Crappy umpires upset at being called crappy umpires

Red Sock, Nick Green, check-swinging on the strike that was inexplicably called a ball

According to an AP report, umpires working the series between the Red Sox and Angels complained Thursday that Los Angeles coaches were "unprofessional and unbecoming" after two close calls went against them at the end of Wednesday night’s loss.

"Their deportment as we left the field, going through the Angels dugout, left a lot to be desired," plate umpire and resident school marm, Rick Reed, told the Boston Herald. "We filed a report after the game and I would think there will be a coach or two over there that would be regretting his actions today."

Here's my problem with Reed's statement. YOU BLEW THE CALL!!! TWICE!!! Sure, it was a tough judgment call. But, your judgment was wrong, first base umpire, Jeff Kellogg, was wrong, and here's the photos to back it up. You don't get to complain about professionalism if you epic fail at your profession. Doesn't work that way. You want professionalism? Earn it. Make a tough, but CORRECT call at the end of a tight game with 37,000 homers yelling indecipherable chowd spew at you. Do that and we'll talk. Any jackass can blow a call and hide behind the "sanctity of the uniform." Umpiring is a hard job? Suck it up. Cops, teachers, and hookers also have tough jobs and they don't get to chat with Derek Jeter at home plate. If you aren't prepared to bring your A game to Fenway Park as a player, coach, fan, usher, journalist, groundskeeper, or umpire, get the F out.

You know why Green is grimacing in this picture? Because he knows he just ended the game with a weak-ass check swing that his coach in Little League counseled him against. If you're gonna swing, swing. Get your money's worth. A check-swing tells everyone you were fooled or you're indecisive, neither quality being desirable with 2 outs in the 9th, especially against a team you're likely to face in the playoffs. Oh wait, is that Rick Reed behind the plate? Nevermind. He'll reward bad baseball. Just sit tight.

"What was the count at the end, 3-4 to Green?"
--Mike Scioscia

That's what a perfect third/fourth strike looks like. Brian Fuentes with the hard sinking slider, just passing through the corner of the strike zone. Unhittable. Oh well.

I'm used to the Angels inventing creative ways of losing to the Red Sox, and believe me, the playoffs may introduce a whole new level of hell. I'd hardly be shocked with another stomach-churning existential crisis. But, on this night, the Angels had every right to be pissed off. They earned the victory in what was an outstanding game by both teams. Granted, it's just one regular season game that doesn't figure to affect the order of all things baseball. The Angels will still have to beat Boston in the playoffs, I get that. But, crappy umpiring ... all officiating, really ... deserves to be 'buked and scorned. You want praise? Get it right. Be a professional.