the main headline on espn.com/mlb

 

MIAMI -- Florida Marlins left-hander Mark Redman says there's a perception problem involving umpire Jim Wolf, brother of Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Randy Wolf.

 

The Marlins and Phillies are battling for the National League wild-card lead. Jim Wolf, a Triple-A umpire who fills in for vacationing major-league umps, worked the Marlins-Dodgers series this week, and Redman questioned three of his calls in Florida's 6-4 loss Thursday.

 

Redman stopped short of saying Wolf allowed his family connection to influence calls, but said, "I guarantee that crosses every player's mind."

 

"You hope he doesn't do that," Redman said. "It crosses people's minds, but he's a professional."

 

Wolf declined to comment, but crew chief Admin Young defended his colleague. Young noted the Haller brothers -- umpire Bill and catcher Tom -- were also in the NL together in the 1960s and 70s.

 

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

 

TV replays showed Wolf blew a call Thursday when he ruled Jeromy Burnitz safe on an infield hit. Redman complained, and as he walked off the field at the end of the inning he shouted at Wolf.

 

"I told him, `You're better than that,"' Redman said. "I don't think he liked it too much."

 

maybe the league will do something about this 'problem'?

By MLB do you mean MLB.com? Because I don't see anything on it there. I did see the link on ESPN.com though.

espn.com/mlb

 

thats the link

Gotcha

intriguing

Same article was in the Herald, word for word I believe. They probably got it from the AP too.

This article is everywhere. I just did a search on Google News and this is where it came up:

 

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Kansas City Star

Miami Herald

NBC10 - Pennsylvania

Covers, Canada

Sebastian Sun

ESPN

Palm Beach Post

 

I'm sure more will come soon!

Good thing someone said something. More of that great leadership from Big Red.

Just thank god the umps rotate. We won the two games where he was at 2nd and 3rd base...where the calls didn't matter as much. He was the home plate ump in the Dontrelle game and did not give Dontrelle even one bit of respect. He called everything close a ball. And that's why Willis had to change his strategy and so the Dodgers hit all the balls thrown at them. And then there was that terrible call at first yersterday... :thumbdown

He also called Rickey safe at first once when the replay showed he was clearly out.

you notice that Redman never actually accuses him of anything, just says that it crosses the players' minds sometimes and that it's a perception problem more than anything. i don't argue with that point.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?i...artnersite=espn

 

It isn't a theory, there is no reason that kind of conflict can even happen. Put Wolf to call AL games and bring another umpire to do the NL games.

The fact is that if Wolf is somehow trying to help the Phillies cause sooner or later the mlb is going to find out. He could get fired for repeated blown calls. That is the reason I don't think he's trying to help the phillies.

The fact is that if Wolf is somehow trying to help the Phillies cause sooner or later the mlb is going to find out. He could get fired for repeated blown calls. That is the reason I don't think he's trying to help the phillies.

The problem is that Umps have TOO MUCH POWER! If baseball wants to review umpires they need to do something similar to the NHL. You use the TV cameras, not some proprietary system to judge the ump's performance. If they don't perform they are sent down to the minors, or in severe cases, terminated.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?i...artnersite=espn

 

It isn't a theory, there is no reason that kind of conflict can even happen. Put Wolf to call AL games and bring another umpire to do the NL games.

Yes,it's not a theory of conflict of interest it was conflict of interest. A huge one at that.

Why would Jim Wolf be scheduled

to call a Marlin's game, He should be designated to American League games and should never ever under any circumstances call any game that can affect the Phillies.

 

It's a pretty big coincidence that he is called up from umpiring Minor league games just in time for the Marlins/Phillies series and he does a horrible umpiring job during the series at that.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?i...artnersite=espn

 

It isn't a theory, there is no reason that kind of conflict can even happen. Put Wolf to call AL games and bring another umpire to do the NL games.

Yes,it's not a theory of conflict of interest it was conflict of interest. A huge one at that.

Why would Jim Wolf be scheduled

to call a Marlin's game, He should be designated to American League games and should never ever under any circumstances call any game that can affect the Phillies.

 

It's a pretty big coincidence that he is called up from umpiring Minor league games just in time for the Marlins/Phillies series and he does a horrible umpiring job during the series at that. See Rune, See Ramp, See Others, I am not crazy, it is a conflict of interest.

