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Score it an E on Blue and the MLB
Well here we are now about halfway through the event and I am still not really sure how I feel about it over all. On the one hand l must admit I have enjoyed watching the games I have been able to see, primarily because of the passion most of the teams have played with. In almost every game the level of intensity and focus the players have had has been representative of a team playing for their country's honor. Unfortunately if there has been one team whose passion and commitment to excellence on the field has come into question it would have to be the USA. Perhaps it's because we as Americans don't feel we have anything to prove to the rest of the world when it comes to baseball or maybe it is that the rest of the world is still seeking recognition for playing a quality brand of the sport and is willing to go at it harder to accomplish their goal. Let's hope it is something like that and not our arrogance and apathy versus their pride and devotion to country. Either way I would like to see my team, the USA, kick it into another gear and win or lose let everyone know they are proud to be an American and are willing to lay it on the line for their country. On the other hand there are several things about the WBC that have bothered me from the out set including some of the arrangements. First if the Classic is truly an international event the umpiring crews need to be mixed or if that is not possible they certainly need to be the best we can put on the field. It is my understanding that the vast majority of the umpires for the event are Americans who umpire in the minor leagues. It is also my understanding that the reason the umpires aren't Major League umpires is a matter of cost in that MLB was not willing to pay what the Major League umpires were asking for their services. What the arrangement that exists now does is lend itself to criticism from the rest of the world that the USA team has an unfair advantage in that the umpires are likely to give preference to them in close situations especially considering that over half the games are being played on American soil. Now that suspicion has legs to walk with in light of the controversial call in the USA verses Japan game on Sunday where the Japanese team had a run taken off the scoreboard after a plate umpire reversed the call of another umpire and said a Japanese runner had indeed left third base to soon on a tag play. The Americans went on to win the game in the next inning by one run. Upon further review through the blessing and curse television cameras are it appeared the umpire had indeed blown the call and possibly ultimately cost the Japanese team the game. No one will ever know for sure but it did take the momentary lead away from them and effectively end an inning when they could have possibly scored more runs. To the credit of the Japanese manager and team they handled the situation with all the class and dignity of a champion despite knowing that that one play could be critical in their attempt to advance to the final round of the classic. I only hope our American team would have acted with such class had the tables been reversed. For those of you, who like me, enjoy keeping score in a baseball game you know that for each thing that occurs there is a special way to score it in the score book. As for that particular play it would be most appropriate to score it as an error on the umpire if that were possible. For that matter it would be more appropriate to charge the error to Major League Baseball for not taking all the steps available to them to put the best umpires on the field and at least give the appearance of impartiality. Until next time...........................be safe!
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