Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett was suspended for 6 games on Monday, a swift action by Major League Baseball for the pitcher’s conduct in a game on Sunday afternoon. The punishment was also a repudiation of the vile, controversial and arrogant Joe West, an umpire who if not corrupt and working to undermine the integrity of the games he calls, sure LOOKS like the actor central casting would recommend were they called up to cast the part of a crooked umpire.
In the era of Tim Donaghy, no professional sport can take the risk of letting umpires play favorites. It was a refreshing justice meted out to the sociopathic Josh Beckett over his tantruming display of attempted headhunting. Major League Baseball took action over an incident that the umpires had assured us was taken care of.
It is a great day when two narcissists are smote down from on high. Beckett believes he is bigger than the game and can manipulate the pace of it with impunity over the batter waiting at the plate. He wants to control the runner and the batter and does not want such mind games taken out of his hands by a home plate umpire calling time. He wants to intimidate batters from ever calling time (with the knowledge that their helmets may get the Abreu treatment) so that he can watch the basepaths in a strategy to wear out the batter.
Joe West allowed Josh Beckett to approach the plate, enraged and shouting the fake "what did I do?" after he had clearly done something with Abreu simply waiting for an explanation, as non-confrontational as any player on the field. For West to allow Beckett to confront the other team’s manager with no punishment, this umpire reveals much about the psychology of a man from the South admiring a young Texan buck with no cause to discipline him in his naturally aggressive state. Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom may need to film Joe West rummaging through the sagebrush of the Confederacy if it ever teams up for a combined television show with To Catch A Predator.
Can another explanation besides “Country” Joe West’s lusting for a Son of the South be taken seriously now that Major League Baseball has handed down a harsh suspension and fine against Beckett, stepfathered on Sunday by a Scioscia-baiting, blind-to-Boston Joe West? Because if Joe West is not a Tim Donaghy bought and paid for by a bookie somewhere, another insidious addiction may be lurking at the heart of this controversey.
1 recs | 41 comments
My wife was having to remind me the kids were in the room Friday night
as I began to uncharacteristically use certain four letter adjectives to describe West’s strike zone given to Wakefield and his knuckle ball. I am sure she thought she was going to have to call 911 after I had my stroke before the game was over.
I have always felt that MLB needs to hold umpires publicly accountable for the way they call a game. With the technology being available to track strikes and the ability to review calls through instant replay, there should be a line in the box score for every game showing the fan how may bad calls the umpire made for each team.
Halo84653 - April 15, 2009
Haha, that'd be funny.
Do you include a missed strike call the same as a missed catch call? Or a missed homerun call? I’m with you on the accountability, not as sure about the line score.
AlanFalcon - April 15, 2009
Unfortunately....
Welcome to 2009 – the time where no one is accountable or responsible for their own actions and everything is always the “other guy’s fault”.
The way this will play out is that the players union will defend and justify Beckett’s actions (at the expense of Abreu and Hunter) likely claiming “the ball simply slipped from Beckett’s hand when he attempted to stop the delivery of the pitch”, and the umpires union will defend and justify West’s actions likely claiming “he was provoked”.
Beckett’s suspension will likely be reduced in half in the appeal; West will be hailed as a “peacemaker” for preventing a full scale brawl.
This is the aspect of baseball I despise.
mustard_man - April 15, 2009
Yup and yup
You are correct sir. Red Sox and umpires never get punished. How many times does Joe West have to spit in the face of the integrity of the game before something is done about it?
KingF15h - April 15, 2009
The suspension will be nullified if reduced by half
And the issue isn’t whether Beckett threw at Abreu’s head, it’s whether he charged the plate afterwards. Charging the mound after a similar event by the batter is grounds for automatic ejection.
scareduck - April 15, 2009
His suspension will not be reduced
Beckett will miss a start!
K3YEROUT - April 15, 2009
His suspension may be reduced
but only by 1 game, meaning it’ll still be 5 games and he’ll miss a turn in the rotation. There’s a reason why MLB made it a 6-game suspension — they knew he’d appeal, and they needed some wiggle room to reduce it but still have an impact.
Brew Angel - April 15, 2009
The umpires...
need to be held to a higher standard. If the league goes back and determines that a player needs to be suspended, then the umpires who worked that game, need to be suspended as well.
In watching the replay, I see where Joe West comes out from behind the plate and doesn’t see where Beckett threw at Abreu’s head. Are you telling me that all three of the other umpires didn’t see it either. Did they all look down the left field line to see what Joe west was looking at.
This entire crew should be suspended for at leat 3 games for what they let happen on Sunday, and if it is true that one of the umpires made a comment that the Angels needed an extra day off after what happened to Adenhart, that umpire should be suspended for another 10 games for that.
billhune - April 15, 2009
Joe West
Joe West was the second base umpire, and the crew chief. The home plate umpire obviously didn’t see anything except Beckett walking up to Abreu. Joe West told all the other Umpires that he had a great view (which he should have) and that the pitch wasn’t close (either a blatant lie, or just a fantasy.) The whole crew then totally failed to control the situation.
