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Can anyone remember a postseason where the umpiring has been this shitty? I can't.
Dye cannot tell a lie
Ump was wrong on controversial hit by pitch, says ex-Royal
By JEFF PASSAN - The Kansas City Star
CHICAGO — Jermaine Dye saved his honesty for after the game.
A phantom hit by pitch led to the umpteenth blown call in the playoffs as well as the Chicago White Sox’s comeback in game two of the World Series, culminating in a 7-6 victory against Houston on Scott Podsednik’s game-ending home run Sunday night.
Without umpire Jeff Nelson’s ruling that reliever Dan Wheeler hit Dye on a 3-2 pitch, though, the series might be tied.
Because on the pitch after Dye loaded the bases, Paul Konerko hit a grand slam that turned a two-run deficit into a 6-4 lead.
“If you look at the replay, it shows it hit the bat,” Dye said. “I can’t argue with that. I’d tell you guys lies if I said it hit me.”
Of course, Dye didn’t say anything to Nelson, nor did he act hurt. The nonchalance with which he moved after the pitch highlighted the fact that Dye wasn’t hit.
Still, when he turned around, Nelson delivered a surprising message.
“The umpire said, ‘Go to first base,’ ” said Dye, a former Royals outfielder, “so I went to first base.”
Astros manager Phil Garner emerged from the dugout to argue. Garner said Nelson did not check with other umpires. When Garner asked to see the ball and check for a scuff mark, it was already gone.
“I thought it was flat wrong,” Garner said.
Garner was flat right.
Replays showed the pitch, a high-and-inside fastball, hit the middle of the bat, just above Dye’s hands.
“It’s a tough one on the umpire,” Konerko said. “It’s close, and he has to go on instincts.”
In Sunday’s case, Nelson’s instincts were wrong. Just another in a long line of umpiring flubs this postseason, including the one most likely to be remembered, Doug Eddings’ mishandling of a dropped strike three in game two of the American League Championship Series.
While the Angels were quick to finger Eddings after that game, the Astros wouldn’t do the same. They came back and tied the game in the top of the ninth only to watch Podsednik’s home run sail into the right-field bleachers.
“That call,” Garner said, “didn’t beat us.”
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