While the Boston Red Sox were traveling to Kansas City for the start of their 3-game set with the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, the big news of the day were the comments made by umpire Joe West.
Now we all know the Red Sox and New York Yankees usually play four hour games but West was not at all pleased with the length of the games in the two team’s opening series.
“They’re the two clubs that don’t try to pick up the pace,” said West, the chief of the umpiring crew working the three-game series, according to the report. “They’re two of the best teams in baseball. Why are they playing the slowest?”
“It’s pathetic and embarrassing. They take too long to play,” he said, according to the report.
Most Red Sox and Yankees fans are used to this and usually don’t mind because 8 out of 10 times the games are usually compelling. This was the case during the opening series as the games were closely contested.
ESPN’s Curt Schilling responded to West’s comments by basically saying West acts like he has other places to be.
“Watch Joe West during the game. He never lets the catcher throw a ball in play. He rushes everything, and calls a small plate. He’s decent behind there, consistent, but smaller than he can be. If he wants to pick up the pace he should get the pace of the game going by calling more strikes … strikes.
“Not to mention he often times acts like he’d rather be any place in the world other than the field.”
Schilling’s right because on one night a pitch in a certain location could be a ball and on the next night, it could be a strike. There’s no consistency to the calling of the strike zone.
Schilling’s also right in the fact that if West had a bigger strike zone not as many balls would called.
There’s a difference in major league hitters these days as well. Most teams are looking to work the counts of the starting pitchers to get them out of the game earlier. The Red Sox and Yankees are two teams that do it well as we saw in the John Lackey/Andy Pettitte matchup on Wednesday night.
Until the umpiring gets more consistent, the Red Sox and Yankees will continue to play 4 hour marathons. And I honestly don’t mind it one bit.
We’ll be back later today with the lineups and other links from the day but continue reading for this morning’s links.
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Mind the Gap: Rivera continues to pace Papelbon [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Delcarmen operating within his speed limits [Boston Globe]
West rips pace of play [Boston Globe]
Prelude to a save [Boston Globe]
‘Strengths’ of Red Sox need tweaks [Boston Herald]
No time to rest, Victor Martinez gets Tim Wakefield [Boston Herald]
When will Jason Varitek and Mike Lowell make their 2010 debuts? [Clubhouse Insider]
Umpire: Length of Sox-Yankee games ‘pathetic’ [CSN New England]
Bonser satisfied with outing; Embree gets a scare [CSN New England]
Why plate discipline is winning strategy [Curt Schilling – ESPN Boston]
Meet Daniel Nava, the best Red Sox minor leaguer you’ve never heard of [ESPN Boston]
One year later, Lackey remembers Adenhart [ESPN Boston]
Beckett by the numbers [Extra Bases]
Don’t expect quicker Sox/Yanks games [Full Count]
Everybody settle down about Big Papi [Lou Merloni – WEEI.com]
Trio of Aces Unable to Get It Done for Red Sox So Far [NESN.com]
David Ortiz’s Pregame Outburst Hints at Growing Frustration [NESN.com]
Report: Alan Embree Likely to Opt Out if Not Promoted Before April 15 [NESN.com]
Report: Red Sox Discussed Deal for Curtis Granderson in Offseason [NESN.com]
Study Shows Josh Beckett Is Slowest Pitcher in Major League Baseball [NESN.com]
Dustin Pedroia Licking His Chops With Royals, Twins on Upcoming Schedule [NESN.com]
Francona’s loyalty to Ortiz has left Sox vulnerable [Providence Journal]
An encouraging start for Papelbon quickly goes bad [Providence Journal]
Sox, Yanks criticized on game pace [RedSox.com]
Inbox: Time for switch at designated hitter? [RedSox.com]
Red Sox seek better road results in ’10 [RedSox.com]
Bonser, Embree pitch in Minors game [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
