Superbowl said:
Jman is referring to the Cards/Stros 9th inning, not the ALCS.
I was surprised at a few of the calls and McClellan can infuriate you with the slowness of his calls. Had Stl minus the run and a half and was definitely sweating after a fairly stress free game.
Jman,
It seemed to me that it was hard to tell what his strikeout was all night. I am not saying he was inconsistent but there were few hitters going deep into counts and a lot of first pitch swinging on both sides. I think his strike zone became more noticeable in 9th as Stros were looking for baserunners. I don't believe some of those pitches were strikes but all you can ask for as a hitter is an umpire calling consistent strikes and Mcclellan was definitely consistent calling the low strike. He did not call many high ones so as long as he was consistent, nothing to argue. It used to drive me crazy when I played as a hitter or pitcher when guy was not calling it the same both ways. I did not see a different strike zone for both teams like they used to with Atlanta's pitchers in past with the ball a foot outside being called strikes.
It seemed to me that it was hard to tell what his strikeout was all night. I am not saying he was inconsistent but there were few hitters going deep into counts and a lot of first pitch swinging on both sides. I think his strike zone became more noticeable in 9th as Stros were looking for baserunners. I don't believe some of those pitches were strikes but all you can ask for as a hitter is an umpire calling consistent strikes and Mcclellan was definitely consistent calling the low strike. He did not call many high ones so as long as he was consistent, nothing to argue. It used to drive me crazy when I played as a hitter or pitcher when guy was not calling it the same both ways. I did not see a different strike zone for both teams like they used to with Atlanta's pitchers in past with the ball a foot outside being called strikes.
Kojak , I m not complaining as much as it may seem, even though I was on Hou. McClellend has always been annoying with his slow, delayed calls....and that call on Lamb for the first out of the inning was a very key call....it would have been 3-2, and Izzo is known to lose it , he's not exaclt automatic...I felt he bailed him out....wish we could have sen the K zone on that pitch.
I just can't stand Mcclellend's style, he waits a good second longer than any ump.
Houston being impatient really hurt them in this one....and then when they don't swing that happens..maybe that is why they were free swinging, the low call was definitely helping Carpenter...all those grounders, aagin and the key DP on Berkman, who swings at the first pitch right after Carpenter weas wild, that was the game IMO.
I just can't stand Mcclellend's style, he waits a good second longer than any ump.
Houston being impatient really hurt them in this one....and then when they don't swing that happens..maybe that is why they were free swinging, the low call was definitely helping Carpenter...all those grounders, aagin and the key DP on Berkman, who swings at the first pitch right after Carpenter weas wild, that was the game IMO.