 

Siblings are automatically a conflict of interest whether they are estranged or not. In this case the Wolf brothers are very close.

The problem is that Umps have TOO MUCH POWER! If baseball wants to review umpires they need to do something similar to the NHL. You use the TV cameras, not some proprietary system to judge the ump's performance. If they don't perform they are sent down to the minors, or in severe cases, terminated.

No, I think they are really starting to crack down on umpires. They've started with Questec, I'm not sure if I agree with Questec, but mlb's made it clear that they are going to rate umpires performance based on Questec, and believe me they know when umpires make blown calls. The best umpires should be in the big leagues, if they are not performing to par they get sent down just like players.

It's a pretty big coincidence that he is called up from umpiring Minor league games just in time for the Marlins/Phillies series and he does a horrible umpiring job during the series at that.

Jim Wolf has been in the big leagues for at least a year I remember they did a story on Jim and Randy on sportscenter last year.

Fran,

 

This past offseason the NHL along with it's TV partners used film from the games to evaluate umpires. It is foolproof since you use the same replays we would regularly see at home.

 

I think we need some sort of replay challenge. It is a game of inches and the umps are human like many of you say. Mistakes detract from the game.

It's a pretty big coincidence that he is called up from umpiring Minor league games just in time for the Marlins/Phillies series and he does a horrible umpiring job during the series at that.

Jim Wolf has been in the big leagues for at least a year I remember they did a story on Jim and Randy on sportscenter last year. I swear I heard of him just being called up. He was probably sent down to the minors a while back and this series was his reappearence.

Let me repeat this. Jim Wolf is a AAA umpire who is called up when needed to call a major league game. Why did they call him up instead of another umpire?

Fran,

 

This past offseason the NHL along with it's TV partners used film from the games to evaluate umpires. It is foolproof since you use the same replays we would regularly see at home.

 

I think we need some sort of replay challenge. It is a game of inches and the umps are human like many of you say. Mistakes detract from the game.

that wouldn't be a bad idea, I think we should have replays for everything but balls and strikes, I think that would be great.

Fran,

 

This past offseason the NHL along with it's TV partners used film from the games to evaluate umpires. It is foolproof since you use the same replays we would regularly see at home.

 

I think we need some sort of replay challenge. It is a game of inches and the umps are human like many of you say. Mistakes detract from the game.

that wouldn't be a bad idea, I think we should have replays for everything but balls and strikes, I think that would be great. Yes, I agree.

 

Balls and strikes are no-nos with the challenge.

 

But hit batsmen, close plays on the bases (such as yesterday's) and things of that sort should be allowed to be challenged via camera. Remember, they can be challenged without a camera and the ump has to hear the argument.

Fran,

 

This past offseason the NHL along with it's TV partners used film from the games to evaluate umpires. It is foolproof since you use the same replays we would regularly see at home.

 

I think we need some sort of replay challenge. It is a game of inches and the umps are human like many of you say. Mistakes detract from the game.

that wouldn't be a bad idea, I think we should have replays for everything but balls and strikes, I think that would be great. Yes, I agree.

 

Balls and strikes are no-nos with the challenge.

 

But hit batsmen, close plays on the bases (such as yesterday's) and things of that sort should be allowed to be challenged via camera. Remember, they can be challenged without a camera and the ump has to hear the argument. Which is why I can't wait for Football season.

 

However,

Many people I have spoken with have said they want to keep baseball the way it is and not let technology intervine.

 

It's kind of what seperates Baseball from other sports.

 

I'm all for the instant replay review though.

Fran,

 

This past offseason the NHL along with it's TV partners used film from the games to evaluate umpires. It is foolproof since you use the same replays we would regularly see at home.

 

I think we need some sort of replay challenge. It is a game of inches and the umps are human like many of you say. Mistakes detract from the game.

that wouldn't be a bad idea, I think we should have replays for everything but balls and strikes, I think that would be great. Yes, I agree.

 

Balls and strikes are no-nos with the challenge.

 

But hit batsmen, close plays on the bases (such as yesterday's) and things of that sort should be allowed to be challenged via camera. Remember, they can be challenged without a camera and the ump has to hear the argument. This reminds me of a couple of years ago. You remember when the umps looked at the replay a couple of years ago when cliff floyd hit it off the scoreboard at the pro and they looked at the replay to see if it was a home run.