A Good Year for the Outlaw

I’m watching the Twins/White Sox right now, and Hawk Harrelson really needs to stop whining about the strike zone. White Sox hitters Joe Crede and Rob Mackowiak had no problems with the calls that Hawk is whining about, as a matter of fact,  on a 2-2 curve, Mackoviak turned and walked away - disgusted at himself - BEFORE the ump made the delayed strike call, and Harrelson STILL whined about it.

In the case of Crede, he took a fastball on the outside corner, called strike, and his demeanor didn’t change one bit. Trust me, if a major leaguer has a problem with a called strike, you can tell. From a frozen moment to a head shake to a quizzical look to a glance at the ump, there are myriad ways they express their displeasure. Trust me again when I say Crede had no problem with the call.

As further “evidence” of poor officiating today, Hawk had the crew replay a 3-2 pitch to Minnesota’s Michael Cuddyer, obviously low and away. Cuddyer took off towards first, the Sox catcher didn’t complain a bit, and just stood up and threw it back to the pitcher, and the game continued. It was close, but it was a ball, and no one on the field argued.

Hawk hates the Minnesota Twins. He hates that this little team with so much less “star power” than the White Sox have kicked Sox butt four of the last five years. He can’t call a straight game when the Sox play the Twins. Line drives by Twins’ hitters are called “ducksnorts” and “I can’t believe these guys constantly get hits like that”, while bloop singles by Sox hitters are referred to thusly: “Now that’s a great piece of hitting, staying on the ball, put it in play, good things happen.”

Being a homer is one thing, you’re SUPPOSED to favor your guys a little bit. But you’re also supposed to tell it like it is. If the players don’t whine about the umps, then  Hawk should back off, too. If Minnesota thumps the Sox year in and year out (and 10-4 and 9-2 like so far this week), Hawk should give credit where credit is due. To his credit, I’ve heard him do it when the Sox play other teams. But not the Twins. He hates ‘em. Good. They can’t stand him either.