Umps, not just technology, behind blown calls

Steve Henson is one of several sports writers and columnists to review the rise of crapola in MLB playoff umpiring so far this year.

As a lifelong Cardinals fan old enough to remember Don Denkinger all too well, I can say that part of the problem with blown calls is umpire arrogance.

That starts with a stubborn refusal to want to reverse a call that is reversible by the umpire himself, like Golson's catch that was ruled a trap in Game 1 of Yankees-Twins. It goes beyond that to each umpire considering himself an island pretty much insulated from other umps.

Without, or in addition to, expanding replay, here's some other non-tech thoughts:

On at least some of these plays (the Golson catch a prime example) they wouldn't be blown calls if:
1. Umps got themselves in better position to make the calls;
2. Backup umps got themselves in better position to help out (the 1B ump on Golson, the 3B ump on Posey);
3. Umpires actually communicated with one another the way NFL or NBA refs do.

Arrogance among MLB umps, or a significant percentage of them, has been a problem for decades, not just years.