World Series: After Video Review, Umpire Crew Perfect in San Francisco Games

What makes a ho-hum MLB World Series?

Sure, the San Francisco Giants' surge to a two-game advantage over the Tigers as the series turns to Detroit is a contributing factor, though one reason for baseball blandness this late in the 2012 postseason has been repeated by broadcasters Joe Buck and Tim McCarver several times, albeit in a very covert way.

This umpiring crew has been on point.

As said by Buck during Game 2 on Thursday, the 2012 World Series umpiring crew has called all close plays correctly, securing an accuracy of 100 percent through the championship round's initial set by the Bay.

Before the World Series began, umpire Brian O'Nora told his native Austintown, Ohio's WYTV that, "[Officiating is] the only job that you have to get everything right, you have to be perfect and get better."

The 2012 World Series umpiring crew meet with managers Jim Leyland and Bruce Bochy prior to Game 1.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

As if putting this theory immediately into practice, O'Nora's crew for this year's Fall Classic has been exactly perfect—yet managed to improve from Game 1 to Game 2.

Using similar criteria employed by ESPN during their 2010 study, which found that umpires, on average, miss one out of every five non-balls/strikes close calls—a study that similarly found only 1.3 calls per game were, on average, considered "close" enough to merit video review, prompting extrapolation of the data to conclude that, of all calls that come their way, umpires are 99.545 percent accurate—Game 1 of the 2012 World Series contained two close calls, while Game 2 housed four.

Let's review them.

World Series Game 1

1. In the bottom of the first inning, Giants batter-runner Marco Scutaro was ruled out at first base, umpire Dan Iassogna judging that first baseman Prince Fielder caught a throw from teammate Jhonny Peralta scarcely before Scutaro's foot touched first base. Replays indicate the call was correct.
2. In the fourth inning, Delmon Young's chopper into the ground at home plate resulted in a double play after home plate umpire Gerry Davis ruled the squibberfair as Giants catcher Buster Posey alertly tagged Young and fired to retire baserunner Fielder at second base. Replays—and education regarding what constitutes "fair territory"—indicate the call was correct.

World Series Game 2

1. In a game-changing play, a relay from Giants right fielder Gregor Blanco to Scutaroto Posey retired baserunner Fielder as he attempted to score from first base on an early double by Young. Replays indicate the call was correct, as did Buck: "Great call by Dan Iassogna."
2. In the third inning, Scutaro grounded out, diving head first into first base as Fielder received a Peralta throw. Though the slide sure complicated matters at the bag,replays indicate the call was correct, with McCarver adding: "Excellent call by first base umpire Fieldin Culbreth."
3. With one on and none out in the seventh inning, Brandon Belt came within inches of hitting into a rally-killing double play with his grounder to first base. Instead, Fielder caught the chopper in foul territory, allowing Belt to walk and baserunner Hunter Pence to advance to second before scoring on a subsequent double play. Replays indicate the umpires' foul ball call was correct.
4. When Angel Pagan gave America free tacos with his eighth-inning stolen base, umpire Brian O'Nora was on top of the call, which, in real time appeared quite close. Replays indicate the call was correct.

Yes, the umpires have been perfect through the first two games of this 2012 World Series; Tigers manager Jim Leyland even praised Iassogna for calling his player out at home plate during his Game 2 post-game press conference.

Yet by the same token, some fans and the media covering baseball have felt a collective knot, a yearning for one more source of controversy.

After Holbrook's correctly invoked infield fly ruling, Braves fans threw debris on the field in protest. Pictured above is right field umpire Rob Drake.
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

When Sam Holbrook called an infield fly during the inaugural NL Wild Card Game—though the call was correct—the mere possibility that an umpire's gaffe had cost the Atlanta Braves a chance to advance in the postseason quickly became front page fodder for that most familiar of gripes and qualms: expanding instant replay in MLB.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has stated that in 2013 professional baseball will expand instant replay to include traps and fair/foul calls.

How about machines to determine intent vis-à-vis check swings and throwing at batters, too?

How about a polygraph?

Seizing on a trend, all umpire calls during the 2012 postseason have grown subject to enhanced scrutiny—a benign incorrect call by Jim Joyce quickly generated syndicated headlines, while Joe Girardi's ejection following an incorrect call at second base led to a rash of new articles with very familiar motifs, as did a tag attempt during the St. Louis Cardinals-Giants NLCS.

So during Game 2 of the World Series, when Buck praised the umpires for a job well done, ESPN editor/writer and former Baseball Prospectus editor Christina Kahrlcouldn't help but respond: "It's like they're just daring Cowboy Joe West to get involved somehow, no?"

Well, no.

In 2007, the Hardball Times comprehensively reviewed MLB umpire strike zones, with author Jonathan Hale concluding that, of all umpires, Country Joe "had the fewest number of extra balls and strikes, which is a sign of consistency." For that reason, West received Hale's "top vote."

Evidently, given his 2012 World Series assignment, West also received MLB's "top vote."

Dating back to 2006—and again in 2011—West has found himself on both sides of a players' poll, having been voted one of the best umpires in baseball while simultaneously being named one of the worst in both years' surveys. Sounds like a Joe West strike zone is needed to establish some semblance of consistency.

Umpire Joe West has paradoxically been ranked as one of the best—and one of the worst—umpires in Major League Baseball.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

As subjective as they may be, however, the polls' paradoxical dichotomy establishes the grand conflict of sports officiating: "All fans complain about officials. All fans believe the officials hate their team and have it out for them. This despite zero evidence supporting that belief."

So, for the time being, praise them. Offer up your respect while you still can.

Because that extremely misleading one-in-five close call statistic will come into play soon enough—the umpires are on a six-close call correctness streak.

They're overdue.

And after all, isn't that what we all want: more justification for an expanded instant replay system we have absolutely no idea how to logistically and fairly implement?