In Game One, we got the “Balk” controversy that I still have not seen the proper replay angles on to decide for myself if the call was correct.  My gut tells me Hamels did not balk, and with a lack of evidence to the contrary, I am going to side with Blue on that one.  Game Two’s controversial call after the jump.

In the second inning of last night’s Game Two of the World Series, there was an interesting situation.  Rocco Baldelli of the Devil Rays worked a 3 – 2 count against Phils blowhard Brett Myers.  Myers threw a pitch that was low and outside, and Rocco started to swing at it but then checked his swing.  Home-plate umpire Kerwin Danley then rang up Baldelli, or at least he appeared to.  He raised his right hand swiftly, and then did some weird point to first base.

Baldelli started down the basepath as if he had walked, and he never saw any of the drama play out behind him.  All he saw was first-base umpire Fieldin Culbreth give the safe signal, indicating that he did not go around on his swing.  Danley says he did not ask for help, but was merely pointing towards first to indicate the direction the batter should go.  Phils manager Charlie Manual went out and got an explanation.

“When he brought his hand up, I thought he called the guy out,” Manuel said. “And when I went out there, he said he was pointing for the guy to go to first base.”

What did Myers think of it?  I am not really sure, other than he blames the run he gave up that inning on the umps and thinks the umps missed that one.

“When I saw his hand go up like he called it a strike, he said he asked to check,” Myers said. “And you definitely could see him call him out. I was like, ‘What the heck was that?’ It was one of those things where it cost me a run, but you have to keep pitching.”

“You can’t let that get in your head,” Myers said. “So he missed that one. But maybe he’ll get to redeem himself. It’s part of the game. There’s human error, and that’s what makes it unpredictable and that’s what makes it fun.”

Now that I have seen the video, I have to say that Rocco did indeed check his swing.  In the end, the correct call was made, but the way that it was made was deplorable.  I have never seen an umpire react to a pitch in the way that Danley did, and not see the batter go back to the dugout in disappointment.  As for Myers’ comment about him missing the call and that maybe he will have a chance to redeem himself, shut it Brett.  He did not miss it and he did not cost you a run.  Throw a damned strike on the 3 – 2 count and it is not an issue.  Do not blame the ump because you failed to get it done.  Let us just hope that he did not bring any anger home with him last night.

Update

Looks like the Phillies and their fans are upset about something that happened in the 9th inning last night.  It appears that Danley missed Rollins getting hit by a pitch.  Well, the pitch hit his jersey, which is part of the player.  It shouldn’t be, but it is.  Rollins should have been awarded first base, based on the rules.  Terrible rule, and it should be reworked.  The entire HBP rules need to be overhauled.  I hate the way players will not try to move out of the way of the ball, like they are supposed to do, but instead merely change where the ball will hit them.  I understand taking one for the team, but the rules say you have to make an attempt to get out of the way.  If you do not make said attempt, you do not get first base.

Rollins did try to move out of the way though, and by doing so the ball grazed the front of his jersey.  Of course, the reigning NL MVP could have tried hitting the ball instead of whiffing on the next pitch and striking out, but that is beside the point.  Bad night for the umpiring crew, that is for sure.

I still haven’t seen a good angle on the balk no call, so I can not rule on that one yet.  As it stands, the Phils are up 1 – 0 in the horrible call department.