We All Have to Be Accountable

Let's start with the inspiration for this entry.  Following the despicable ouster of Alvarez this weekend, and a myriad of prior umpiring wrongs this season, tonight any one who watched the Boston-Detriot game (or caught the "lowlight" on TSN/ESPN) saw the unthinkable - an at-bat continuing beyond strike three.  No, this was not an occasion of the catcher dropping the ball and not making the tag (and in event, the at-bat doesn't continue in that scenario).  In the second inning, Mike Aviles struck out swinging, but only he didn't.  Homeplate umpire Jeff Nelson called a foul tip and on the appeal to first, Bill Welke determined that catcher, Gerald Laird, dropped the ball or it hit the ground first.  Either way, wrong and wrong.  Aviles missed the ball by a clear two inches and the ball landed cleanly in Laird's glove.  Not so, said the umpires; the inning continued and Aviles' subsequent single sparked a rally.

Jim Leyland was rightfully infuriated and promptly tossed.  After the game, he had one of the better interviews this entire season regarding the state of umpiring affairs.  The media were admonished to finally write something and hold the umpires accountable.  Leyland just wants what every self-respecting fan and lover of the game wants - for all players, owners, managers, fans AND umpires to be held accountable.  Displays of the nature seen in Boston today are wretched and embarassing and overall inexcusable.  Competence and quality are two factors that can weigh into an average person's discipline or dismissal from employment, so why not in umpiring?

Speaking of being held accountable, let's talk about the Blue Jays.  I understand the irony of starting this blog and naming it "Punching Tickets" in the same week that the Blue Jays' pitchers handed out 25 walks over four games.  I'll leave the genesis of the name for another day, but for now let me just say that when the Jays' pitchers are on, they have the stuff to be great.  Apparently, when they're not on...well, it can get ugly in a hurry.

So yes, our pitchers need to be held accountable.  I have to think, however, that the boys are doing a good enough job for the rest of us and fans don't need to add to the tension.  But I digress.

Speaking of being held accountable and, more importantly, punching tickets, today Drew Hutchinson took the mound and punch tickets he did.  Sure, there were three more walks, but that was over seven innings.  Over those seven innings, Hutchinson held the Orioles to three hits, topping the performance off with nine Ks.  Punching tickets! 

It was a great comeback for the rookie and for the Jays in general after a very rough road trip.  The Jays took flight early and won 6-2.  KJ was back in the lineup after a couple days to rest his hammy and got to test it out early and often (two doubles and one homerun later, I expect his hammy to be a little sore tonight). 

Here's hoping that the Jays stay in flight.  After all, they can make up three games on the Orioles with a sweep of this series and I have a strong feeling that the boys are dusting of the brooms used to clean the clubhouse.