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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Yankees catcher Russell Martin blasts umpire Laz Diaz

The Lazer Show: Spatial incoherence.

Martin said the umpire refused to let him throw the ball back to his own pitchers whenever a new ball was put into play.

“He told me I had to earn the privilege,” said Martin, a seven-year veteran, three-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner. “Even at the end of the game after I get hit in the neck. I’m like, can I throw the ball back now? He’s still like no. I’m like you’re such a (expletive). Like for real. Unbelievable. I even told him like when there’s guys on base, I like to keep my arm loose. No. I’m not letting you throw a ball back. That’s pretty strange to me.”

When informed that his choice of words wasn’t printable, Martin said “I wish it was.”

Then, he helped come up with suitable alternatives before leaving the clubhouse.

Diaz was not available for comment.

“That was strange,” Martin said. “I was kind of mystified. I really didn’t get that. He was punishing me.”

Repoz Posted: May 31, 2012 at 05:05 AM | 38 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: umpires, yankees

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1. Joe Bivens, Minor Genius Posted: May 31, 2012 at 06:14 AM (#4143921)

Martin is being selfish here. I doubt he ever considered that Diaz may want to keep his arm loose, too.

edit...Maybe Martin could offer a compromise, like, they take turns throwing new balls in play back to the pitcher.

2. Walt Davis Posted: May 31, 2012 at 07:08 AM (#4143929)

I think we need robots to throw the new balls.

3. Guapo Posted: May 31, 2012 at 07:18 AM (#4143932)

When informed that his choice of words wasn’t printable, Martin said “I wish it was.”

Then, he helped come up with suitable alternatives before leaving the clubhouse.

Martin's new nickname should be "The Thesaurus." Although it's a shame he couldn't come up with something better than "Expletive."

4. Hack Wilson Posted: May 31, 2012 at 07:45 AM (#4143941)

I saw a game once in which the umpires had a runner in a rundown between first and second. The umpires need more chances to actively participate in the game like that. For example I would love to see Cowboy Joe West be a designated beanball target.

5. God Posted: May 31, 2012 at 07:55 AM (#4143943)

I am really enjoying all the player-umpire conflict this year. It makes the game immensely more entertaining. Not to mention which, it's about damn time there was a mass uprising to put these arrogant ######## umps in their place. Kudos to Martin for having the balls to say this publicly even though it'll cost him a ton of calls the rest of the year.

6. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: May 31, 2012 at 08:23 AM (#4143954)

Kudos to Martin for having the balls to say this publicly even though it'll cost him a ton of calls the rest of the year.

Yeah, look what it did for Ned Stark!

7. Rants Mulliniks (formerly Cold Prosimian) Posted: May 31, 2012 at 08:25 AM (#4143956)

The Jays have certainly been on the #### end of a lot of calls since the Lawrie incident.

8. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 31, 2012 at 08:34 AM (#4143959)

When informed that his choice of words wasn’t printable

Don't you just hate it when the type gets all jammed up, just because somebody doesn't choose their words with consideration to the QWERTY layout? ###.

9. bobm Posted: May 31, 2012 at 08:35 AM (#4143961)

Kudos to Martin for having the balls to say this publicly even though it'll cost him a ton of calls the rest of the year.

Nevertheless, one would think that the umpires would still be afraid of a catcher failing to try his utmost to prevent a 95 mph "passed ball" to the umpire's mask.

10. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 31, 2012 at 08:36 AM (#4143962)

5. God Posted: May 31, 2012 at 07:55 AM (#4143943)
I am really enjoying all the player-umpire conflict this year. It makes the game immensely more entertaining. Not to mention which, it's about damn time there was a mass uprising to put these arrogant ######## umps in their place. Kudos to Martin for having the balls to say this publicly even though it'll cost him a ton of calls the rest of the year.

This would never have happened if you hadn't gone soft! They are false idols demanding to be worshipped! Smite them!

11. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: May 31, 2012 at 09:34 AM (#4143994)

Man, if Martin is telling the truth here, then Diaz is a total d*ck. This is like Martin's seventh season in the majors.

Some of these umpires are completely out of control, and the state of umpiring right now is horrendous. The best thing Selig could do to improve the game before he retires would be to fire a whole bunch of these guys and replace them with the best and hungriest umps in the minors.

12. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: May 31, 2012 at 09:41 AM (#4144004)

There are definitely issues but I think the umpiring is far superior to where it was before the 1999 purge. The level of arrogance and aggressiveness by the old guard at that time was far in excess of what it is today and while calls get blown there is a LOT more "huddle up and get it right" than there was then.

MLB desperately needs to come up with a merit based approach to these guys and stuff like Diaz is alleged to have done should be slapped down hard but I think today is still an improvement over where we were.

