Umpire Watch: Posey's Steal That Wasn't, Young's Check Swing, Twins Squeezed

by Andrew Johnson

Filed under: Braves, Giants, Rangers, Rays, Twins, Yankees, MLB Playoffs, MLB Umpires, American League Division Series, National League Division Series

Controversial calls have become as much a part of the Major League Baseball postseason as Derek Jeter and patriotic bunting. In Umpire Watch, we intend to document those calls, at least until commissioner Bud Selig puts us out of business.

So you thought Day 2 of the postseason couldn't be any worse for the umpires than Day 1? I did, and like the umpires in three high-profile spots I was wrong -- dead wrong.

One Is the Loneliest Number

The Situation: No one out and a man on first -- Buster Posey -- in the bottom of the fourth inning after Posey's leadoff single.

The Play: After Derek Lowe strikes out Pat Burrell, Braves catcher Brian McCann throws down to second base in an attempt to nab Posey as he tries to swipe the bag.

The Call: Second base umpire Paul Emmel calls Posey safe at second.

The Fallout: Lowe gets the next hitter, Uribe, on a swinging strikeout, then, somewhat bizarrely, intentionally walks Pablo Sandoval to get to Cody Ross. The outfielder takes two balls from Lowe before sneaking a grounder through the left side for a single that scores Posey from second, giving the Giants the one and only run in Game 1 of the NLDS.

 

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