In the opener for each team, the Blue Jays beat the Braves 5 to 3 at New Scotland. After the Blue Jays jumped out to a quick 3 to 0 lead in the top of the 1st, the Braves scored single runs in the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings to tie the game. With daylight fading fast, the Blue Jays put together a 7th inning rally to plate 2 runs. In the bottom of the 7th the Braves got the tying runs into scoring posiiton on 2nd and 3rd but could not push them across the plate.
Complete game victory for the Blue Jays pitcher (Dana, Mike? - could not read your pitcher's name in my book?). Artie Gianakos, John Weber and Mike LaCoutre pitched for the Braves.
For the Braves, RBI single by Don Ball and RBI double for Ed Obertubbesing.
As the home plate umpire for your game last night, I want to commend both teams on a well played game. It is always enjoyable when you are involved in a competitive contest, whatever your role might be.
My decision to continue the game in to the 7th inning was based upon how the game had progressed to that time, combined with what I believed to be the remaining available daylight. And while I don't believe the pending darkness affected the outcome, no umpire wants to make any decision or call which could directly affect the results of the game.
As an umpire, I rarely am aware of the score of a game - it's none of my business really. In hindsight, I could have stopped the game after 6 innings, and unknown to me at the time, the game would have ended in a tie. That said, I also realize you guys pay a lot of money to play 20 games, and I was hoping to give you the opportunity to play a full 7-inning game, fair and square. If any of you feel I gave an unfair advantage to one team over the other, for this I apologize. There was never any intention to do so.
Thanks for your comments and compliments to the Braves and Jays. It is easy for me to say this because we ended up getting the W on this one, but I think you were faced with a very difficult decision - regarding whether or not to call the game at the end of the 6th inning. It was pretty clear skies last night, not overcast like last week. We could still see the ball fairly well in the 6th and 7th - although it was getting more challening the last few batters. We knew you were trying to do the right thing for both teams and I feel that you handled it right. I think you made the right choice to let us finish. We were tied in score at the end of the 6th. Even if we were the home team and had to bat when there was a little less light, we would have preferred to roll the dice and play it out rather to end in a draw. As it turns out, it was a very exciting 7th inning. The Braves made a great comeback and also made a strong run in the 7th and could have easily tied the game or gone on to win it. The Braves showed their tenacity and class.
I remember someone once told me that you can always tell when you have good umpires in a game - because as the game is proceeding, the good ones tend to blend into the game and they don't draw attention to themselves either by show-boating or missing calls. You and your partner did just that. You guys did a great job!!! See you next time.
The Braves-Jays game the other night was a great way to start the season for our new Braves team., Tight, close game and the umps did a great job. I know that personally I would have liked the game to be finished after the sixth inning because I thought that was when both teams had the same light. Regardless of what I thought, it was a difficult decision and in the end, probably the right call to continue. A tie is like kissing your sister...right! My only thought on this is standing on the mound facing the last three Jays batters, and two of the three, big dudes by the way...my concern was seeing the ball well enough coming back at me so that I could duck in time!
For the umps...I know it is a tough call either way. The message board had a discussion last week of the Marlins-O's game and I'm sure that was a tough call as well. Not sure there is any standard answer to help back up the umps in this situation, especially this early in the season except the early start time.
For this ump crew, I want to say thanks for the great game, making the tough call and especially, sticking to it. It would have been a disservice to the Jays to have stopped it after they went ahead. They deserved the W.
It was good to see all my friends again, good luck to everyone this season.
Mikey Braves, #6 this year thanks to an unretired someone who shall remain nameless.....(Just kiddin Artie!)
