OK, time for the lil guy to chime in his five cents. Here we go:

 

Let me start off by saying I have umped and reffed games before. While obviously not at the professional level, they had a very big impact on my day to day life because every single person in the league went to my school. So, as much as I tried to be impartial and call it as it is, there were always thoughts in the back of my head of how the outcome affected my team in the league, who the people were, etc. Thats why we always had at least three refs umping the football games we played, and always have 2 or more umps for our baseball games. Because with one ump having ultimate jurisdiction, it can get messy. That is why some of the other umps have to chime in when they think a play should have been called a different way.

 

(For those who don't like my how the brain really works theories, stop reading here)

 

Do I think that Jim Wolf is really making calls against the Marlins on purpose? No, of course not. It is his paying job to make calls on a neutral level and I do believe in my heart of hearts that he is doing that. That is making calls fair, depending on what he sees. This is what he is doing, consciously anyways. Subconsciously it is a completely different story.

 

When you are thinking subcosciously (which is all the time, no matter what) thoughts flash past your conscious mind faster than you can interpret them. With only roughly 10-15% of your mind being conscious, that leaves a pretty powerful mechanism thinking without your knowing it. Sure, not all of that non-used part is devoted to thoughts you don't know your thinking about, probably roughly 5-10%. But the mind is so powerful that 5% can change the way life is unfolding.

 

Why am I even talking about this? Simple. One, to get some of you to think about something other than baseball (subconsciously of course ). And two, because this is what I think is happening. Everytime a Marlin is heading towards the bag Jim Wolf is umping that day, the call to be is running through his conscious mind. What is running through his unconscious mind? Maybe a camping trip with his bro when they were in elementary school, or one telling the other about their first kiss, or maybe even what Randy has told him about his wonderous dissappearing girlfriend who might not even exist. And after one of these thoughts passes through his subconscious mind, in pops in the fact that bro Randy wears the Phillies red and white. And that the Phils are neck and neck with these same Florida Marlins.

 

So on the conscious level, he might be trying to be fair, he might not be. That we will perhaps never know. But on a subconscious level, you can bet that his mind whats to do everything it can to help out the other mind that its been living its whole life with.

And, that, ladies and gentlemen, is what we commonly call...

 

a conflict of interest.

 

Well said, Juanky.

it was well written.... but i think you are giving Wolf too much time there..... he calls you safe or out.... i dont think he has much more time than that

 

sorry...

 

he just made some bad calls... s*** happens

Maybe he does have it in for the Marlins! Why is it that we always have the bad calles and mistakes go against us? Why not against the other team? Why do they occur so often to us? Why are they so obvious to everyone but the ump supposed to make the call? Why?

Because you're a Marlins fan Cape.

Good post, Juanky. It is bad when parapsychology and baseball start getting mixed, but I am all about this sort of thing. I think you can also approach this at not so quite a deep level. Let's talk about perception - whether or not Wolf is making calls for his brother is irrelevant. And I dont think there has to be a conspiracy here, just human nature. This is a conflict of interest, plain and simple. To help illustrate our point, against those nay-sayers, here is something from the Herald about our topic:

 

Redman: Conflict of interest for ump?

Questionable call made by Phillies pitcher's brother

BY CLARK SPENCER

cspencer@herald.com

 

Marlins pitcher Mark Redman didn't go so far as to blame what he felt was a bad call by first-base umpire Jim Wolf on brotherly love. But Redman did say the fact Wolf and Philadelphia pitcher Randy Wolf are brothers does create a perception problem, especially considering the Marlins and Phillies are battling for the National League wild card.

 

''I guarantee that crosses every player's mind,'' Redman said after the Marlins dropped a 6-4 decision to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. ``You hope he doesn't do that [allow his family connection to influence calls], but it does cross people's minds.''

 

Jim Wolf was involved in three close plays Thursday, the first when Rickey Henderson was ruled safe on a pickoff attempt in the third, the second when Shawn Green beat out an infield hit in the third inning, and the third when Jeromy Burnitz was called safe on another infield hit in the fourth.

 

Redman didn't have a beef with the first two calls. But he said replays showed that first baseman Derrek Lee's foot appeared to touch the bag before Burnitz's did.

