NEWSLETTER
Edwin Jackson pitched fairly well today, giving up just one earned over six innings. A Junior Lake gaffe in center added two unearned runs (two hands, young man).
The Cubs didn’t do much offensively, and lost out on a scoring opportunity in the 7th thanks to the most egregious of bad calls in my book. With two on and none out, Donnie Murphy struck out swinging on a check swing. At least that was the official tally. In reality, he easily checked his swing – it wasn’t even close – and the home plate umpire called Murphy out on the swing. Why is this the most egregious of bad calls? The home plate umpire is watching the ball to see if it’s in the strike zone … and he’s also watching – from a bad angle – how much/far the batter swung at the pitch? Dude. That’s why the first base ump is there for you. JUST ASK HIM ON CHECK SWINGS. It drives me crazy *any* time a home plate umpire makes that call, and it drives me double crazy when he gets the call very, very wrong.
Based on all of that, you should be unsurprised that Dale Sveum and James Russell were ejected expressing similar sentiments. Colorful language and all that.
At least Lake had a decent game at the plate.
