Monday, August 22, 2011

Sox Can't Hit; Umps Can't See

For most of this game, the Red Sox trailed Texas, 1-0—based solely on a blown call by the first base umpire. With one on and one out in a scoreless game, Josh Reddick made a clear shoe-top catch of a sinking fly ball. Sure of the catch, he fired to first for what should have been an inning-ending double-play.

Doug Eddings, the umpire in question, called a trapped ball—shown to be a bonehead call by every replay. Of course, the next batter (an o for his last 9 Elvis Andrus), singled past a range-impaired Marco Scutaro to plate the illegitimate run.

Later, Erik Bedard made one additional mistake (a high fastball to Mike Napoli) which ended in a three-run HR—4-0 Rangers. Game over—since the Red Sox mustered just 4 singles. So, Boston is 0-4 against their likely first round opponents in the post-season—if they make it there.