Hey Umps, It's Not Always About You!

What is it this season with umps looking for their 15 minutes of fame? The latest entry into the Umpire FAIL file is the case of minor-league call-up ump Dan Bellino. Perhaps Bellino should consult Rosetta Stone for Spanish lessons--he misinterpreted an exchange en espanol between Adrian Beltre and Felix Hernandez, former teammates and friends off the field, as being directed at him. This led to Beltre, the best hitter on the Red Sox this season, being ejected between the 2nd and 3rd innings. When Tito Francona came out to take up for Beltre, he got tossed too. This left the Sox with minor-leaguer Yamaico Navarro playing 3B and batting in Beltre's spot in the order. Shades of Niuman Romero in Tampa Bay??? You bet! Against Felix Hernandez, the Sox needed Beltre's bat. There's no guarantee it would have made a difference in the outcome of the game, but taking out a .325 hitter with nearly 90 RBI and replacing him with an automatic out batting fifth is one way to take the wind out of the sails of the Sox' 4-game winning streak.

Back to the umps, these guys' purpose in the game is to be in the background officiating. They're supposed to remain relatively anonymous--if you know an ump's name, chances are it isn't for a GOOD reason! Umps aren't perfect. They make bad calls once in awhile and the good ones own up to their mistakes. However, an umpire tossing a player over something stupid just to throw his weight around--that should be a one-way ticket back to the minors.

The hot-to-trot ump isn't entirely to blame for the Sox loss, though. They had their chances, but, as is the norm the season, when opportunity knocks, the Sox walk on by. The chance to gain more ground on the Yankees and Rays goes by the wayside as well. I wonder if the Red Sox will think about all those missed opportunities if they find themselves watching the playoffs at home. As September approaches and the Sox are still vacillating between 5 and 6 games behind the Yankees and/or Rays, the couch is looking a lot closer than the pennant.

LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!