13. Yonder Alonso in misguided trousers (cardinal) Posted: May 31, 2012 at 10:57 AM (#4144081)

From the full article: "Typically, Martin said umpires grant his request to throw the ball back to his pitcher, which he likes to do just to keep his arm loose during games."

I didn't even know it was something to be requested-- I just thought umpires just gave the catchers the new ball and the catcher tossed it to the pitcher. Or sometimes the ump threw it. Or really, why would the ump care in the slightest? It seems so minor.

14. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: May 31, 2012 at 11:06 AM (#4144099)

Or really, why would the ump care in the slightest? It seems so minor.

I suppose you could construct a scenario where the catcher quickly scuffs or otherwise alters the new ball before throwing it back to the pitcher. Of course, it's easier for the pitcher just to do that himself after getting the new ball, so I don't know.

15. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: May 31, 2012 at 11:09 AM (#4144104)

I umpired little league for a summer when I was in high school. I was generally happy to have the catcher throw a ball back to the pitcher, because it meant I didn't have to risk embarrassing myself by accidentally spiking that sucker into the ground like Jacque Jones trying to hit the cut-off man.

16. Randy Jones

Posted: May 31, 2012 at 11:11 AM (#4144108)

I suppose you could construct a scenario where the catcher quickly scuffs or otherwise alters the new ball before throwing it back to the pitcher. Of course, it's easier for the pitcher just to do that himself after getting the new ball, so I don't know.

First, the catcher would still have the opportunity on ensuing pitches to scuff the ball, if this were the case. Regardless, if the ump did suspect this was happening, then he gives the catcher the ball and lets him throw it to the pitcher. Then the ump calls for the pitcher to throw it back to him and examines it. If it's scuffed, he ejects the catcher.

17. Elvis Posted: May 31, 2012 at 11:31 AM (#4144131)

Mackey Sasser was glad when the umpire threw a new ball back to the pitcher.

18. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: May 31, 2012 at 12:59 PM (#4144217)

From the full article: "Typically, Martin said umpires grant his request to throw the ball back to his pitcher, which he likes to do just to keep his arm loose during games."

Is it just me, or is this kind of weird? Doesn't Martin throw pretty much every ball back to the pitcher? How tight could his arm possibly be getting?

19. Delino DeShields & Yarnell Posted: May 31, 2012 at 02:56 PM (#4144352)

Does it help better clarify that the ball is 'live' if an umpire does it?

/rules nerded

20. Delino DeShields & Yarnell Posted: May 31, 2012 at 02:58 PM (#4144353)

Edit: cursory search says ball not live again until pitcher ready. Duh. Never mind.

21. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: May 31, 2012 at 03:07 PM (#4144369)

Don't you just hate it when the type gets all jammed up, just because somebody doesn't choose their words with consideration to the QWERTY layout? ###.

Does it seem weird to anybody else that we're still using QWERTY, 25 or so years into the PC era?

Also, if you're going through a Mackey Sasser Phase, could you theoretically hand the ball back to the ump, or refuse to take it from him, or something?

22. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: May 31, 2012 at 03:13 PM (#4144377)

Does it seem weird to anybody else that we're still using QWERTY, 25 or so years into the PC era?

As opposed to what? My understanding is that QWERTY exists because of the ease of touch typing. I would lose my mind if someone tried to change the keyboard on me. I think switching from QWERTY would be about as effective as switching to the metric system was in the late 70s.

23. Randy Jones

Posted: May 31, 2012 at 03:25 PM (#4144392)

Does it seem weird to anybody else that we're still using QWERTY, 25 or so years into the PC era?

There are some researchers here who claim that the advantages commonly attributed to the Dvorak keyboard over the QWERTY are not necessarily true and have not been rigorously tested(and may not exist at all). Also, that the QWERTY keyboard did not become the dominant layout simply due to mechanical limitations of the earliest typewriters.

24. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: May 31, 2012 at 03:27 PM (#4144398)

Smartphones probably could have pulled it off and they probably should have done it but they chickened out.

25. Jay Seaver Posted: May 31, 2012 at 03:31 PM (#4144403)

Urban legend has it that the QWERTY layout was actually created to slow people down (having many common letters on the left-hand side) so that early typewriters wouldn't jam. Other keyboard standards have been proposed, like the Dvorak standard (which has the vowels and most commonly used consonants on the home row), but evidence for their superiority is minimal.

QWERTY is probably not the best possible layout, but I imagine figuring out a way to test it would be a bear - its sheer ubiquity would make it hard for a useful sample to learn just Dvorak (for example). Fortunately, it seems to be good enough.

26. bfan Posted: May 31, 2012 at 03:42 PM (#4144421)

Is it just me, or is this kind of weird? Doesn't Martin throw pretty much every ball back to the pitcher? How tight could his arm possibly be getting?

