It was no different with Phil Cuzzi’s call in the AL Division Series, when Palermo says Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer’s apparent double was errantly ruled foul.The strike zone topic was really interesting, particularly this point:
The biggest misperception, Palermo says, is the strike-zone graphic on TV. It is phony and inaccurate, Palermo insists, making the umpires look terrible.
“They put up the same box for Freddie Patek and Dave Winfield,” Palermo says. “You telling me those two strike zones are the same? I don’t think so. Not at 6-foot-6 and 5-foot-4. They should say at the bottom of the screen, ‘This is for entertainment purposes only.’ “
Just the images of little Freddie Patek and Big Dave Winfield brought to mind some chuckles and giggles.
And then there is the sticky issue of the Yanks and Sox thumbing their noses at the “speed of play” rules:
“This is a hot button with the commissioner,” Palermo says. “We’ve got a couple teams — I’m not going to name names, but I think everybody knows who they are — and they’re arrogant. They don’t think this pertains to them. I had a president of one of those ballclubs tell me the system is flawed. I told him, ‘Then how did the 28 other teams conform to what we’re asking except for you and your next-door neighbor that you have a rivalry with?’“
Says Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter, realizing along with the other panelists that Palermo is alluding to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, “Everybody else gets screwed but those two teams.”
Palermo was particularly annoyed with Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, who was fined last season for throwing excessive pitches in the bullpen after being summoned, then tore up the letter of discipline in front of sports reporters.
As a fan of one of those two teams, I can attest (as can you) to the interminably long games the Sox and Yanks battle through. The number of mound visits, pitching changes, delay tactics can make you scream. Each game is treated like a Game 7. It’d be nice if every game wasn’t viewed as do-or-die, but they are. It’s also not fair that the Yanks and Sox get special treatment. They shouldn’t. Fine the players, managers, owners. Of course, given the amount of money riding on these games, the fines wouldn’t much matter. Missing a playoff berth is far more costly.
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Some related IIATMS postings on the subjects above:
