Worst umpired game of the year.

He should still be a reliever. /snark

I have Joba on my team yet my ERA for the day is still over 6. Thanks, Lidge.

I'm surprised Beckett didn't get hammered.

I'm trying to think of a way the Sox could get revenge in a reasonable way. I think it's going to turn out to be a big mess.

I'm trying to think of a way the Sox could get revenge in a reasonable way. I think it's going to turn out to be a big mess.

Plunk Melky in the face?

Marty Foster decided that the height of his strike zone was going to be somewhere around the batter's ears.

And I think Angel Hernandez is blind.

I'm trying to think of a way the Sox could get revenge in a reasonable way. I think it's going to turn out to be a big mess.

Chamberlain doesn't ever go way up and in unless the batter's first name is Kevin and his last name is Youkilis.

Yeah, that was another mistake. Ball just got away. Again.

Chamberlain's curve was unreal tonight. You can't get a much better matchup stuff-wise than Beckett-Joba.

I still wonder whether Francona could have taken the players off the field; particularly after the Lowell K, I think it was blindingly obvious that the next batter would see virtually every pitch called a strike.

"Worst umpired game of the year. "

Typical umpired game of this year, they need Sandy Alderson back and apparently Questec at Fenway, but I'll take it.

He could have forfeited, TVE. But it wouldn't have accomplished anything. It was a terrible zone both ways. I just wonder what the heck that guy is doing umping Major League games.

No, I think the game was lost at that point. But a forfeit like that would be covered on all of the highlight shows, and a source of embarassment to MLB.

I can't stand Joba Chamberlain. I know he's only been around for a couple of years, but he's skyrocketing up my list of most despised villains.

are you serious? The ump had a big zone, but it was pretty consistent. I've seen much worse umpiring this year (not that that ought to be the standard).

Best game of the year. Please no whining about the umpires, either. They gave both pitchers the corners every time. And Lowell was leaning into the pitch, which made it look inside when he jumped back.

Chamberlain's not going to let anyone lean in on him. He's Clemens redux, and the Red Sox better just get used to it. And he's improving with every game.

What pleased me the most was that A-Rod got two hits and Rivera got the last five outs. It doesn't seem that long ago that both of them were snakebitten at Fenway. But not for about the last 12 months or so.

No, I think the game was lost at that point. But a forfeit like that would be covered on all of the highlight shows, and a source of embarassment to MLB.

Actually it would have been an embarrassment only to the Red Sox. Why would anyone else be embarrassed by a cheesy stunt like that?

JC and Andy: why should it make anyone feel any better that Foster decided to do his job incompetently for both teams instead of just one?

They gave both pitchers the corners every time.

It was certainly a good game, but this wasn't about the corners -- this was pitches 6 inches outside, inside, and high being called strikes 1/2 the time.

They gave both pitchers the corners every time. And Lowell was leaning into the pitch, which made it look inside when he jumped back.

Sorry, but your credibility went out the window with this combo.

Chamberlain's not going to let anyone lean in on him. He's Clemens redux, and the Red Sox better just get used to it. And he's improving with every game.

He outweighs Clemens by about 70 pounds at the same age. Clemens, like most of the greats, threw inside plenty. What Joba's been doing with Youk is nothing like what Clemens did.

I can't select text for some reason.

But Andy, I think that saying, "I don't think our players had any chance to win the game, given the umpiring" would have held a bit of water; certainly more so than just complaining about it after the game.

TV,

I just don't see why Francona would want to embarrass MLB, even if that stunt succeeded in doing so. He'd catch more flies with honey, as they say.

"He outweighs Clemens by about 70 pounds at the same age. Clemens, like most of the greats, threw inside plenty. What Joba's been doing with Youk is nothing like what Clemens did."

Mike Piazza would like a word with you.

What Joba's been doing with Youk is nothing like what Clemens did.

I can only hope that Joba's gotten inside the Red Sox players' heads half as much as he's evidently gotten into the heads of their fan base.

But Andy, I think that saying, "I don't think our players had any chance to win the game, given the umpiring" would have held a bit of water; certainly more so than just complaining about it after the game.

Here's how the Sox could have won the game: They could have scored two runs.

But as Jack Webb said in Red Nightmare: In America, there's always a tomorrow. And tomorrow night the chances are you all will be gloating and we'll be bltching. There's still a few more games left in the season.

"I still wonder whether Francona could have taken the players off the field; particularly after the Lowell K, I think it was blindingly obvious that the next batter would see virtually every pitch called a strike."

Certainly you're not serious. I mean, really. Because of a bad strike call?

Chamberlain was dominant. Beckett, for the most part, was as well. The Red Sox weren't screwed out of the game.

JC and Andy: why should it make anyone feel any better that Foster decided to do his job incompetently for both teams instead of just one?

Maybe it would put a stop to some of the whining?

What Joba's been doing with Youk is nothing like what Clemens did.

You really think Chamberlain threw at Youks on that pitch? I'm not seeing it on a 2-0 count w/0 outs at that point in the game. Makes no sense. I was, however, impressed as hell w/his composure after the pitch. He made Youks look awful.

