pudge's Journal: Arizona D-Backs Fans Suck

Tonight Justin Upton clearly violated the rules. It was absolutely interference. The rules call for that play to be ruled, effectively, a double play. The umps did the right thing, no question.

And the fans either don't know the rules or don't care: they proceeded to showe the field with debris.

(Not that I can blame the fans: even D-Backs manager Bob Melvin later said the slide was not illegal, because Upton "could get the base." But that's not what the rule says. Most of the commentators are wrong too, they are saying the slide would have been legal if he didn't raise his arm, but that's not true.)

Some may say, hey Pudge, the Red Sox fans did that in the 1999 ALCS. The difference is that the umps had, in that game -- for the second time that series -- called Jose Offerman out after "Knobby" completely missed the tag. And when Nomar was incorrectly called out at first, the fans lost it.

I am not saying the fans were right to throw stuff on the field. They weren't. I am saying they were right that the umps were wrong (and horribly wrong).

And frankly, what the Sox fans did in the 1999 ALCS (against the Yankees) helped improve officiating in baseball. That was one of the events that forced the MLB to adopt various new procedures, especially the "ump huddle."

Incidentally, A-Rod earlier this year, infamously, did almost the exact same slide against Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox. He was not called for interference. He should have been. But since A-Rod is crying at home now, it's all good.

embarrassing

[stoolpigeon]

i was watching the game last night and i was embarrassed. my wife and i had d-backs season tickets until we had kids. it was never like that.

their attendance has been abysmal this year. all i can think is that with the playoffs they had a lot of people at the game who wouldn't normally be there.

the part about the call is kind of irrelevant. unless they were showing a replay on the jumbotron - the fans don't know what happened for sure. they just see that the guy on second is out but the

Good News

[RailGunner]

Sports Illustrated is picking the Indians in 6.
Which means Boston will win it in 6.

And when Boston wins, it'll be something like RailGunner: 500, SI: 3.

Josh Beckett vs. C.C. Fatbathia tonight...

Re:

[pudge]

And when Boston wins, it'll be something like RailGunner: 500, SI: 3.

:D

Josh Beckett vs. C.C. Fatbathia tonight...

Bring it on.

Re:

[RailGunner]

The "choke in a big game" Sabathia showed up tonight.
Ha!
I respect the Red Sox. I hate the Indians...

Re:

[pudge]

Bring on the best big-game pitcher in recent MLB history ... !

Re:

[RailGunner]

Kenny Rogers? :)

Re:

[pudge]

Ummmmmmmmmmm no.

But then again, Schilling is getting old, so who knows how he'll do. Ask me in 7 hours.

Re:

[RailGunner]

Kenny Rogers went longer than the 5th inning. :)

I figured the Indians would win game 2. I think they'll win game 5, as Sabathia will rebound, but Game 6 is where Boston will put the Tribe out of their misery.

Re:

[pudge]

Yeah, Schilling was off. But no way, Sabathia falls to Beckett again in Game 5.

I think Indians win Monday or Tuesday, and Sox win behind Beckett and Schilling.

Not that it matters, since the Rockies will never lose another game.

Re:

[RailGunner]

Not that it matters, since the Rockies will never lose another game.

I thought the same thing in 2006 when the Tigers swept the A's in the ALCS...

Rockies might pull it off. They're red hot, but if they sweep the D'backs and the Sox / Tribe goes 6 or 7... the Rockies will have an awful long time off - something that arguably derailed the Tigers last year.