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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Umpires missing a good series


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Angels catcher Mike Napoli tagged Robinson Cano, left, and Jorge Posada of the Yankees when both were off the third base bag in the fifth.

JAE C. HONG | Associated Press

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — The umpires had another rough night in Game 4 of the AL championship series.

Two blown calls went against the Los Angeles Angels last night during a 10-1 loss to the New York Yankees.

In the fourth inning, Dale Scott called New York's Nick Swisher safe at second base after Swisher was clearly tagged by shortstop Erick Aybar before he could get back to the bag on a pickoff throw by Scott Kazmir.

In the fifth, Swisher hit a comebacker to Darren Oliver, who immediately threw to the plate and got Jorge Posada caught in a rundown. Mike Napoli ran Posada back to the bag while Robinson Cano coasted into third, and the Angels' catcher ended up tagging both runners standing off the bag — first Cano, then Posada. But crew chief Tim McClelland ruled that only Posada was out.

"I thought Cano was on the base," said McClelland, a longtime veteran and one of baseball's most respected umpires.

He said replays showed that Cano was off the base when he was tagged.

"I did not see that for whatever reason," he said. "I'm just out there trying to do my job and do it the best I can."

The Angels did get a break in the fourth when Swisher was called out for leaving third base too soon on Johnny Damon's fly to center field. Swisher was called out on an appeal, resulting in an inning-ending double play — though replays appeared to show Swisher did not leave early.

"In my heart, I thought he left too soon," McClelland said. "But the replay showed that he didn't."

There was another disputed call in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium, when first base ump Laz Diaz ruled Torii Hunter out on his sixth-inning bunt. Angels manager Mike Scioscia argued that first baseman Mark Teixeira's foot came off the bag when he stretched for CC Sabathia's throw.

Missed calls and shaky umpiring have been an embarrassment for Major League Baseball throughout this postseason.

In the AL division series between the Angels and Boston Red Sox, there were several missed calls — including two by CB Bucknor at first base in Game 1.

In the Yankees-Minnesota series, Phil Cuzzi missed seeing Joe Mauer's ball land fair despite working the left-field line. Cuzzi called it foul, denying Minnesota's Mauer a leadoff double.

In the Phillies-Rockies series, plate umpire Jerry Meals wasn't able to determine that a ball hit into the ground by Philadelphia's Chase Utley had bounced up and struck the batter in the leg, ending up as a base hit. It should have been a foul ball.

INDIANS

ACTA INTERVIEWS; UP NEXT ARE VALENTINE, MATTINGLY

Manny Acta led off the second round of interviews to be Cleveland's next manager. The heavy hitters are coming up.

Acta, fired by the Washington Nationals in July after 2 1/2 rebuilding seasons, spent nearly eight hours meeting with Indians owners Larry and Paul Dolan, general manager Mark Shapiro and others yesterday at Progressive Field as the team searches for Eric Wedge's successor.

Acta was the first candidate to get a face-to-face interview with the Indians, who plan to meet with former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine and Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly. Torey Lovullo, Cleveland's Triple-A manager in Columbus, interviews on Friday.

Shapiro said the team, which conducted phone interviews with as many as 10 candidates last week during meetings in Goodyear, Ariz., is considering two other finalists he declined to identify. Shapiro wasn't sure when Valentine, who took the Mets to the World Series in 2000, would come to Cleveland. The team is trying to work around his obligations as an ESPN analyst.

Shapiro also did not disclose Mattingly as one of his candidates, but the former Yankees All-Star first baseman confirmed he spoke with the Indians last week and will talk to them again. Mattingly, who has no managing experience, said he also has been approached by Washington about its opening.

"I've wanted to manage for a long time," Mattingly said as the Dodgers, trailing 3-1 in the NLCS to Philadelphia, prepared for Game 4 today. "When the opportunity knocks, you kick the door down. I'm flattered there are organizations that are interested. I've been through what it takes to get from one place to another."

The 59-year-old Valentine has spent the past six seasons managing the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan. They would not renew Valentine's contract of $4 million per season.

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