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.
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