Well it was (expletive)!

Maybe they should suspend Angel Hernandez for having bad vision. He must not meet the requirements anymore.

Pete, is the headline to the recap supposed to be a pun... ?

Angels Hold off Orioles?

As in Angel and the Angels?

From LF when I walked in today, I saw Hernandez and called the game. I'd love to see our W-L with him behind the plate.

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Pete's reply: Good call. I hadn't thought of it that way.

When do we see the Ump getting reprimanded for doing stupid things? Walker will gladly pay the fine. We do need him.
Really great to see some fire in the team!!!!!!!

I was at the game tonight, I was glad Trembley stuck up for his players. It was a crappy call. The other umpires didn't call a thing and then looked the other wway. They should have all talked together. Seems to me this Angel Hernandez has made a few questional calls in the past? What's his history with the Orioles.

Lastly, I think if the players want to have their say they should be able to. If the umpires don't talk about it, then we can really see what the call was? WRONG!!

Pete, this is one time you or someone needs to call out the umpires and the league for crappy umpire calls!!!! Angelos needs to back up the team as well and say something!!

I was at the game tonight, I was glad Trembley stuck up for his players. It was a crappy call. The other umpires didn't call a thing and then looked the other wway. They should have all talked together. Seems to me this Angel Hernandez has made a few questional calls in the past? What's his history with the Orioles.

Lastly, I think if the players want to have their say they should be able to. If the umpires don't talk about it, then we can really see what the call was? WRONG!!

Pete, this is one time you or someone needs to call out the umpires and the league for crappy umpire calls!!!! Angelos needs to back up the team as well and say something!!

Will someone please explain to me why Luke Scott pinch hit for Izturis, who was 2 for 3 in the game, instead of Zaun, who was 0-3 (0-4 finally) and is pretty much an automatic out at .113?

Pete--Perhaps we can get the reaction of supervisor of major league umpires, Richie Garcia?

(That's the soundtrack from "A Clockwork Orange" playing in the background.)

Pete,

When are we going to start seeing umpires getting suspended for bad calls such as this? I know umpire defenders will say they are judgement calls but geez. They should be held accountable for ridiculous calls like this. A great example is Rich Garcia from the '96 ALCS. If I heard correctly, to this day, he will defend the Jeter interfered HR. And you know he has had to have seen video tape. Do they still use Questtec? Just like any job; if you don't do it well, you face consequences.

I always have an issue with the "no commenting on officials" rules in major sports.

I understand the need to promote a sense of integrity, but a blown call is a blown call. Sure there are union issues too in sports like baseball, but it's insulting to everyone involved to stand in front of a burning building and say there's smoke but no fire.

They always say officials are judged, but no one ever knows how an official is judged (well other than Ed Hochuli). Players that fail a drug test are publicly named, why not failing officials?

When is MLB going to quit bowing down to the umpires and realize people don't pay to see the umpires.Angel Hernandez made a horrible call and should be disciplined by the leaugue for it.It happens in the NBA,and the NFL, and the NHL infrequently,but never in the MLB.I remember when the umoires went on strike and the quality of umpiring didn't go down much at all,if any.C.B.Buckner and another umpire I won't name for fear of being labeled racist are two of the worst ball and strike umpires I've ever seen.And Darrell Cousins who's been around quite a while,has a horrible strike zone.MLB umpiring is a joke and one can only wonder why they have so much power.And so much animosity as well.If they worked a normal job,a lot of them would be fired.Angel Hernandez had a horrible game tonight,both behind the plate and with his strike zone.The last pitch he calledBrian Roberts out on was no where near the strike zone.Oh yeah I forgot the umpires always right.

Pete,

I chuckle at the umpires calling Walker for a balk, they need to look at Andy Pettit, he balks everytime and they NEVER call it!

If he watched the replay of the balk call and the ball he called Brian Roberts out on,he would realize that he was totally wrong.Maybe that's why he didn't appear.Posting here because your next entry won't allow posts.

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Pete's reply: If the next entry won't allow posts, it's a glitch and I'll try to check it out.

It really really was an imaginary call. The balk call came well after the seemingly successful pickoff play finished, and upon further review, there's nothing remotely making it even a close on replay. Nothing.

It would be greatly appreciated, Peter, if you could find a way to see if the umpire(s) respond to this. I wonder if they admit that they made a mistake, or, defend it. Admittedly Jamie Walker probably made it a lot harder for the umps to save face on this one and they just might put up a stern defense on its own sake.

