The last time umpire Doug Eddings admitted he made a mistake on a play involving A.J. Pierzynski, the White Sox won the World Series.
Eddings admitted that he blew the call Sunday when he ruled A.J. was interfered with during a rundown against the Tampa Bay Rays.
It was in the 10th inning with one out. A.J. strayed off second and was about to be tagged out when he reached out and touched Rays third baseman Willy Aybar. Since Aybar didn't have the ball, Eddings ruled interference and awarded A.J. third base. He scored the winning run after an intentional walk.
Now Eddings says he thought A.J. was "impeded more than he was" by Aybar, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Eddings admitted the mistake to MLB officials.
As we all remember, it was Game 2 of the 2005 ALCS when Eddings pumped his fist and indicated A.J. had struck out for the third out in the ninth inning of a tied game. But A.J., always thinking, ran to first because he thought the ball bounced in the dirt. The Angels were moving off the field to get ready for extra innings, but Eddings ruled A.J. safe at first. He later admitted he shouldn't have made the "out" motion, because the ball went in the dirt and A.J. wasn't tagged out.
The Sox went on to win that game and the World Series.
Could another Eddings' mistake portend another special postseason for the South Siders?
Maybe.
This weekend's series in Boston should be interesting. Ozzie thinks he'll be catching the Red Sox on an emotional letdown after their series against the Yankees, which is their last ever in old Yankees Stadium.
I think the White Sox will win the Central, but I don't have that feeling they'll make it into deep October. Then again, remember how they stumbled a bit at the end of the '05 regular season?
The Rays obviously are for real, and the Angels still loom as the favorite to win the pennant.
For the White Sox, which Javier Vazquez is going to show up? Buehrle has won his last four and Floyd is solid.
The key will be how much Linebrink can help when he comes back.
And it might help if Eddings is on the field.
Or more importantly, it will help that A.J. is on the field.
Doug Eddings is in cometition for the vacant role filled forever by Bruce Froemming: worst official in professional sports. The only difference here is that Froemming would never ever admit his mistakes or his lazy arrogant approach. So maybe Eddings won't be able to replace Bruce the Joke in umpire infamy.
But he does have quite a start here. Eddings and Ozzie Guillen are the only two people who saw that play and thought anything was interference. A.J. has never grown out of high school soph tricks and was out on the play because he is a terrible baserunner.
It takes a big man to admit his mistakes; especially when they are made in front of millions of viewers, and affect the fates of two teams along with their fans.
Most umpires and refs just stick their heads in the sand without comment, let alone the admission that they might have been mistaken in their judgement.
Buckner is THE worse umpire in baseball. It isn't even close. As for Eddings; you go boy! What I don't get is why wasn't the third base umpire in position to help out on the play, or was he even asked for help? If so, he protected Eddings decision, which is judgement as much as ruling. Nothing new. Even replay wouldn't have helped that one because I doubt they would have gone to it even if available. I've seen worse.
Eddings isnt the first person to get "AJ'ed". LOL!!! And he won't be the last. AJ is to the Sox what Rodman was to the Bulls. Brains over brawn. And you just have to love a guy that plays the game with his heart and head.
I agree with Villy. Takes stones to admit you were wrong. He is human, baseball has that element, and AJ is the master.
That's three losses in a row. I think that somewhere Jay has a voodoo doll dressed in a White Sox unform and is using it as a pin cushion.
So glad the White Sox decided to keep Uribe against everyone's opinion. Fields does play horrible defense, and my man Crede just needs to give it up or have the surgery. He hasn't looked right most of the year. Y all these Cub topics, is this the new Suntimes/old Trib?