 

''They are close calls,'' Redman said. 'But I told [Wolf], `You're better than that' [after the third play]. I don't think he liked it too much.''

 

Burnitz stole second, then scored on Jolbert Cabrera's double to cut the Marlins' lead to 3-2.

 

Wolf declined to comment. But crew chief Admin Young defended his colleague, who usually works Triple A games.

 

''That's something I guess the players are going to have to deal with themselves,'' Young said of any perception problems. ``That goes to integrity, and [Wolf] has great integrity.''

 

Young said it's not the first time brothers have worked in the league as player and umpire, pointing to the Haller brothers -- umpire Bill and catcher Tom.

 

''[Wolf] doesn't perceive it to be a problem, and I do not, either,'' Young said. ``He could care less about the pennant race.''

it was well written.... but i think you are giving Wolf too much time there..... he calls you safe or out.... i dont think he has much more time than that

 

sorry...

 

he just made some bad calls... s*** happens

No, it isn't a matter of giving too much time or credit to Jim Wolf. I don't particurlarly think he is a smart guy. This happens to everyone, in split seconds.

 

And again, time isn't even a factor since he isn't consciously aware that these things are passing through his head.

There seems to be some backtracking, by the fraternity of umpires. But that is not what is in question - Wolf's integrity. What is in question is perception, MLB should be on alert that there is a conflict of interest - whether implicit or not - that is perceived by fellow players on teams in the pennant race.

I like your attempt here, Juanky, and it is valid. But a more tangible illustration could be perception - this is always a serious matter to consider when questioning an individual's behavior. Who is perceiving what exactly? Forget the metaphysics of this, it might be overthinking the matter. For one, who says Wolf has positive memories of he and his brother?

nice try Juanky...

 

But it's all speculation. you realize of course that if we're to buy into your theory, then not only will he screw the Marlins when calling games (consciously or otherwise), but also the other 6 or 7 teams fighting for playoff spots in the National League if he does any of their games.

 

He doesn't work behind the plate when Wolf pitches, end of story. What games should they keep him out of? Can he work Dodgers games? Can he work Rockies games? They're only 6 back!

 

Look, if the Mariners and Reds are playing late in the season, & the Reds are in last place but Bret Boone & the Mariners are tied for first & need the win, is Aaron Boone going to tank plays at third base or strike out on purpose? Why not? His brother needs the win, doesn't he? I mean it's only one loss & the Reds are out of it! If he takes pride in his job he won't. Umps get reviewed on their performance like anyone else. I don't know the guy and neither do any of you. You can ponder the subconscious all night but it proves nothing. Sure I understand the frustration, I screamed at the calls too. But there have been countless bad calls all year by umps who aren't related to Phillies players. What's their motivation then?

 

(yes i know Aaron's on the Yankees now, shove it!)

For one, who says Wolf has positive memories of he and his brother?

People always remember positive memories first.....its human nature.

 

And I never said fire the guy, I think moving him to the AL would be proper. Have him wear an AL cap and ump AL games.

Here's another article on the story, in case anyone is interested:

 

Redman questions umps' objectivity

 

 

By Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, August 15, 2003

 

 

 

Umpire Jim Wolf, the brother of Phillies pitcher Randy Wolf, was part of the crew that worked the Marlins' four-game series with the Dodgers that ended Thursday.

 

With Florida battling Philadelphia for the National League wild-card lead, no one on the Marlins thought Wolf intentionally blew any calls.

 

But one player said Wolf's presence in NL games creates a perception issue of whether teams battling the Phillies for the playoffs get fair treatment.

 

"I guarantee you it crosses every player's mind," said Marlins pitcher Mark Redman, who argued briefly with Wolf after a close play. "You hope he doesn't do that. It crosses people's minds, but he's a professional."

 

Wolf, a minor-league umpire filling in for vacationing major-league umps, referred questions to umpire crew chief Admin Young.

 

"He does not perceive it to be a problem, and I don't, either. It never enters my mind," Young said.

 

Asked about the perception issue, Young said: "That's something I guess the players are going to have to deal with themselves. All I can tell you is he's an outstanding umpire and he's probably going to have the next (major-league) opening."

