Punch in the Face List - "Cowboy" Joe West

So this was actually written a few weeks back but because Jay "The Road Warrior" was on the road, he couldn't get his little gems to me.  So this piece has been on the shelf for a few weeks, but we felt it was worth throwing out there since here at The Riot! there is nothing better than a good punch in the face. So without any more delay from me today's inductee to the Punch in the Face List - "Cowboy" Joe West. Congrats, you redneck.

It seems every time I want to punch someone in the face in the world of sports, that’s non-baseball related, baseball seems to somehow worm it’s way in.  Maybe I’m biased toward it since it is my favorite sport, or maybe its people in the world of baseball constantly doing completely stupid things, and I feel they deserve my fist on their jaw.

This brings me to Joe West.  Any baseball fan knows who Joe West is and if you don’t I’ll let you know.  He’s an umpire.  He’s probably the only umpire that most baseball fans can name.  Mainly because he’ll throw someone out of the game for a minor argument and makes his own rules up as he goes along.  This gives him somewhat notoriety in a profession often overlooked by the fans.  Oh, he’s also a marginal country singer (hence the nickname “Cowboy”).

Joe West has bothered me for a while.  He takes being from Texas a bit too far (which no one should because Texas in general sucks).  When he’s behind the plate, it’s his ruling even if it is against Major League Baseball rules.  He pulled this stunt in a Phillies/Marlins game a few weeks back.  His bending of the rules gave the Marlins a win, and the Phillies actually played a game under protest for the first time since I can remember (I think the last time I saw a game played under protest was the Pine Tar Incident involving George Brett).

 In the sixth inning of Sunday’s game, Hunter Pence came to bat with Ryan Howard on first base.  Pence launched a shot to left field, that left fielder Brian Petersen was tracking down.  He leaped for a catch but the ball went off the top of the wall for a double.  The Phillies had runners on second and third with no outs and with Raul Ibanez coming to bat.  Marlins manager Jack McKeon came out to argue the call, claiming fan interference.  After the umpires met they decided to review the call.  After reviewing the play it was ruled fan interference and Pence was called out.  Phillies manager Charlie Manuel came out to argue and was promptly ejected.  At that point bench coach Pete MacKakin officially filed a protest.  The Phillies ended up losing the game 5-4 in 14 innings.

This is a total crock of horsesh*t on so many levels.

First off West handed the Marlins the game.  Sure the Phillies offense wasn’t tattooing the Marlins, but instead of runners on second and third and no outs it was a runner on first and one out.  While there’s no guarantee the Phillies would have scored, the odds are damn good that at least one run would have come home with two runners in scoring position and no outs (in fact, Ibanez, who followed Pence doubled, which would have scored both runners).

Secondly West had no right to use instant replay to review the call.  Instant replay in baseball is ONLY used to see if a ball was a home run or not.  Not to see if a fan interfered with the ball.  Now West stated that Manuel asked the play to be reviewed because he felt it was a home run.  Not only is West a fat redneck that does a bad job umpiring baseball games, he’s also a liar.  Manuel didn’t leave the dugout until after the umpiring crew decided to review the play!  West fabricated that to cover his own ass.

Even IF Manuel wanted to play reviewed to see if it was a home run, there’s no way Pence would be out.  Again, instant replay is used to rule if the ball was a home run or not.  After review, even if the West saw it was fan interference, the correct call was Pence was awarded a double.  BECAUSE IT WASN’T A HOME RUN!!!  I may be beating a dead horse here but AGAIN, if the ruling was not a home run, then the original play stands.  It CANNOT be changed.

Finally, even IF West was allowed to rule it fan interference, in order for it to be an out West would have to say without a doubt Petersen would have caught the ball.  When Petersen was trying to make the catch he was in the air against the wall.  There’s no way to determine he would have made the catch.  He might have gotten to the ball but once he made impact against the wall, the ball could easily come out of his glove.

Screw Jack McKeon as well for his comments post-game regarding the incident.  “At least they got the call right isn’t that what they are supposed to do?”  No asshole.  First off, as I stated above, there was no guarantee that Petersen would have made the catch.  Secondly, to “get the call right”, you don’t make up your own rules. 

If McKeon didn’t already have one foot in the grave I’d punch him in the face too..

Call me a homer on this one, but the cowards in the league office need to do something about this.  West needs to be fined and/or suspended and the game needs to be replayed from the time of incident. 

Cry Meter: 

This is a tough call here.  West is a big fat redneck.  Rednecks hate to show tears.  I’d be better off punching him in the stomach.  I’d definitely knock the wind out of him and there’s a good chance he’ll have a heart attack (then I’d be doing a service to all).  I’m going to go low on this one and give a him a 3 (out of 10).  He’s definitely not going to shed any tears, and odds are he’ll hit me back and try to hog tie my ass.

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