The Arrogance of Umpires

MLB umpire Joe West found himself in the midst of another controversy on Wednesday - a balking call controversy with White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen (no surprise) and pitcher Mark Buehrle. The last time West was in a controversy it involved attempting to speed up games, first with the Yankees and Red Sox and later with the Rays and White Sox. While West isn't a typical MLB umpire, he's a good example of their arrogance.

Baseball games are essentially in the hands of umpires - and they know it. They know they can influence games whichever way they want by blowing a call (or two or three) and later claim it was "human error." It's quite obvious (and becomes more so all the time - the 2009 postseason was a terrible one for umpires) that it doesn't really matter to them whether they get calls right or not.

There's no easy way to fix this problem. Taking games completely out of the hands of umpires is out of the question. That would mean drastic changes to the game of baseball itself with electronic strike zones and instant replays for everything from doubles to stolen bases. Joe West has caused far too many controversies this year alone and should be fired, but that seems too harsh a punishment for most umpires. They simply need to be taught to respect the game and the teams. This could be done through fines and suspensions - or perhaps bonuses for not getting calls wrong. The point is that umpires will continue to blow calls until it is in their best interest to get them right.

Then again, maybe Congress should intervene. That would fix everything.

Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!

Keys To a Speedy Turnaround

The Yankees are 3-3 on their current homestand. Their bullpen has given up twenty-one runs during this time. They've had at least three backup players in the starting lineup for each of their three losses. Despite all that, the Yankees' 10-6 loss to the Rays last night was the worst they've suffered during this homestand. They're losing, but not getting pounded. As soon as Joba Chamberlain (who has given up seven runs) and Mariano Rivera (who has given up four) turn it around or even one of the injured position players returns the Yankees will get back to their winning ways.

Things could be worse. Look at the Red Sox.

Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!

Managing From Afar

Here are some interesting numbers: the Yankees are 7-5 since catcher Jorge Posada got his calf injury on May 3rd: 7-1 with backup Francisco Cervelli behind the plate and 0-4 with Posada catching. That can't be entirely coincidencidental.

Posada is simply getting old. He's won four World Series, so he's obviously a good catcher (or was a good catcher), but his skills have declined a little with age. Plus, the starting pitchers love Cervelli's enthusiasm and confidence behind the plate. Maybe Joe Girardi should consider making Cervelli the unofficial starting catcher for the Yankees.

Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!

Brian Cashman is Brilliant

The New York Yankees, despite losing four out of their last five games, are 22-12. On May 13th of last year they were 16-17. The reason for the Yankees' early season success this year is simple: they learned how to win throughout the course of their world championship season.

It's difficult to believe a team that won 94 games in 2007 and 89 games in 2008 didn't know how to win. However, that seems to be the best explanation for the Yankees' early season (and playoff) struggles in those years. Generally speaking, players need to trust each other to get the job done if they are going to win championships. The Yankee players in 2007 and 2008 didn't play as if they trusted one another one little bit. Of course, they had good reason not to trust each other. The defense was terrible and the pitching staff was worse. The position players were right near the top with runs scored in both 2007 and 2008, but they couldn't score that extra one or two runs in the late innings to win close ballgames. Finally, the players didn't seem to like each other- specifically Alex Rodriguez. But GM Brian Cashman had a plan.

Cashman made two brilliant moves in the offseason following the 2008 season. The first was a trade for Chicago White Sox outfielder Nick Swisher. Cashman told Swisher that the Yankees traded for him- he didn't need to replace Bobby Abreu, who is one of the best all-around hitters in baseball. He could hit .245 with 25 home runs, 75 RBI, and an OBP of .380 (all within Swisher's capabilities) and the Yankees would be thrilled. What Cashman really wanted was for Swisher to liven up the Yankees' clubhouse. Swisher is a notoriously fun-loving guy- and the Yankees clubhouse, filled with "professionals," was in dire need of some fun.

The second brilliant move that Cashman made following the 2008 season was the acquisition of free agent CC Sabathia. Granted, Cashman was one of the few GMs in baseball who could afford to dish out a giant contract to the equally giant left-handed pitcher. But CC ended up being a perfect fit for the Yankees. He had been concerned about the overtly "professional" feel of the clubhouse before he signed. But Cashman told him that it was CC's job to change that atmosphere. CC rose to the challenge and loosened things up, starting with inviting teammates to NBA games during spring training. Of course, his performance during the 2009 season was also key to the Yankees' success: he went 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA in 230 innings pitched during the regular season and 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA in 36.1 innings in the postseason. However, even if he hadn't been quite as successful on the field his presence in the clubhouse would have greatly impacted the Yankees.

The Yankees went from getting embarrassed by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the playoffs in 2007 to missing the playoffs entirely in 2008 to winning the World Series in 2009. Brian Cashman's offseason additions of Nick Swisher and CC Sabathia helped build a sense of trust among the Yankees and ultimately led to a world championship.

Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!