Three Missed Calls Equal Five Runs In A's Angels Tilt

As the end of the regular season approaches and umpiring crews prepare for the post season, on close calls at any base, you would hope that the umpires would be getting better, not worse.

Let's hope the umpires in last night's A's Angels game don't make the post-season cut, because there were some controversial calls for sure.

In the game, there were two blatantly missed calls that cost the A's four runs. One run was erased and three runs scored on a three run home-run by Juan Rivera.

To make matters worse for the A's, they were facing one of the pitchers that usually has success against them in John Lackey; so the A's didn't need the men in blue making such ridiculous calls.

In the first inning, the Angels were able to score three runs on only one hit.

Adam Kennedy allowed Chone Figgins to reach on an error. Right after, Bobby Abreu hit into what should have been a fielders choice. Instead, second base umpire Greg Gibson ruled that Cliff Pennington never actually touched second base, so Figgins was safe at second. 

Replays showed that Pennington caught the ball, tagged second base, and then set his feet to throw to first. But the throw to first was too late and Abreu was safe.

For the A's, instead of having a runner at first with one out and the possibility of getting out of the inning, they had to deal with runners on first and second with no outs.

Then, pitcher Dana Eveland made a great pitch to Torii Hunter inducing a double play ball. So, when it looked like the A's would be able to get out of the inning unscathed, Eveland walked Vladimir Guerrero. Right after, Juan Rivera hit a three-run home-run to help the Angels take a 3-2 lead.

In the top of third, Pennington reached on a single and Abreu lobbed the ball into the cutoff man and missed. As the ball rolled away, being alert, Pennington ran home.

The umpire at home, Andy Fletcher, had a perfect angle to make the correct call; but he didn't, and it wasn't even close. Replays clearly showed that Pennington was able to stretch his hand in before Jeff Mathis, the Angels catcher, could make the tag on Pennington's elbow while his hand was already touching home.

Ted Barrett even got into the act.

A few innings later, Pennington hit a ground ball and clearly beat Lackey to first base, which he had to cover. Shockingly, Penning was called out. This caused Bob Geren to come out for the third time in the game; and it also cost the A's a run because Daric Barton would have scored from third.

These types of calls make the argument for expanding replay to plays at home. If an umpire isn't going to do their job right- even when they are in the correct position- it's time to use replay.

Although, the call may not really matter in the long run because only the Angels are going to the playoffs, if that same call is made in the playoffs, there's going to be even more uproar.

We don't need bad calls in the playoffs; only right ones.

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