 

Young didn't think the perception should be an issue. "That goes to integrity. He has great integrity. He has outstanding judgment. It's part of the job to be second-guessed, but to be second-guessed on an integrity basis is not fair."

 

One way to help erase any concerns would be to have Wolf work American League games. "That's not something for me to answer because I'm not a supervisor," Young said, "but in my opinion, no (it is not necessary). He does a great job."

 

Wolf has worked Phillies games but none behind home plate and none during games in which his brother pitched. Will the day ever come when he works the plate when his brother is on the mound?

 

"We've talked about that," Young said. "He doesn't think it'd be a problem. His brother doesn't think it'd be a problem. But if you're talking about perception, that's getting a little close. I wouldn't want to do it."

 

Wolf was involved in three close plays at first base Thursday. In the third, he called Rickey Henderson safe on a pickoff play when the replays showed he appeared to be out.

 

That same inning, Derrek Lee made a diving stop of a Shawn Green grounder and threw to Redman at first. Green was called safe, and Redman later said he agreed with the call.

 

But in the fifth, Wolf called Jeromy Burnitz safe at first. Burnitz scored when Jolbert Cabrera doubled. When the inning ended, Redman said he walked over to Wolf before going to the dugout.

 

"I just said, 'Close call. You're better than that,' and walked off. I don't think he liked that too much," he said.

fact: Mark Redman is on these boards :shifty

DOES ANYONE READ MY POSTS! DAMN... :banghead :w00t

People always remember positive memories first.....its human nature.

 

And I never said fire the guy, I think moving him to the AL would be proper. Have him wear an AL cap and ump AL games.

that doesnt excist anymore ? any ump can umpire anywhere now

ok, Jim Wolf's job is at risk for making questionable calls. Juanky refs/umps games for like 7 bucks an hour.

The fact that Jim Wolf was umping this series is coincidental. Sure, there were some bad calls, but I think it was purely coincidental. Jim ump'd a series a while back where the Braves were playing and the Phillies were still fairly close. Jim did a good job behind the plate and on the bases. I doubt the bad umping had anything to do with Jim being the brother of a Phillie.

ok, Jim Wolf's job is at risk for making questionable calls. Juanky refs/umps games for like 7 bucks an hour.

I don't ump/ref as a paying job, it was just a league I was in. I was trying to relay the fact that no matter how impartial you try to be there is always going to be some bit of partiality when you know those involved or you know the circumstances around the actual competition. Why do you think such great lengths are taken to protect potential jury pools in big cases with famous names? So partiality is kept. The earlier reference to a court of law serves its purpose in sports, as both have very key elements in common with each other. Sure, no one's life is on the line in the sense that no one is going to get executed for something they do on the field (well, then again, see Argentina '94). But the systems themselves are designed similar to each other.

 

I am fully aware of the fact that umps are no longer AL and NL. I am also aware of the fact that balls in play now say Major League Baseball instead of National League and American League. A little off topic, but this is the reason that the All Star Game no longer has importance. Commissioner Selig, in his vast extremities has decided to incorporate the whole thing into one big league instead of two leagues. Two leagues created rivalries, and it was more special to catch foul balls because people like me had to go to Tampa Bay or another AL park to catch an AL ball. But now, its dead. Unincorporate the thing and split it up again. Send him to the AL, he is not wanted in the NL.

 

And I know someone is going to jump on my initial post on this thread again, just do me a favor and read the whole thing this time. Think about it. And then post. I'm sick of repeating myself.

its all a f***ing concpercy at the time i dindt even know Wolf's bro was Umping... just shows you MLB officals are morons and they didnt think this would come up?????

 

its bull s***!!!!!!!

i saw 1 game and listend to da other 3 games on da radio, and doesnt take an idiot to see that almost each game there were blown calls and all them went to da Dudgers.. well the marlins got da UGLY end of the call...

 

 

 

this is a national Outrage..... Da WOlf brother have spit on the game of baseball and Tarnished the image of MLB that has been Tarnished so many times.....

 

why Ramp why Ramp??????

 

how can people be so cruel???

i dont know odom..... i just dont know :lol