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Post by nyasablue on Oct 1, 2011 16:58:56 GMT -5
Somebody could do a real nice paper- perhaps for SABR - sometime about the selection of umpires to the WS/postseason down through history. Not only who was selected, but the gradual expansion of crew sizes, comparing the selections in the 'good old days' with the union mandated rotation, down to the present day where it is more on 'merit'
I did a quick wade though of Retrosheets WS boxscores once, and it was interesting that in the days when the league presidents selected the WS umps, you literally would see the same faces year after year.
Just FYI - the first year for 6 umpires in the WS, was 1947 - and even then the two OF umps never came into the infield. Only the infield umps rotated to the plate. It wasn't until 1964, that all six umpires working the WS got to work the plate. I wonder what took them so long to do THAT?
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Post by cj on Oct 1, 2011 18:14:34 GMT -5
Also bear in mind there was only the World Series in those days, no playoffs which didn't begin until 1969. Also, remember, if you watch old time films, there were different mechanics over the years and also both leagues had completely different mechanics on a few things. There was no ques trek or whatever it is called which allows them to "grade" every umpire in every game on balls and strikes. None of this existed years ago which means, of course, it was much more political......how much of it is "merit" and how much of it is "rotation" and how much of it is "political" nobody here is qualified to answer.
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Post by zcr57 on Oct 1, 2011 23:27:15 GMT -5
Tonight, Tony Randazzo/took a foul ball off of his chin that knocked him down, but he got right back up. He'll probably have a nasty welt on his face tomorrow, though.
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Post by impz45 on Oct 3, 2011 7:30:21 GMT -5
I would like to see baseball use the top 24 in Round One and chop this number down to final 6. Like NBA and NHL you have to work post season from Round One and progress to finals on merit. Not the case in MLB where first work WS Umpires come from Round One.
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