That play decided the game.

I think Angel Hernandez forgot about the textbook definition of a balk based on the direction of the foot. He was as fooled by Walker's pickoff move as Izturis was and prolly figured it must have been a balk.

I didn't get to watch tonights game, but from what I here the call was bs. Anyway 20 games in and it feels to me like the team is completley falling apart. Their seems to be little leadership and direction from the manager. Sure Brob, Jones and Nick have been fine, but everywhere else seems like a giant cluster ****. And with players like Reimold, pounding the door to get in, and Free pounding to get out, I'm not optimistic about the future anymore.

Jamie,

You're right. It was an extremely poor call. The ump should be DFA'd after that.

Unfortunately, the Commisioners office will never admit an ump was wrong. Expect a fine. Damn shame. It was a good ballgame till then.

With Freel's personal bullshit and this it made for a tough game. Anyone ever hear Gomez complain when he was a role player. Man, I miss guys like that. After Payton I thought we were done with this. Someone needs to tell Freel to shut his mouth and realize he was part of a salary dump or he'd be sitting on the pine in Cincinnatti as well.

Just because it'll get him a vacation doesn't mean it was the wrong thing to say, Schmuck.

It was absolutely the right thing to say because he was 100% right. If I'm Walker, I'll happily trade a few days off for letting Angel Hernandez knowing exactly how I feel. Good for him.

I think the Commissioners Office should do something about Angel Hernandez. That was one of the worse umpiring I have seen thus far this year. Not only the balk call but the strike 3 call on Mora that ended the game. I can't blame Jamie Walker for venting his frustrations. He never balked, The only reason why Hernandez didn't want to be interviewed after the game is that he knows he is wrong. It was great to see Dave Trembey stick up for the team this time. The were cases earlier that he should have argued but chose not to.

You really think Walker will be suspended for something he said? That's wrong. A fine, sure. But a suspension? Wouldn't a suspension make it more likely that the next time a player does more than just shoot off at the mouth, like, say, spit on the umpire, or hit him.

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Pete's reply: Yes, I believe he'll be suspended.

Wow. I'm not the biggest Walker fan but he just got some respect from me. Sure, he'll be suspended but it's nice to see someone with some fire after a loss.

Unless he thought he saw a herky jerky motion which he thought was a balk (and nothing really showed in the video clip), the stepping toward home or 1st base is the first baseman's call 99% of the time. He blew it, saw the video clip, and is trying hard to come up with something to cover his butt instead of admitting he blew it - see the manager's comment - admit you were wrong and move on!

I have no problem with what he said. I like it. It shows some kind of fire and not the crying that Freel is doing. I am tired of hearing about him I hope they trade him..Anyways Im with Walker. Officials get this bulletproof protection and I am sick of it. When they (officials in all sports) screw up nothing happens. They should be held accountable for (expletive) ups like last night. I am sure Walker will gladly pay for a fine and some glasses for Angel Hernandez. Way to go and stand up for yourself and team Walker!!!!

Why is it players get in trouble for complaining about bad calls but the umpires seem to not be held accountable at all! We lost that game because of that call and I bet that ump is not fined or suspended!!!

Hey Pete,

I have just thought of something, We can agree that Dave Trembley is obviously not the guy for this job, agreed? Andy Macphail won how many WS Championships? 2....And who was that manager on the field? Thats right it was Mr. Tom Kelly, and why MacPhail hasnt talked to him blows my mind...Macphail had Dusty Baker, and Tom Kelly, from only what I know since I been alive for just 19 years. But I think Tom Kelly, or maybe even Jack McKeon needs to recieve a call from Andy! What do you think?

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Pete's reply: I hate blaming managers for not having good pitching staffs.

Pete,

Do you know how we can voice a complaint to the Umpires? Is there a formal procedure for doing so?

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Pete's reply: Not really. The general practice is to boo them if you don't like a call.

Why, because it is part of the game. Umpires do not blow that many calls. Mistakes happen that is the human eliminate. Umpires have to be respected, because the game is nothing without them. It is okay for a player to complain about a call, the manager or coach should handle the issue, but never should anyone say what Walker did. When you say something about gambling, that is a question of an umpires integrity, not a question of judgment, and that is wrong. How many games this year will be decided by an umpire not making the right call? Really I am not happy about it, but you have to know as a player or a coach, no matter what you say in the after math, it will be publicized. Putting yourself in the position to be suspended can cost your team more chance of losing than the one game.