Pirates president Frank Coonelly issued a statement Wednesday, a day after his team's 4-3 loss to the Braves in Atlanta that included a highly controversial call in the 19th inning.In doing so, Coonelly and the Pirates filed a formal complaint with the commissioner's office over umpire Jerry Meals' call that ended the game at Turner Field."The Pittsburgh Pirates organization is extremely disappointed by the way its 19-inning game against the Atlanta Braves ended earlier this morning. The game of baseball and this game in particular, filled with superlative performances by players on both clubs, deserved much better."While we cannot begin to understand how umpire Jerry Meals did not see the tag made by Michael McKenry three feet in front of home plate, we do not question the integrity of Mr. Meals. Instead, we know that Mr. Meals' intention was to get the call right. Jerry Meals has been umpiring Major League games for 14 years and has always done so with integrity and professionalism. He got this one wrong." Source: ESPN
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4dcEIrwl4E]Ump Blows Call in the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Atlanta Braves game in the 19th Inning‏ - YouTube[/ame]
this was an awful call. probably one of the worst ive seen lately. this is just another reason they need instant replay in major league baseball
Yeah, Mush. I still partially blame the catcher. And .. you guys need to watch the front angle of it. I don't think with replay it would've been overturned, anyway. Lol.
I think it was the right call. The reverse angle looked like the catcher missed him. But from the ump's angle there's no way he should have been safe. I think it's more on the catcher than the ump.
Yeah, Steve. I agree. The umps angle should have called him out. But the other angle, looks like the catcher may have missed the tag by sweeping, rather than clearly tagging him. They're going to give Meals hell, and they're going to continue talking about it for a long time. With instant replay, it wouldn't have been overturned, but if he was called out, i don't think it would've ever been replayed.
Why is everyone freaking out about this call, it was a close play and the ump made his call, my opinion is that this was such a big deal because the "new" pittsburgh fans havent actually watched baseball in so long they forgot that close calls can be called either way
Because it wasnt that close by way of when the throw reached the catcher, but as far as one of the angles, it was a close call. Lol.