Sorry, but your credibility went out the window with this combo.

I agree w/Andy. Seriously: wasn't Lowell over the plate?

JC and Andy: why should it make anyone feel any better that Foster decided to do his job incompetently for both teams instead of just one?

Because "bad umpiring" is like "media bias." It's not that you defend it, but you realize (a) it will exist as long as humans are humans, and (b) it balances out.

The showed the pitch zone after the pitch and the pitch was a mile inside, as you could easily tell when watching the pitch in real time. I can't imagine how you would think that pitch was a strike.

I really think Chamberlain threw the ball in that area on purpose. He's done it repeatedly to Youkilis now and thrown a pitch behind his legs. I don't know if he's trying to hit him but he doesn't seem to be trying very hard not to.

Because "bad umpiring" is like "media bias." It's not that you defend it, but you realize (a) it will exist as long as humans are humans, and (b) it balances out.

There's no good reason to believe that media bias or umpiring will balance out, though it is a more reasonable assumption in the latter case. Even if it does even out, it makes for a lousy game.

Certainly you're not serious. I mean, really. Because of a bad strike call?

Because of a series of bad calls, and the odds of the 27th out being untainted by umpiring. It's the same as if it were raining - the game couldn't be played fairly under those conditions.

I'm not advocating that this is a great way to go; just tossing it out there as a possibility.

It was an embarrasing umpiring job by a crew which is consistently embarrassingly bad. This is nothing new. Fortunately, this crew will be making tee times with the Yankees when the playoffs roll around.

There's no good reason to believe that media bias or umpiring will balance out, though it is a more reasonable assumption in the latter case. Even if it does even out, it makes for a lousy game.

I cheerfully await your critique of the umpiring after the Red Sox have won a close game on a call that Derek Jeter or A-Rod whines about. I'm sure you'll maintain your usual 100% objectivity and give the umps a good roasting.

Andy, you can see the logs in the Chatter if you like - throughout the game, partisans on both sides were complaining about the umpiring behind the plate, and it intensified at the end. I think that a thinking fan can believe that umpiring at that level impacts the game without being blinded by geographic loyalty.

You really think Chamberlain threw at Youks on that pitch? I'm not seeing it on a 2-0 count w/0 outs at that point in the game. Makes no sense.

Neither did throwing at Youkilis any of the other times, but he still did it. So that explanation really isn't all that persuasive.

I was, however, impressed as hell w/his composure after the pitch. He made Youks look awful.

I think Youkilis took the worst swing I've ever seen when he struck out on that slider and then tried to swing after the ball was in the catcher's mitt.

By the way, I love how the NY media says "Youkilis is the kind of player that you can't stand when he's on the other team but you like on your team." Well, he's on my team and I just find him very annoying. He can play, though.

i was at work for this game and am watching the encore right now, but have yet to see any extreme examples. i look forward to the end of the game to see what you guys are talking about/talked about in the game thread.

i'll look for it on both sides, but were the bad calls consistant, or was the ump all over the place to the point where no one knew what would be called a strike when? the high strike half the time someone mentioned sounds brutal. bad umpiring sucks no matter what, but there's a difference between an ump who randomly decides he's going to call strikes at the batter's eyes and sticking with it all game and deciding what he's going to call pitch to pitch.

hate to see a great yankee win besmirched by bad umpiring.

edit: Well, he's on my team and I just find him very annoying. He can play, though.

i've always thought he'd annoy me even if he'd come up with my team. something about him rubs me the wrong way.

as to joba, perhaps the emotion of facing youkilis caused him to fly open. who knows, but i just can't imagine that he's picking on youkilis when it's not to his advantage to do so, and if he is the yankees'd better talk to him.

"Because of a series of bad calls, and the odds of the 27th out being untainted by umpiring. It's the same as if it were raining - the game couldn't be played fairly under those conditions."

Please. Let's not get carried away because it was that Red Sox that lost a close game. Would there be this mock outrage if this were the Pirates? I encourage you to get the MLB package on Direct TV. There's bad strike calls almost every night, in every stadium. You just don't see 'em.

Both pitchers were dominant tonight. Chamberlain more so. This is not up for debate. Neither pitcher needed help from the ump, because neither even gave up an extra-base hit. I mean, the only run of the game was scored because of a shift!

I cheerfully await your critique of the umpiring after the Red Sox have won a close game on a call that Derek Jeter or A-Rod whines about. I'm sure you'll maintain your usual 100% objectivity and give the umps a good roasting.

I'm pretty good about admitting my biases, which is more than I can say for someone who thought the pitch to Lowell was a strike.

i'll look for it on both sides, but were the bad calls consistant, or was the ump all over the place to the point where no one knew what would be called a strike when?

I say the latter, zac. And further, I contend that it intensified, particularly very late.

Because "bad umpiring" is like "media bias." It's not that you defend it, but you realize (a) it will exist as long as humans are humans, and (b) it balances out.

Bad umpiring never balances out. It is impossible.

i'll look for it on both sides, but were the bad calls consistant, or was the ump all over the place to the point where no one knew what would be called a strike when?

