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Worst. Call. Ever.

Frayed Knot Jul 21 2009 07:06 AM

OK that's probably overstating it, but it was pretty bad. And the worst part about it is that it came against the Twins after they had already blown a 12-2 lead!! Down 12-2 in the 3rd, the A's rallied back to not only tie the game but take a 13-12 lead. Then, with 2 outs in the Twins' 9th and runners on 1st & 2nd, a wild pitch allows the runners to move up -- except the catcher can't find the ball so Michael Cuddyer races around 3rd and heads home. Catcher finds the ball, pitcher covering gets the throw, Cuddyer slides feet-first and gets his entire foot not just to the plate but entirely across it before the tag ... and is called out. Game over.

bmfc1 Jul 21 2009 07:10 AM

True. A horrendous call.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 21 2009 07:25 AM

Just looked at the video and it's horrifying ... A's in black unis!

metirish Jul 21 2009 07:28 AM

Jeez , the umps are having a bad year , how many games are they out?

Edgy DC Jul 21 2009 07:45 AM

The ump is right there. I suppose he could argue that the guy slid around the plate, or over it. This is great super slow mo, but the part of his leg that would be (and most likely is) touching the plate is in shadow. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2OM66h1yfEs&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2OM66h1yfEs&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Frayed Knot Jul 21 2009 07:49 AM

]I suppose he could argue that the guy slid around the plate, or over it. He'd have a better chance arguing temporary insanity.

Edgy DC Jul 21 2009 07:58 AM

I never said he'd win the argument.

G-Fafif Jul 21 2009 09:25 AM

Reminiscent of [url=http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/06/sports/pro-football-squandered-lead-bungled-kick-giants-let-the-playoffs-slip-away.html?pagewanted=all:2ctandgv]another Bay Area home team comeback[/url:2ctandgv] that was assisted by a questionable call, the 49ers beating the Giants 39-38 in Jan. 2003. But I don't think the Twins were flagged for an ineligible receiver downfield.

Gwreck Jul 21 2009 09:43 AM

Mike Muchlinski. Vacation replacement umpire.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 21 2009 09:58 AM

It's literally incredible-- not only has Cuddyer's foot already gone through and past home plate by the time the glove hits his leg, but the umpire's staring at it from the right angle. Gwreck-- as in, callup from the minors? Whence did the dude come?

Gwreck Jul 21 2009 11:56 AM

Every ML umpire gets 4 (?) weeks of in-season vacation, during which time an AAA umpire is called up to replace them, and essentially try out for when a permanent MLB position opens up. For the game in question, Jerry Crawford and Ed Hickox were on vacation, so Mike Mulchlinski and Scott Barry were promoted from AAA to work the series. You see a lot of the top AAA umpires also working in Spring Training games, which is also part of the "tryout" process.