Umpiring Gaffes Still Persistent in Atlanta Braves' Waning Playoff Hopes

I find that writing when I'm angry makes for a far more entertaining piece.

With that being said, this article may get me a seat at the baseball writer's dinner.

(That's a joke, of course.)

So, I'm watching the Braves game, and in the bottom of the fifth, Jair Jurrjens finds himself looking back at Rafael Furcal stationed first with Andre Ethier sitting pretty with a 3-1 count.

As the 3-1 delivery is in flight, Furcal takes off from first and is nailed at second on a stellar throw from Brian McCann.

It appears to be 3-2 with no one on as JJ continues in his battle with Ethier as McCann, Escobar, and others within the camera pan act as such.

Then, I see Furcal dusting himself off at second behind a very confused Escobar.

WTF?

"OK," I think. "I guess I missed the ump's non-fist pump...oh well..."

Then, the replay.

W-T-F?????

Eric Cooper, although the normal vocalized "HAH" was absent in live-action, had "pumped" a strike call.

My remote gets flipped disgustedly out of my hand as Bobby Cox comes out to ask what was up.

He gets tossed after pleading with Eric Cooper, who was saying something like "I understand what you mean." (according to Joe Simpson).

(Side Note: did anyone else notice that annoying kid standing up swinging his arm around?  Moot point, but I hate stuff like that.)

The next thought is "Well, Manny, Blake, Kemp, and Loney...*deep nervous breath*"

JJ procedes to K Manny "can't catch a ball to save his life" Ramirez.

I grin a little, I'm not nearly as afraid of Casey...Blake.

Yeah...first pitch three-run homer.

5-2 Dodgers.

My thought "********************** of ************ and ***."

Eventually, the inning ends and no further damage results from the misleading call from Eric Cooper.

You know, I get that stuff happens.

Sometimes, brain farts happen.

But come on.

If he were to throw up the wrong sign in the second on an 2-1 pitch with two out to the number eight hitter, I let it slide.

It's a borderline pitch (that appeared to catch the corner) with the meat of the line-up coming up, the difference between 3-2 with one out and two on with Manny frickin' Ramirez up is huge.

No, it isn't the World Series, but I would like to think that umps are more focused when the game seems on the line.

I'm not accusing Cooper of "Hohning" it, but everyone watching Vin Scully, Boog and Joe, and the game at Chavez Ravine saw a strike called.

It was, in my opinion, (a) a missed call and (b) a momentum changer.

Even if Ethier later walks, and the rest of the events follow as they did, this is only a 4-2 game.

Combine that with Kelly Johnson's two-run homer later in the game, and this game is tied and the momentum starts to swing towards the Braves.

We'll never know what would of happened, but this is just one more thing to be frustrated about as a Braves fan.

Hohn and his moustache's antics, walk-offs on two separate occasions off of the previously automatic Soriano, and the sudden drop-off of clutch hits from the offense, and this just kinda pushes me over the line of hysteria.

Hope is slowly dwindling out of me for '09 (that's why I'm doing the prospect series).

While I refuse to say that the team is ready for several forks to be dug into it, I am not blind.

The mesh that was there just a few weeks ago seems to be turning into more of a mess.

BREAKING NEWS: Braves tie game in ninth, updates will be provided in the comment's section.