What's Wrong with Baseball? (Why I Can Hardly Watch Anymore)

Nine minutes because the umpires can't make up their minds.

The problem with that whole play was the second base umpire never called out Holliday, the runner going to second base. Not that Holliday would have seen it because he had already turned back toward first base. Also, notice that Ellsbury missed touching the base.

Did it end up being a double play? It should have been.

 

Another exhibit. This is a multi-event, daily happening. Watch the home plate umpire nod in confirmation that Granderson struck out.

Must C: Maddon tossed after foul

 

Granderson struck out swinging on a curve ball down in the strike zone. The catcher dropped the ball but then quickly tagged Granderson. Upon the tag, the umpire nods his head and makes the "out" sign with his fist. Granderson starts arguing he foul tipped the ball. (So the batter is arguing balls and strikes, not allowed under rules of baseball.) Then the Dodger manager comes out of the dugout and asks for the third base umpire's opinion. How in the world the third base umpire can make a call like this is ridiculous. Not only that, but ALL the umpires, including the outfield umpires huddle up. (The play is not reviewable.) While the umpires are having their conference slo-mo replays show that Granderson absolutely missed the ball, no foul tip. After a couple of minutes the home plate umpire rules it was a foul tip and Granderson is still at bat. Joe Maddon, Cubs manager, comes charging out of the dugout yelling. He gets tossed from the game. Granderson promptly strikes out (again) on a very similar pitch.

This was about a 5-6 minute delay in the game.