The high/low thing wasn't consistent but it was rare. The width of the strike zone was consistently Gregg-esque. The problem was that, even if a batter adjusted for it, he couldn't possibly adjust. On the Lowell at bat, he fouled off several pitches that were 3-6 inches outside becuase they would have been called strikes. The called 3rd strike was 6 inches inside. Okajima looked virtually untouchable under these conditions.

I posted this in the chatter as well, but anyway...

Joba misses up there with the fastball far more than anywhere else. I am sure he was trying to go inside to Youkilis since he had a couple slap hits on pitches outside the last game and didn't want to let him do that again.

Obviously it's suspicious considering the history, but I've seen him miss badly way too many times there to think it was intentional in that situation. As great as he's been lately at limiting walks, his command is still mediocre at best.

Oh, and to be fair, gameday had the 3rd strike to Lowell as way inside. I've never seen him complain before either, so I'll admit he almost certainly got screwed there.

Joba misses up there with the fastball far more than anywhere else.

No, he doesn't. I've watched about 90% of his major league innings. Typically when he misses, he bounces the slider.

Neither pitcher needed help from the ump, because neither even gave up an extra-base hit.

Beckett and Chamberlain are very good pitchers, but you don't see a correlation there?

Andy, you can see the logs in the Chatter if you like - throughout the game, partisans on both sides were complaining about the umpiring behind the plate, and it intensified at the end. I think that a thinking fan can believe that umpiring at that level impacts the game without being blinded by geographic loyalty.

I watched the whole game without benefit of the chatter, and what I saw was the same thing the announcers saw right from the start: a pitcher's strike zone. Until the umps get replaced by machines---and I'll gladly sign a petition towards that end---those things will happen, and good players adjust to it.

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I'm pretty good about admitting my biases, which is more than I can say for someone who thought the pitch to Lowell was a strike.

Except I never said it might not have been a bad call. It looked borderline to me, and without question Lowell was leaning into the pitch. Giambi got a call earlier in the game that looked like it was at his ankles, but those things happen. And the bottom line is that tonight it was the feebleness of the Red Sox bats that cost them the game, not the umpiring.

"Beckett and Chamberlain are very good pitchers, but you don't see a correlation there?"

No, I don't. Two great pitchers pitched a great game.

And the bottom line is that tonight it was the feebleness of the Red Sox bats that cost them the game, not the umpiring.

It doesn't appear any Red Sox fans are arguing otherwise. And the only person suggesting the Red Sox should have taken any on-field action over the umpiring is a Yankee fan.

No, he doesn't. I've watched about 90% of his major league innings. Typically when he misses, he bounces the slider.

And I've watched almost every inning. Yes he does bounce the slider as often, but he's usually trying to bury it on purpose because he still gets a lot of swings on it. With the fastball, it usually comes when he's trying to paint the corner and it sails on him. It hasn't been as bad lately, but it was really bad earlier in the year.

Andy,

Nice weaseling there. If you're saying it was a borderline pitch, then you're saying that it wasn't a bad call. It was a bad call because it was nowhere near the zone, regardless of where Lowell was standing.

And who do you think you're arguing with? Nobody is saying the umps cost the Red Sox the game. Why are you so obsessed with calling Red Sox fans whining babies?

Both teams need not worry - the Halos will butcher them in the playoffs.

Re: the umpiring. If Angel Hernandez was involved in this game, I am willing to concede that the umpiring was horrid. He is a terrible ump - time in and time out - he is bad. Haven't seen him perform well. Ever.

I just looked up the whole umpiring crew - and that is one terrible group of umps.

Sorry you guys had to deal with that. In two days when Hernandez is behind the plate, expect more of the same.

You get the feeling that Joba is one of those New York prospects that wasn't overhyped.

Beckett suffered because he threw many more good breaking balls tonight than Chamberlain did. While Joba had his share of nasty sliders in the dirt, 50% of his curves and sliders were high hangers six inches off the zone. And yet they were consistently called for strikes. If Beckett had had crappier stuff, he probably would have lasted 12 innings.

"He's our Josh Beckett." Hank Steinbrenner re Chamberlain, 5/23/08, NY Post by Kevin Kernan.

Joba pitched a great game. Beckett did as well, but Joba pitched the better game.

My father and I love the Yankees as much as anyone and hate the Red Sox just as much, but we spent the whole game chortling at the awful strike calls, several against the Yankees, but most against the Red Sox. Strike two to Lowell in the fourth was extremely high, as were strikes called on Gardner and Pedroia (I commented that maybe Foster thought Sexson was batting).

NESN had their FX-style pitch locations, and most of the called strikes seemed to be out of the zone pretty consistently. The only area Foster seemed to be calling correctly was low.

Now I know that most players say they're fine with a non-textbook strike zone as long as it's consistent, but when you're consistently calling balls strikes that a player could only hit off the handle or the end of the bat, you're doing a disservice to both teams.

Joba and Beckett seemed to figure out the zone early, which I think is a big reason the score was 1-0.

I have to say that I thought NESN's little strike zone doohikey seemed a little bit off to that side of the plate. It also said that strike three to A-Rod in the top of the 9th was way inside, as well as the two final strikes to Drew.