl there is, there will be no change.

[3dR3]

I think it's more that they're not held to a standard. They make shit calls and get away with it, time and time again. Where's their penalty? What happens to C.B. Bucknor for making those 2 horrible calls the other day in the same game at 1st base?

What kind of fine will the umpire pay who made the WRONG call, calling Joe Mauer's ground rule double a foul ball, even though it clearly bounced in fair territory? His crew chief even said right after the game that the ball was fair.

There is no accountability. And unitl there is, there will be no change.

are you talking about baseball or our government?

[Gator]

Hmm. Take your pick. I'll get into either discussion.

[Securb]

Hmm. Take your pick. I'll get into either discussion.

WTF do you know about Goverment?