Much like last season, we have a lot of players who would rather play umpire than play baseball....how many close strike three calls did these clowns take last year, only to turn and fuss with the ump? With RISP, why would any player take such close pitches, then often swing at some bouncing ball in the dirt?
If a player consistently swings at inside, low and bouncing balls, why should anyone believe that the same player could accurately gauge a closer pitch in or near the strike zone? Why take a very close pitch when hitting might well produce something? I don't get it.
I also believe, much like last season, that MLB does not wants the Nats in the WS, which might explain the $hitty strike zone that the Nats endure, from both sides...our pitchers get little leeway while the opposing pitcher's strike zone is larger by at least 10%...and from the umpires' point of view, they have perfect deniability, since balls and strikes are not reviewable....it's sad when the larger organization teams up against those they don't like...
same for reviews....the Yankee won 70+% of their reviews, while the Nats lost almost 80%....
I sense that this season, the umpires want to be part of the show....and are going out of their way to have more say about the outcome of games...
