4/25: RAYS 5, Boston 4 (11)

I say defense. Just back also and was amazed at how crisply the Rays played. If I had to vote for one person, it would be Bartlett. Nothing got by him and he made at least 3 terrific plays that probably cut off big innings. Nothing on offense, but without his defense, this game is Boston’s.

By the way, as for Boston fans, I get so wrapped up while at the game that I feel like killing them all. But as I was wildly cheering after Haynes’s hit, two Boston fans were passing my seat and shook my hand very graciously.

I have seen a lot of calls this year that I did not like, including the one a while back when Upton was called out at third after he lost his shoe. But while I may get crazy at the game, I really do not think we fans are terribly rational about the issue. Chances are every team’s fans thinks they are being screwed in favor of the opposition.

In fact, I think one problem with blaming umpires is that it misrepresents why games are won and lost. There are literally 100s of decisions in every game, on every pitch and play. When there is one that seems to occur at a critical moment, we latch onto it, but as a matter of fact, every such decision is critical and could change the course of the game.

For example, in the 1998 World Series, on a 2-2 count, it was clear that Tino Martinez was struck out on the next pitch, but the umpire called it a ball and on the next one Tino hit a grand slam that brought the Yankees back from defeat. That one call might have changed the series-or looked as if it did-but not really. Not only did Tino have to hit the home run, but who knows how many other close calls went the other way but were not followed up by anything dramatic!

So in yesterday’s game, sure Upton may have been safe and the Rays may have scored that inning. But suppose there was a strike called on Ortiz that was borderline, and had it been a ball instead the whole at bat might have changed and a weak fly ball hit with two strikes would instead have been a home run hit on a 2-1 count.

It is futile to blame umpires for losses. If the Rays had scored 10 runs in an inning when they managed only one the whole thing would be moot. No matter how outrageous the calls may appear to be (cf: Don Denkinger), the players, not the umpires, make the difference.