Correct, and this is the essence of this mystery-why does Martin really care, also? Does he need to throw back 20 balls per inning to the pitcher, instead of 15?

27. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: May 31, 2012 at 03:42 PM (#4144423)

QWERTY is probably not the best possible layout, but I imagine figuring out a way to test it would be a bear - its sheer ubiquity would make it hard for a useful sample to learn just Dvorak (for example). Fortunately, it seems to be good enough.

I suspect that what'll happen is that people will have flexible custom keyboards, in much the same way they come up with their own alt-whatever combos.
You know, you log in and the computer says "OK, it's Fred, load up the Fred Keyboard Layout." But the default remains QWERTY.

28. Randy Jones

Posted: May 31, 2012 at 03:44 PM (#4144427)

You know, you log in and the computer says "OK, it's Fred, load up the Fred Keyboard Layout." But the default remains QWERTY.

You mean like the way every computer already works?

29. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: May 31, 2012 at 03:53 PM (#4144439)

A nicer way to phrase that would have been "Actually, computers already work that way." (followed by a link to an explanation)

30. Srul Itza Posted: May 31, 2012 at 03:54 PM (#4144441)

qwerty is an historical artifact that will go away when keyboards go away to be replaced by purely voice activated (or thought activated) computers.

Touch typing was probably the most useful thing I learned in High School, and the only skill that really still comes in handy.

31. Jarrod HypnerotomachiaPoliphili(Teddy F. Ballgame) Posted: May 31, 2012 at 04:01 PM (#4144453)

I've always been slightly annoyed at umpires who throw back to the pitcher themselves. Seems like a way to inject themselves into the action, or a way of saying, "Hey, I can play this game a little myself." Completely unnecessary. Not giving the ball to the catcher when he asks for it is ridiculous, and telling him he has to earn the privilege is just unbelievably dickish.

With the ubiquity of computers, do kids learn touch typing in grade school now, or are they just not considered dextrous enough until later?

32. Greg (U)K Posted: May 31, 2012 at 04:05 PM (#4144459)

qwerty is an historical artifact that will go away when keyboards go away to be replaced by purely voice activated (or thought activated) computers.

That's what they said about the monarchy and the imperial system.

And yet we're still ruled by an old lady and you people still measure things in inches. Historical artefacts (as my zany UK spell-checker demands I spell it) conquer all!

33. just plain joe Posted: May 31, 2012 at 04:22 PM (#4144484)

qwerty is an historical artifact that will go away when keyboards go away to be replaced by purely voice activated (or thought activated) computers.

Touch typing was probably the most useful thing I learned in High School, and the only skill that really still comes in handy.

You guys better watch out; going off topic in a baseball thread runs the risk of offending the site gods.

And yes, touch typing was probably the only thing I learned in high school that I still use on a daily basis, some 40+ years later, so thank you Mr. Wells.

34. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: May 31, 2012 at 04:23 PM (#4144486)

They said the monarchy would be replaced by voice activated computers? I know Prince Charles is pretty dry but. . .

35. Kiko Sakata

Posted: May 31, 2012 at 04:44 PM (#4144520)

do kids learn touch typing in grade school now

Yes (based on a sample size of my two sons, in the Chicago public school system). I think both of them have had some access to typing instruction since the first grade.

36. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: May 31, 2012 at 05:53 PM (#4144626)

qwerty is an historical artifact that will go away when keyboards go away to be replaced by purely voice activated (or thought activated) computers.

I know Gates is on record saying something similar about voice controlled computers replacing keyboards, but I just don't see it. Any office with more than about 3 people simultaneously talking at their computers, is going to be an absolute nightmare. And any environment where you can't or don't want to speak freely about what you are doing (lecture, meeting, plane, train etc) is going to be impossible.
Plus there are many applications which would be monumentally slow without typing. Ever tried writing code without a keyboard? Spreadsheets anybody?

37. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: May 31, 2012 at 05:57 PM (#4144632)

Touch typing was probably the most useful thing I learned in High School, and the only skill that really still comes in handy.

This.
Well, this, and I had a jiu-jitsu class with a shiatsu component. Can't say I've used that nearly as often, but when it's useful, it's been darned useful.

38. DA Baracus is gritty and hits with RISP Posted: May 31, 2012 at 06:53 PM (#4144682)

Smartphones probably could have pulled it off and they probably should have done it but they chickened out.

Non-smart phones had/have it in the form of 2/ABC 3/DEF 4/GHI and no one misses it. If a smart phone came out with a different "keyboard" it probably wouldn't sell because people want the keyboard they're used to.

Unless it was made by Apple.

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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Yankees catcher Russell Martin blasts umpire Laz Diaz

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