If it’s true that one of the Umpires mentioned Nick at all, they need to be taking much for than 10 days off.
AlanFalcon - April 15, 2009
Watching on TV
I didn’t think it was that close until I saw it in replays. It really was right at Abreu’s head. So I can give the umpires some slack here. But there’s no excuse for what Beckett did subsequently.
scareduck - April 15, 2009
Watching the Replay
It looks to me that the Catcher was setting up Low and Away on that pitch that went to Abreu’s head, Anyone notice that?
Angelfan1983 - April 15, 2009
You're spot on.
Fun game: stand up, and wind up as if you’re about to pitch. Then, with half a second adjust your aim from going from low and away to up and in. Not all that hard to do, and certainly shouldn’t be difficult for Becky. Anyway, what’s done is done, and good on MLB.
AlanFalcon - April 15, 2009
My Bad
I thought that I read that West was the home plate umpire.
billhune - April 15, 2009
What happened to the thoughts that the best umpires...
are invisible?
I’ve read that umpires are graded using the Questec system, but I don’t know if they are “graded” or held accountable for too many missed calls.
The problem is when umpires think they’re part of the game and want to be involved more than they should. At no time should they ever bait a player or manager, that should be grounds for suspension.
WiHaloFan - April 15, 2009
Yeah...
It always seems that when Joe West is in a game, everyone knows it. Which is the opposite of what an umpire should do. (Unless he just has a loud, distinctive strike call — that’s always a fun acceptable way for an umpire to call attention to himself.)
AlanFalcon - April 15, 2009
Screw off
Even Andrew Gallo deserves a fair trial and representation.
Angels95 - April 15, 2009
I'll be changing my sig soon anyway...
But you would be able to find my expanded thoughts posted elsewhere on this site. The issue isn’t weather Gallo should have a lawyer, he should. The issue is that Gallo’s lawyer is a graduate from CSUF, as am I. And given the victims in the crash, I think it is despicable for Longwith to seek out and accept that case.
AlanFalcon - April 15, 2009
I recall a couple years ago
there was a game at Dodger Stadium or Shea at which Country/Cowboy Joe was officiating, ostensibly a day game, at which the lights needed to come on; he made a big fuss of making the grounds crew turn off the lights because he hadn’t ordered it, and then turning them back on a few minutes later. (Of course, this is hard on the lights and kind of silly, to boot.)
scareduck - April 15, 2009
For added fun...
Read Rev’s post in the voice and style of Edward R. Murrow. It’s awesome.
AlanFalcon - April 15, 2009
The league needs to come down on West
there were terrible calls against the halos all series long. It’s time for the league to handle their business like every other legitimate sport does.
UCIHalo - April 15, 2009
(Made up) True Story - Tim Donaghy is the love child......
of Joe West and Doug Eddings…..
norcaliangelsfan - April 15, 2009
You jest, but...
Country Joe West on Doug Eddings and the officiating generally in the 2005 ALCS:
scareduck - April 15, 2009
MLB has the worst officiating
of the major league sports, and by a good margin. The NHL would be the worst but it ceased being a major league…if it ever was one (in the U.S.). That being said, the home plate ump (a Paul Shrieber) was fair in this game. I fully expected Beckett to get the extra inch or two, or six off the plate while Moseley got squeezed, but I’d say even Beckett got squeezed on a couple. I said, “Cool! A real game…”, then ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE because of the evil twins mentioned in the beautiful rant above…
Yeah, MLB tacitly acknowledges that Joe West screwed up, but how about some not so tacit acknowledgement? When NFL officials screw up, I’m pretty sure they get dinged, the NFL out and out says when a missed call costs a team a win, especially good when everyone already knows that. Everyone knows West screwed up but MLB won’t SAY anything or discipline West…as far as we know. They keep the whole thing shrouded in mystery, deceiving, inveigling and obfuscating worse than on X-Files. I am unfortunately reminded of a bunch of old farts circling the wagons around a baby-faced Doug Eddings while he gave his dog-and-pony show about his “strike mechanic”. A damn playoff game, and the travesty continues.
The simple explanation of this guy is that he’s just a very stupid man, the dimmest of dim bulbs. Not quite insidious, it doesn’t preclude the Rev’s supposition, West seems quite capable of being both stupid AND crooked…
LUVtheLAA - April 15, 2009
I have to disagree
NBA has the worst officiating, look at Tim Donaghy. But I also think that is a product of the extreme judgement used on foul calls in the NBA. It is not very cut and dry. On the other hand, baseball rules are generally cut and dry – out/safe…ball/strike…foul/fair, etc. Judgement comes into play on balk calls, and of course, ejections/warnings, but that is a small part of the game.
swiss mcgee - April 15, 2009
Your wrong
NBA by FAR. Jordan, Kobe, LeBron. None of them ever got/get called for anything
KingF15h - April 15, 2009
Pitcher suspension
I am at a lost, Josh Beckett is a Starting Pitcher, and to only be suspended for 6 games seems to be unfair in my book, I think it should be 6 cycles of the Pitching Rotation, which would mean that Beckett will miss 6 starts not 1 start.
