Anyone else getting tired of MLB batters heading to first before the ball four call?

[tag0519]

I know I am. It seems this season more than others the batter is getting called back cuz the pitch is called a strike.

[Joltin' Joe]

I know I am. It seems this season more than others the batter is getting called back cuz the pitch is called a strike.

No but I am getting really tired of arrogant and incompetent umpires making a mockery of the rulebook to feed their egos and personal feelings.

[tag0519]

No but I am getting really tired of arrogant and incompetent umpires making a mockery of the rulebook to feed their egos and personal feelings.

Interesting. Maybe that wouldn't happen if the players would show more respect for them.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Interesting. Maybe that wouldn't happen if the players would show more respect for them.

If an ump intentionally changed the correct strike zone just to show up an arrogant player, they should be fired immediately. The umps job is to call fair balls an strikes, not to use the strikezone to punish whiny, disrespectful, or arrogant players. If a player is being disrespectful, they already have correct protocol - kicking them out of the game.

[Joltin' Joe]

If an ump intentionally changed the correct strike zone just to show up an arrogant player, they should be fired immediately. The umps job is to call fair balls an strikes, not to use the strikezone to punish whiny, disrespectful, or arrogant players. If a player is being disrespectful, they already have correct protocol - kicking them out of the game.

Exactly, couldn't have said it better myself.

In what other sport do individual officials have their own "strike zones" that have nothing to do with the actual strike zone in the rules book. We have umpires that are known to have wide strike zones, low strke zones, etc. Can you imagine an official in tennis widening the line or narrowing it depending on their preference for the player, their mood, or just for the sake of feeding their arrogant ego?

[Joltin' Joe]

Interesting. Maybe that wouldn't happen if the players would show more respect for them.

I wonder why the players don't have respect for them.....

Two wrongs certainly do not make right but this is the proverbial chicken or the egg problem if I ever saw one.

[metfan13]

I agree with all the posts here talking about arrogant umpires. If players whine, tell them to shut-up. If they don't shut-up, run them.
DON'T EVER, purposely call a ball a strike.

[ipitch]

If an ump intentionally changed the correct strike zone just to show up an arrogant player, they should be fired immediately.

Has anyone accused an ump of doing that?

[metfan13]

Has anyone accused an ump of doing that?

You hear all the time about umps making rookies earn their place, challenging them to see if they "take it". It's a constant point of discussion during Mets games concerning Ike Davis and how from day 1 he'd complain. Now it's worse because he's in a deeeeeep slump. But he gets no calls. And looking at the game charts he's getting the treatment it seems. Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling often comment that he needs to quiet down or the umps will expand the zone.

[BeatEmBucs]

Has anyone accused an ump of doing that?

No player could...or they would face a fine. I hate the lesson pro sports leagues teach our kids..."tell the truth....get punished with a heavy fine". I think more honesty in this world would be a good thing.

[metfan13]

No player could...or they would face a fine. I hate the lesson pro sports leagues teach our kids..."tell the truth....get punished with a heavy fine". I think more honesty in this world would be a good thing.

Would be great to see someone sit down with the MLB provided graphics and review how umps have screwed them.

"Well let's see, right here it's 1-1 and he calls this pitch outside/low a strike, now I'm in a 1-2 hole. Then I get it back to 3-2 and instead of a walk, I'm out on strikes on this pitch nowhere near the zone. Oh and on that one I have the overhead camera shot showing the ball coming down the line of the other batters box." What the hell, the players every mistake and failing gets reviewed over and over.

[tag0519]

You hear all the time about umps making rookies earn their place, challenging them to see if they "take it". It's a constant point of discussion during Mets games concerning Ike Davis and how from day 1 he'd complain. Now it's worse because he's in a deeeeeep slump. But he gets no calls. And looking at the game charts he's getting the treatment it seems. Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling often comment that he needs to quiet down or the umps will expand the zone.

Uh, "earning your place" has been around since as far as i can remember. And, it's not a baseball thing - it's a life thing.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Uh, "earning your place" has been around since as far as i can remember. And, it's not a baseball thing - it's a life thing.

Maybe so, but umpires shouldn't lie just to prove a point to the new guy. Their job is to get calls right, not play mind games.

[metfan13]

Uh, "earning your place" has been around since as far as i can remember. And, it's not a baseball thing - it's a life thing.

Doesn't make it right. That's NOT the umps job.

[m8644]

Uh, "earning your place" has been around since as far as i can remember. And, it's not a baseball thing - it's a life thing.

Different strike zones for different players is basically a form of trying to "fix" the pennant race and if found to be true they should be fired immediately. It doesnt matter if its because the hitter is a rookie and needs to "earn his place"

What if a team happens to have more rookies than another team.....their strikezone should be smaller the entire season because of this??? Like I said...that's literally a form of fixing a pennant race, no matter what the reasoning is.