Umps Got Instant Replay Wrong? BLATANTLY WRONG!!!

Last night at the A's-Indians game in Cleveland, it was a one run affair during the top of the 9th with two outs when Adam Rosales stepped up to the plate. Rosales managed to hit a home run to left field. The umpires, however, didn't think it went over the yellow line and called it a double. They would review the hit by Rosales and anybody at home, in the press box, the dugout, and even throughout the stadium could see and tell that the ball hit the railing above the yellow line therefore making it a home run.

The umps, however, came out of the reviewing room and ruled that it was a double. Bob Melvin went off on the umps and was tossed from the game. The A's would end up losing by the one run they didn't get 4-3.

Somehow the umps got a simple instant replay call wrong. The only thing reviewable in baseball at the moment they screwed up. Mr. Magoo could've gotten that one right.

How they got it wrong is a mystery. There are only two conceivable reasons to me on how they got this one wrong. One, they didn't have access to all the replay footage and couldn't make the right call. That, however, seems hard to believe and just looking at the home run, it just seems so obvious that it hit off the railing.

The other possibility is that their arrogance and/or stubbornness got the better of them. Umps do not like being wrong in any situation and perhaps that stubbornness in the face of indisputable video evidence influenced the wrong decision.

The right thing to do is have the commissioner reverse the decision therefore tying the game at 4-4 and replaying the rest of the inning and game. They could easily do it today before game 4 of this series starts.

Chances that they will actually do the right thing? About the same of that home run being called a double after review.

P.S. Even if it's not stubbornness and/or arrogance, it's still a problem with the umpires around the Majors.

Bartolo Colon Suspended for PED Use

Victor Conte, the man behind BALCO, said recently after Melky's suspension that drugs are still a major problem in baseball guessing almost half the players use some sort of PED. This new story doesn't help dispute that statement.

Bartolo Colon of the Oakland Athletics has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for Testosterone. The 39 year old starter will miss the remaining 40 games of the regular season and also the first 10 of the postseason (provided the A's make the playoffs) and serve the remainder next year if needed. Colon apologized as result and accepted responsibility for his actions. This comes a week after Melky Cabrera, another Bay Area player, tested positive for Testosterone.

Can anyone check to see if there is another absurd website featuring some weird skin cream? Now Colon might not be the best player for Oakland but he was still having a good year by his standards going 10-9 with a 3.43 ERA. It hurts the A's chances to get into the postseason as they are only a half game in front of the Orioles for the 2nd Wild Card Spot.

After hearing about this positive test, I start to think about what Victor Conte had said. What if drugs are still a major problem in baseball? Does that mean there will be less Hall of Famers being inducted than there are right now? I also wonder if Conte does know of any players today that are taking PEDs. Let's get another wasted congressional hearing right away. It's not like there is an election going on, right?

Ichiro Traded to Yankees, Debuts in Seattle?

This last weekend hasn't been that great for the Nation. The good news was the fact that the Yankees got swept by the A's (like Oakland again). The bad news to take that away was the fact that the Yankees made an addition to their clubhouse. Longtime Mariner, Ichiro Suzuki, has been traded to the Yankees for a couple of pitching prospects. What made things even more intriguing was the fact that he made his Yankees debut that very day. Why? Because the Yankees were in town visiting the Mariners in Seattle. That's right. Ichiro's Yankee debut was against his old team at Safeco Field. Ichiro went 1 for 4 as the Yankees won, 4-1.

A little surprising that Ichiro leaves the team after so long and looks to be playing his farewell series over the next few days. Seems a bit proper for the fans of Seattle to have a chance to say goodbye to Ichiro before he leaves Seattle. I'm not sure how much Ichiro will help the Yankees considering that his batting average has been going down over the last few years. Sure, he can still play and that short RF in Yankee Stadium will help him but they are still getting a player that used to be in his prime.

While many will be intrigued as to how Ichiro will help the Yankees, I am more interested to see where he goes after this season is over and he is a free agent. Will the Yanks still want him then or will he have to find a new home?