http://phillysportsdaily.com/philli...e-nation-excited-about-lidge-worst-call-ever/
WORST CALL EVER?
If you missed Tuesday night’s 19-inning marathon between the Pirates and Braves down in Atlanta, you missed potentially the worst call ever made by a home plate umpire that gave the Braves a 4-3 win.
Home plate umpire Jerry Meals had the best view in the building for a play at the plate in the 19th inning and seemingly whiffed on it. The video replay shows Atlanta infielder Julio Lugo being tagged out by about six feet at home plate. Meals says the tag missed and that Lugo was safe.
Maybe he was just tired of standing for six hours, 39 minutes. Whatever the case, decide for yourself by looking at the video.
WORST CALL EVER?
If you missed Tuesday night’s 19-inning marathon between the Pirates and Braves down in Atlanta, you missed potentially the worst call ever made by a home plate umpire that gave the Braves a 4-3 win.
Home plate umpire Jerry Meals had the best view in the building for a play at the plate in the 19th inning and seemingly whiffed on it. The video replay shows Atlanta infielder Julio Lugo being tagged out by about six feet at home plate. Meals says the tag missed and that Lugo was safe.
Maybe he was just tired of standing for six hours, 39 minutes. Whatever the case, decide for yourself by looking at the video.
Absolutely not... It's terrible, but the worst is Tigers pitcher losing his Perfect game on the last out by a bad call....
Perfect games are a once in a lifetime moment for the few that even get that chance.... A win is one of 162... if it keeps the Pirates out of the playoffs then its closer to being the worst call ever, but that in my opinion will be the worst call in baseball history.
Perfect games are a once in a lifetime moment for the few that even get that chance.... A win is one of 162... if it keeps the Pirates out of the playoffs then its closer to being the worst call ever, but that in my opinion will be the worst call in baseball history.
Dan Patrick said today Meals will be on third base tonight that is right in front of the Pittsburgh dugout and fans. We might possibly see some sort of an altercation tonight from the leftover frustrations last night. Maybe cooler heads will prevail, but Pittsburgh is still royally pissed.
no doubt he was out. worst ever? it is definitely up there. i dont like to using the phrase ever cause something will always come along to trump that "ever". i sorta wish the play happened in the playoffs to which mlb will place instant replay into the league or even if it is home-plate calls.
Pirates file formal complaint over ump's call ( Not that they will Get anywhere )
PITTSBURGH -- Pirates president Frank Coonelly issued a statement Wednesday, a day after his team's 4-3 loss to the Braves in Atlanta that included a highly controversial call in the 19th inning.
In doing so, Coonelly and the Pirates filed a formal complaint with the commissioner's office over umpire Jerry Meals' call that ended the game at Turner Field.
"The Pittsburgh Pirates organization is extremely disappointed by the way its 19-inning game against the Atlanta Braves ended earlier this morning. The game of baseball and this game in particular, filled with superlative performances by players on both clubs, deserved much better. We have filed a formal complaint with the Commissioner.
"While we cannot begin to understand how umpire Jerry Meals did not see the tag made by Michael McKenry three feet in front of home plate, we do not question the integrity of Mr. Meals. Instead, we know that Mr. Meals' intention was to get the call right. Jerry Meals has been umpiring Major League games for 14 years and has always done so with integrity and professionalism. He got this one wrong."
The loss was a costly one for the Pirates, searching for their first winning season in 19 years. In the thick of a surprising National League Central race with Milwaukee and St. Louis, the loss pushed the resurgent Pirates one game behind the first-place Cardinals.
"For Pirates fans, we may have lost a game in the standings as a result of a missed call," Coonelly said, "but this game, and the gutsy performances by so many of our players, will make us stronger, more unified and more determined as we continue the battle for the National League Central Division."
In the bottom of the 19th, with the Braves and Pirates locked in a 3-3 duel, Atlanta's Scott Proctor hit a groundball off Pittsburgh's Daniel McCutchen to third base. Pittsburgh's Pedro Alvarez fielded it and threw home to catcher Mike McKenry who appeared to apply the tag to Atlanta's Julio Lugo before Lugo touched the base.
Meals, however, called Lugo safe. Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle exploded from the dugout after the call, which put an abrupt end to the longest game in the organization's history.
"You like to see the game finished by the players, win or lose," Hurdle said afterward. "For it to end like that is as disappointing as it gets in a game."
Meals acknowledged afterward that McKenry may have gotten the tag down.
Pittsburgh reliever Daniel McCutchen, who took the loss, is convinced McKenry made the play.
"Can I say that he was out? Is that legal?" McCutchen asked, adding he saw the tag.
"I didn't know what everyone was screaming about," he said
PITTSBURGH -- Pirates president Frank Coonelly issued a statement Wednesday, a day after his team's 4-3 loss to the Braves in Atlanta that included a highly controversial call in the 19th inning.
In doing so, Coonelly and the Pirates filed a formal complaint with the commissioner's office over umpire Jerry Meals' call that ended the game at Turner Field.
"The Pittsburgh Pirates organization is extremely disappointed by the way its 19-inning game against the Atlanta Braves ended earlier this morning. The game of baseball and this game in particular, filled with superlative performances by players on both clubs, deserved much better. We have filed a formal complaint with the Commissioner.
"While we cannot begin to understand how umpire Jerry Meals did not see the tag made by Michael McKenry three feet in front of home plate, we do not question the integrity of Mr. Meals. Instead, we know that Mr. Meals' intention was to get the call right. Jerry Meals has been umpiring Major League games for 14 years and has always done so with integrity and professionalism. He got this one wrong."
The loss was a costly one for the Pirates, searching for their first winning season in 19 years. In the thick of a surprising National League Central race with Milwaukee and St. Louis, the loss pushed the resurgent Pirates one game behind the first-place Cardinals.
"For Pirates fans, we may have lost a game in the standings as a result of a missed call," Coonelly said, "but this game, and the gutsy performances by so many of our players, will make us stronger, more unified and more determined as we continue the battle for the National League Central Division."
In the bottom of the 19th, with the Braves and Pirates locked in a 3-3 duel, Atlanta's Scott Proctor hit a groundball off Pittsburgh's Daniel McCutchen to third base. Pittsburgh's Pedro Alvarez fielded it and threw home to catcher Mike McKenry who appeared to apply the tag to Atlanta's Julio Lugo before Lugo touched the base.
Meals, however, called Lugo safe. Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle exploded from the dugout after the call, which put an abrupt end to the longest game in the organization's history.
"You like to see the game finished by the players, win or lose," Hurdle said afterward. "For it to end like that is as disappointing as it gets in a game."
Meals acknowledged afterward that McKenry may have gotten the tag down.
Pittsburgh reliever Daniel McCutchen, who took the loss, is convinced McKenry made the play.
"Can I say that he was out? Is that legal?" McCutchen asked, adding he saw the tag.
"I didn't know what everyone was screaming about," he said
With one out, should have the baserunner with the grounder hit to his side of the field stayed in place hoping Pittsburgh could not turn double play knowing full well he would be a dead duck at home to allow for another batter. Even though he trying to win the game, most of those baseball experts will advise to never try to take home when a grounder is hit to your side of the field. Maybe the baserunner should not have run to begin with.
you have to have absolutely, positively NO doubt in your mind that he missed the tag in order to make that call. absolutely zero doubt. if the throw beats him by that much and the play is that close, that far away from the plate you would almost HAVE TO assume that he was out 99% of the time if you didn't know for sure. very costly call to our pennant race.
