Red Sox catching up; Joe West.

The Red Sox started last weekend 8.5 games behind the Rays.  And even thought the Rays and Yankees faced the Worst NL teams while the Sox played the best, and after taking 3 games in Tampa, the Red Sox now sit 5.5 games behind the Rays for First.

Yes the Sox still are 2.5 games behind the Yankees – but they are gaining ground, and putting themselves into a better spot in the AL east. The Red Sox pitching has shined, allowing only 4 runs in 27 innings against the Rays (MLB’s best team going into the weekend), and 8 runs in 26 innings against the Phillies (the NL’s best team).

 

But one of the biggest stories tonight was Joe West: Red Sox fans, you remember Joe West; he’s the umpire who openly criticized the Yankees and Red Sox for their games “taking too long.”

 

Well, maybe games would go faster if he called a larger strike zone, and didn’t call Phantom Balks.

 

I’ve watched the video a number of times, and I don’t see a balk in either case. Really, Joe West, I’d like to know – inform us what Buehrle did to balk. I’d like to know what I’m missing, and I’m sure the announcers (who also do not seem to know where the balk was called) would like to have some clarification too.

 

Hey Bud Selig – if you fine, reprimand, suspend Harrelson for his comments on the air about Joe West, then you should really give that same punishment to Joe West as well. This was obvious instigation on the part of West.

 

Mark Buehrle, 2 balks in a single game: Seriously? Mark Buehrle had only 2 balks in total since the start of the 2006 season going into today. Even better, the last time Buehrle was called for a balk on a move to first, June 27th 2009; Buehrle didn’t actually throw the ball to first. That was because Konerko wasn’t covering first base, like Buehrle apparently thought he was. That takes us back to his previous balk in a bases loaded situation on August 7th, 2006 against the Angels. Hey, guess what, that Balk was on a pitch to the plate, not a move to first. Now since the start of the 2006 season, Buehrle has picked off 31 baserunners (35 including 4 this season) with 1 balk to first because he didn’t actually throw the baseball to first.

So Joe West calls 2 balks on a pitcher in one game. A pitcher who “commits” as many balks over the course of three innings as he had over the course of 4 seasons.

 

And the announcers are right; he was going to call a balk at the first opportunity. Of course, I just wonder how much faster that game would have been over if Joe West didn’t call the phantom balks, and eject both Ozzie and Buehrle. And of course, ejecting a pitcher who’s known for being a fast paced pitcher doesn’t help in keeping those game times down.

 

The reason I mention this: Get ready to see more Joe West, Red Sox fans.  He’ll be behind the plate for the First game – and After Pedroia’s comments about West’s comments, I wouldn’t be surprised if West made some questionable calls against Pedroia tomorrow night. 


And I hope Red Sox fans give Joe West the loud “welcome” he deserves when his name is announced prior to the first pitch.

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