MLB Umpires: The Most Outcome Influencing Officials in Sports

I don't know any other sport that has its officials impact the primary field of play like umpires do in baseball.

A football official doesn't affect the way a quarterback throws the football or the way a defensive end rushes the end.

Basketball officials don't really affect LeBron James' jump shot, unless he traveled in the process, but that is a different discussion for a different time.

Now, I'm not trying to say an umpire is influencing the way Albert Pujols swings a bat, but if you think about it, he could dictate how Brandon Webb works the strike zone.

And now, because of that, you are directly impacting the hitter because the pitcher's game is changing.

Certainly, officials in the NBA can call a tight game in terms of fouls, but that isn't as direct as a pitcher having a tight zone.

Each umpire is different, and that is why MLB has statistical records on them. Which umpire has the most called strikeouts, or which one has games with the most walks.

They are a very important factor to the outcome of a game, it just isn't the fact they are the ones making calls or enforcing rules. We love to debate about instant replay and there is always controversy that surrounds the latest umpire blunder.

But none of that occurs on a regular basis, it isn't always apart of the game.

I love constantly complaining about an umpire and his calls. Who doesn't shout out a least once during a game about the umpire calling something a strike?

I do it at least three times a game.

The fact is, each one is different, there is no Questec machine calling everything the same. There is no rectangle that tells you what the zone is like a video game does.

That is also what makes baseball great, and ever-changing. What fun would it be if the zone was the same all the time? That's what makes baseball fun to watch, the challenge of a pitcher adjusting to a tight strike zone, or the hitter having to protect against a wide one.

Basketball players adjust to a defensive zone, or a double team. Football players do the same, they play against schemes. Hitters and pitchers in baseball are not only battling each other, but the way the umpire is calling a game.

You can take your basketball officials, and their blatant disregard for traveling. In my opinion ,that just dampens the game and makes basketball unwatchable. It is quickly becoming a down point for the NBA.

I'll take baseball umps and their ups and downs; they do make their fair share of boneheaded calls, but no game is as dependent on their officials as baseball is on their umpires. They keep the game interesting, but within the boundaries of the sport.