trust me. I've got the same WPIAL bias, and like I said being able to say I've played with a major league'r would be kinda cool too.

Ya. I was at the WPIAL title game his senior year at Falconi (now Consol Energy Park where I'm interning this summer).

Hitting HRs from both sides of the plate in the same game is just sick.

Scott Patterson...former WPIAL player for West Allegheny that pitched 1.1 innings for the Yanks this year. There was a great picture of him with Jeter and ARod on espn.com, but it's down now. We were all hoping that he was coming here in the Nady trade.

I played with him and against him....and (brag time)....once had the only hit in a 1 hitter he pitched at CIT field in Crafton....

Couple more pictures for ya...maybe the one you were talking about. Quite an ugly glove he has.

Nice. The one on the left is from the same moment.

I met my dad for lunch in his little hometown today, and actually saw his dad getting gas across the street. I didn't see the sign, but my dad told me on the "Welcome to Oakdale" sign, they put up something like "Home of Major League pitcher...". 1-1/3 inning is enough, I guess.

The Pirates officially can not finish .500 on the season.

They need to go like 5-14 the rest of the way to improve upon last season. Progress.

Easier said that done. 5-14 would represent a .263 winning percentage the rest of the way. Their winning percentage over their last 25 games, .240. But hey, PNC Park is pretty awesome.

So the word out of New York is that the Yankees are going to make a hard push for McLouth.

I would hate to see it unless the Buccos can get some top flight, can't miss prospects in return.

That would be a great place if the Pirates started winning. Pac Bell was a great place during the first couple years because we were good. It's no where compared to what it used to be.

Umm...the place is still great. The product on the field has no baring on how beautiful the stadium is.

Once the team starts winning, the stadium will get much more exposure and will consistently sell out.

Hopefully Bob Nutting isn't the one reaping the benefits when that happens.

What I meant was the atmosphere of the place. Pac bell just isn't the same because we suck, and I'm sure if the Pirates made the playoffs it would it kicking.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3817122


Yep. With McClatchy gone, this leaves Nutting as the final say in all decisions and that is not good for the team, fans, or city of Pittsburgh. The Buccos might never win more then 50 games in a season again.

He reminds me of that woman from "Major League." Does whatever he can to make his team tank so that he can sit back and count his cash.

Are you nuts? He got us Rinku and Dinesh!

lol @ that fan being pummeled by pirates security.

I have placed bets on the Pirates this year. Sure, all they have to do is be ahead of Houston in the standings. Still, seems like one of those things that just automatically puts you on the degenerate list.

Um...45-41. Wow. Last year didn't get win #45 until September 3rd.

Potential Home Run call of the year? - http://www.sportspickle.com/video/7050/pir...during-home-run

6 games over .500 and a .5 game lead in the division. The next 3 series against the Cards, Braves and Phillies could truly show if this real is a pretender/contender.

Top of the 19th...holy shit.

Bottom of the 19th...holy fucking shit

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/670132/H...ag2.gif.opt.gif Gif

I stayed up waaay too late to see the ending and I'm now I'm too pissed to fall asleep.

http://www.the700level.com/07/27/11/Umps-H...amp;feedID=8972

Thanks to #JerryMealsSaysItsSafe for helping me to get over it. https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23JerryMealsSaysItsSafe

Holy Crap that might be the worst call ever.

https://auctions.godaddy.com/trpItemListing...p;miid=54336099

you want to buy firejerrymeals.com ?

I'm quite certain umpires have moments similar to those had by drivers who step on the gas pedal when they mean to hit the brakes.

That's pretty funny.



The first time I saw it I had the same reaction. There's one angle in particular that shows the catcher tagging him. But...from the umpire's angle, it kind of looks like the catcher sweeps the tag through but the runner had slid short so that the tag missed him and then the runner steps on home plate.

Therefore I declare this a horribly wrong call at the worst possible time, but not quite worst call ever.


Edit: Watch the video clip (particularly at 1:40) instead of just the .gif.

The call at first that took away a perfect game is one of the worst calls ever, imo.

However, good stuff came out of that.

Yeah the Catcher is partially at fault here for putting such a panzy ass tag on him. Still one of the worst calls of all time though.

It's not as clear as it should have been but he was f'n out. The body language of the catcher and runner after the play is the most telling part of the video. The perfect game call is certainly up there but this one involved my team so screw that.

Jerry Meals calls it safe - http://www.benstonium.com/videos.php?file=meals_safe.flv

Pirates tribute - http://www.benstonium.com/videos.php?file=buccos_tribute.flv

www.Benstonium.com they are video beasts. Some are funny, some are just impressive. http://www.benstonium.com/videos.php?file=...010_Tribute.mp4

^^ Funny stuff.

Good stuff.


Meals stuff:

“I saw the tag, but he looked like he oléd him and I called him safe for that. I looked at the replays and it appeared he might have got him on the shin area. I’m guessing he might have got him, but when I was out there when it happened I didn’t see a tag. I just saw the glove sweep up. I didn’t see the glove hit his leg.”

Bad calls happen. Umpires are human. The people insulting his family need a life.

Funny thing is, if Baseball had replay, and it was anything like Hockey's replay system, with regards to overturning a call on the field, I don't think this call would have been overturned.

http://twitter.com/#!/devilwoacause22/...310823819026433




Yea I was thinking that myself. Hockey is like football where the call on the field is usually a big piece of information. The video replay much show clear evidence to overturn the call. No matter what the call on the field would have been I don't think replay would have been able to fix this play.

Someone seeing that play for the first time though I'd have to imagine much more often than not would call him safe. I mean honestly...


The runner is barely in the batter's box. The plate is 3 feet away.




Another good tweet on the subject. http://twitter.com/#!/AnthraxJones/sta...322192199000064

Oh and I forgot to mention...Meals is umping behind 3rd base tonight and the Bucs dugout is on the 3rd base side...awwwwkward



http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

lol at "doesn't see tags." I'm glad this happened because a lot of funny stuff has come from it.

I think pictures are fine to use to establish what the correct call is, but if you want to say how bad a call is, I think you need to use video. Things look different at full speed.

I've never liked the "indisputable evidence" standard. In my opinion, if you're going to use instant replay, just use it to make whatever you think the best call is. The whole point of umpires/referees is that they're there to use their (they're/there/their triple play!) judgment to make sure the game is fair. Why do we need to limit their judgment just because replay is being used?

Totally agree with this. I've said for awhile that hockey refs should have a screen at ice level to view all of the angles and make a judgement call on their own. The current system is wonky.

Meh...those 'in' the game are much more forgiving than stupid fans.

From the 19th inning just before it happened. They mentioned this girl during the braves broadcast and you could hear her all night. I would of had to move to the other side of the field.

Pirates record this season while I was employed...54-49. While unemployed...0-10. Someone in Pittsburgh better hire me.

get a job!

No team have ever gone from 1st place to 10 games back so fast (13 days).

They did take 2 out 3 from your Giants since I made that post though. They're still a ways away from digging out of the hole a 10 game losing streak puts you in. 7 games against both the cards and brewers within the next two weeks really could bury them or give them a chance to make another run at .500 or even something as crazy as the central division. It's super far fetched but still great that they still could make noise this late in the season.

you guys have to get really hot to win the central. i think next year you guys will contend and probably win the division.