I can see 6 games for a Relief pitcher, but it should be different for a starting pitcher.
Angelfan1983 - April 15, 2009
seriously?
You think he should miss roughly 20% of the season? Let me ask you this: if Bobby Abreu had charged the mound, do you think he should be suspended for 30 games? That’s what you are saying.
jjackflash - April 15, 2009
Well
A Relief Pitcher gets suspended for 6 games, Thats 6 games that he can’t come in for Relief.
A Batter gets suspended for 6 games, thats 6 games that he can’t be in the lineup.
A starting pitcher gets suspended for 6 games, thats 6 games thats he can’t pitch, in other words 1 start.
Its not often that you see a Starting Pitcher come in for Relief, or pinch hit, but it seems unfair to me that if Bobby Abreu was suspended for 6 games that he can’t be in the lineup for 6 games, but if Beckett is suspended for 6 games, thats only 1 start.
I didn’t think about it in terms of % of games suspended for.
Angelfan1983 - April 15, 2009
You should
because that’s the relative impact. Six starts is more than a month. You can’t call a guy up from the minors, either, so a team has a hole in the rotation that lasts twice as long as a DL stint.
jjackflash - April 15, 2009
AGREE
A reliever suspended 6 games misses the equivalent of 6 inning – 18 – 30 batters faced.
A position player suspended 6 games misses approximately 18 – 30 plate appearances.
A starting pitcher suspended 6 games misses one start, approximately 6 innings pitched, roughly 18 – 30 batters faced.
Rev Halofan - April 15, 2009
Hmmm
Didn’t think of it that way Rev. I see by that logic that it makes it fair to only miss one start. Thank you for pointing that out.
And Jjackflash, I know that you can’t call someone up to take the place of someone on the suspended list.
Angelfan1983 - April 15, 2009
Angelfan
The league would have suspended him for one start if they could. That was their intention, but the only way to make that happen for a starting pitcher is the six game suspension they went with.
AlanFalcon - April 15, 2009
Joe West should not be allowed to work any more Angels games
In the legal system, an attorney can “paper” a specific judge on a specific case in order to get him replaced if he can document a pattern of bias regarding some aspect of the case. I think that West’s saying that Beckett’s ball did not go near Abreu’s head is prima facie evidence of bias against the Angels, to say nothing of his reported comments concerning the team’s reaction to Nick Adenhart’s passing. This goes light-years beyond favorable strike zones and the like. West has demonstrated a willingness to use his authority to attempt to change the outcome of a game, combined with animus against the Angels.
Of course, the real answer is that West should be sent off to Nashville to concentrate on his songwriting full-time, but apparently a tenured umpire is as hard to dislodge as a tenured professor.
I say we change his nickname from “Cowboy Joe West” to “Führer Joe West”.
rspencer - April 15, 2009
fuhrer is a bit extreme
joe west is very biased and should be called degrading names such as cowgirl or such, but fuhrer does seem to take it a bit too far
anaheim angels - April 15, 2009
"Cowboy Joe West"
Isn’t enough of a joke already?
TheTypingFiend - April 15, 2009
Führer Joe West
Panther.
AlanFalcon - April 15, 2009
Ive posted this in other places
but i really think that next time the Angels (or any other team) faces Becky, they should call time on every AB
anaheim angels - April 15, 2009
The hilarious thing
If there is anything funny about this pompous arrogant ass, Joe West, are the parallels between him and Tim Donaghy. Continually acting as if their actions or biases are beyond reproach or question. West allowed what in essence was a flagrant violation to occur ( becky throwing at Abreu, when he, and homeplate ump Paul Shrieber had called time) and then, throwing all conventional wisdom out the window….along with tossing Sosh, Hula Dula, and Speier out the game. This man is a joke of an official, and the sad thing is the MLB and commissioner Selig will stand behind him, rather than admit that all is not well within the umpire ranks.
halofolife - April 15, 2009
Agree first half but NOT your 2nd point at all...
MLB did NOT stand behind him – the overruled him in fact – we should be APPLAUDING MLB for finally doing this.
Rev Halofan - April 16, 2009
You missed my point Rev.
An ass of West’s degree, shouldn’t have been in the ranks. The fact that a person of his stature was allowed to remain umpiring was complete BS. While MLB finally has done the right thing, does not excuse people like Eddings and West to still be on the payroll, and if MLB had done the right thing initially, they wouldn’t be a part of the conversation, that was the focal point of my argument.
halofolife - April 16, 2009
i get your point now
Sharp!
Rev Halofan - April 17, 2009
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