Robbed and jobbed?

The Ballpark in Arlington (now Ameriquest Field) opened in 1994. Going into the 1996 AL Divisional Series, the Yanks were 3-15 at the Ballpark and had never won a series there; thus, the Rangers liked going home tied 1-1 with three games in the Ballpark to decide the series. The Yanks won the next two and everything changed.

From 1997-2003, the Yanks NEVER lost a series at the Ballpark. There were some ties, a couple of Yanks' sweeps and lots of 2-1 Yankees wins. Total tally = Yankees 24 wins (including game 3 of both the '98 and '99 ALDS), Rangers 11; series totals = 7-0-3 for the Yanks. (Thanks to Shrp Sports for the historical info).

This weekend, the Rangers finally won a home series from the Yanks, with more than a little help from the umps, and the Yanks: Rangers 9-7, 4-3 and Yanks won yesterday 8-3. The Yanks helped the Rangers Friday as Sheffield's fielding hiccup in the fourth turned the game around; on Saturday both the Yanks and umps helped the Rangers.

First, blame where blame is due: the Yanks led 3-1 Saturday in the bottom of the eighth. Does Torre go with what's worked all year -- bring in Gordon to start the inning? No. He gets cute, brings in lefty Heredia to get lefty Blalock -- one pitch, one hit. Why go lefty-lefty when this team has relied on its righty relievers ALL YEAR to get ANYONE out, and they have? Dumb move. Torre's at his best when he DOESN'T go by "the book". He went by "the book" here and it cost him.

Next, more blame: Gordon comes in and Soriano hits a grounder to Arod. Arod bobbles, throws, ball beats Sori to first, ump calls Sori safe. This was a clear blown call and it was a missed call in real time, not just slo-mo replay time. Instead of one out, man on second, it's first and second no one out. Umps are also trained to listen for pop/puff (out) or puff/pop (safe) on close plays at first -- the pop is the ball in the firstbaseman's mitt, the puff is the runner's foot on first. Whichever comes first decides the call.

Then, Gordon throws the game away, literally: a comebacker (easy double-play ball) -- he throws it into centerfield, run scores. First and third, no out, 3-2 game.

Next, bloop hit, 3-3. Thereafter, Gordon gets out of it but loses in the ninth on a dinger.

What if no blown call? One out, runner on second. The comebacker is not hurried -- Gordon doesn't need to hustle the DP throw so he just looks the man back to second, tosses to first for out #2. Then the bloop hit makes it 3-2 and Gordon gets out of the inning. Rivera in the ninth and . . . likely Yankees win.

The Yanks are 3-3 halfway through a 12-game roadie, but two blown calls led directly to two Yankees losses. Not good on the umps.

Other quick thoughts: (1) Laynce (silent y) Nix may be the best of the young Rangers -- solid CF who looks fluid in the field and a good hitter; (2) Derek Jeter is clueless at the plate, cannot control the inner half of the plate and swinging under everything; (3) Bernie Williams is the WORST hitter in the league at advancing runners from second or third with none or one out -- yesterday he fouled out after Matsui's leadoff double in the fourth; (4) Javy Vasquez is 4-4, 3.67; why just 4-4 with a low (for the AL) ERA? The Yanks have scored all of 32 runs in his 10 starts.