Post by FredFan7 on Feb 17, 2021 0:17:28 GMT -5
This from a game in May of 1982. Russ Goetz was the home plate umpire and had a crew of Don Denkinger, Dale Ford and Rich Garcia.
Oakland A's vs. Boston Red Sox at Fenway.
It starts with some gamesmanship from both the Red Sox wanting to inspect the ball in case it was doctored. The gamesmanship started ramping up and Jim Rice got into it with the A's catcher.
Then Billy Martin comes out to pull some shenanigans. Red Sox manager Ralf Houk doesn't like that and has to get equal time with Goetz.
A few minutes later, an A's player turns around and openly argues with Goetz over a strike call. We then get a tutorial from Sal Bando (Bob Costas' partner who sounded like Ron Luciano), about the outside protector. Goetz was one of about a half dozen AL umpires still using the outside chest protector.
I think of this in two ways. Goetz could have, and probably should have, run Rice (which probably meant Houk would have gone too), and tried to settle things down. He then could have run Martin for his little show on the mound.
Finally he should have run that A's batter who turned around and argued his strike call. If he had done that, I'm sure Martin would have also been run and kicked dirt on Goetz.
Goetz chose to take the more mild route took a bunch of flak from both teams, and everyone stayed in the game. But, did he allow too much stupidity?
I would guess Goetz's partners were critical of him after the game for not running at least the A's batter. And if you're going to argue, take the mask off! Or maybe he was cussing out the player and didn't want anyone to read his lips.
The clip runs from the bottom of the inning to the top of the next inning and goes about 15 minutes. You get some vintage early 80s umpiring.
Was Goetz too passive on the ejections? Or, do you admire him for doing his best to keep everyone in the game, even if it meant him losing face?
Oakland A's vs. Boston Red Sox at Fenway.
It starts with some gamesmanship from both the Red Sox wanting to inspect the ball in case it was doctored. The gamesmanship started ramping up and Jim Rice got into it with the A's catcher.
Then Billy Martin comes out to pull some shenanigans. Red Sox manager Ralf Houk doesn't like that and has to get equal time with Goetz.
A few minutes later, an A's player turns around and openly argues with Goetz over a strike call. We then get a tutorial from Sal Bando (Bob Costas' partner who sounded like Ron Luciano), about the outside protector. Goetz was one of about a half dozen AL umpires still using the outside chest protector.
I think of this in two ways. Goetz could have, and probably should have, run Rice (which probably meant Houk would have gone too), and tried to settle things down. He then could have run Martin for his little show on the mound.
Finally he should have run that A's batter who turned around and argued his strike call. If he had done that, I'm sure Martin would have also been run and kicked dirt on Goetz.
Goetz chose to take the more mild route took a bunch of flak from both teams, and everyone stayed in the game. But, did he allow too much stupidity?
I would guess Goetz's partners were critical of him after the game for not running at least the A's batter. And if you're going to argue, take the mask off! Or maybe he was cussing out the player and didn't want anyone to read his lips.
The clip runs from the bottom of the inning to the top of the next inning and goes about 15 minutes. You get some vintage early 80s umpiring.
Was Goetz too passive on the ejections? Or, do you admire him for doing his best to keep everyone in the game, even if it meant him losing face?