After Further Review...

In general, I'm approving and supportive of the job officials do in professional and college sports.  I believe football, baseball and basketball officials and umpires perform well on an overwhelming basis in what are very difficult jobs.   Nobody's perfect (nor should they be expected to be) and most (if not all) conversation regarding how games are adjudicated stems from the small percentage of bad calls, while little or nothing is said of the large percentage of correct calls.

Officials, in their human nature, are prone to bad games.  Umpire Jeff Nelson had a bad game Friday night when calling balls and strikes behind the plate in the O's-Texas game.  I'm less concerned with Nelson's judgment of the strike zone, and more concerned with what appeared to be his making the situation personal against those involved in the game who complained about his calls.  Nelson lost control of himself (it seems) and therefore he lost control of the game.  Nelson (who refused to speak with reporters after the game) seemed to take personal the protestations of usually mild-mannered Nick Markakis and ejected Markakis (first career early exit for the O's outfielder).  Nelson then later made it a point to step out in front of the plate to "lecture" O's catcher Matt Wieters, drawing the ire of Buck Showalter who was then ejected by Nelson.  Rough night, Jeff- and you made it worse for yourself and subsequently made it worse for everyone.

Major League Baseball sent a high-level umpire observer to Oriole Park to sit in the stands behind home plate for Saturday's game.  It was interpreted by one Orioles official that I spoke with as a sign from the league that they were aware of the problems of the night before, and at the very least the league office sought to give the appearance that they were on top of it.

Major League Baseball's system of governing its umpires is somewhat cumbersome if not suspect.  The league evaluates the umpires (promotes and demotes them, as well) on a system of ball-strike accuracy that it alone knows and does not share with the member clubs (this according to the O's official that I spoke with Sunday).   Many GM's have voiced the desire that the league be more open in sharing the data it collects but MLB is steadfast in keeping its evaluations between itself and the umpires union.  I would think a little more openness would go a long way toward building confidence in the evaluation system.

MLB umpires are the best in the world and they do very well what is a very difficult job.  Mistakes happen but they should not be glossed over or brushed aside.  Wins and losses (and jobs) are at stake for the players, managers and team executives (as well as the umpires themselves).  Nobody's perfect but everybody should be held to the highest standard.  If Jeff Nelson would speak of this past Friday game, my guess is he'd have to admit he failed to reach his own standard of performance.

And I haven't even begun to discuss instant replay!