Your first place Pittsburgh Pirates

[molitor fan]

From an ESPN story just posted.......An Internet search of the Meals' home phone number showed at least two

message boards posted their home address and telephone number last

night.

 

Wow

[trwi7]

I haven't seen a slow motion replay, but doesn't the catcher also tag Lugo's arm after he "tags" (I'll give you guys the benefit of the doubt) Lugo's shin? Lugo re-touches home plate after he is called safe because even he can't believe it. I don't know what else there is to say.

 

1. It was a swipe tag so his hand is flying up and away from Lugo after he thinks he made the tag.

 

2. He had already touched home plate but I think I can explain why he did. In that case when the ball beats the runner by that much, 99.9% of the time the umpire is going to call the runner out even if he's not tagged. So I would kind of be shocked too even if the play was close and I thought the catcher missed the tag.

[RockCoCougars]

From an ESPN story just posted.......An Internet search of the Meals' home phone number showed at least two

message boards posted their home address and telephone number last

night.

 

Wow

Every fanbase has its village idiots. I can see the Pirates going on a tailspin after this and using the call as an excuse down the road. ESPN would love those twists for their storyline. "Lovable Losers: Flag Hopes Dashed by Ump".

[Funketown]

I thought I could pretty clearly see Lugo's pantleg ruffle when the tag was laid on him. After watching it a few more times though, I agree that it was not as horrendous of a call as it seemed. I'm confident that replay would have overturned this call though.

[Nottso]

I saw a second view and he missed his arm by a foot. The first angle just looks like he got his arm. Not that it matters.

[adamb100]

Now MLB itself is confirming the call was blown.

[danzig6767]

I give Meals credit for actually calling Lugo safe after thinking the tag was missed, even though the tag didn't miss. I question how many ups would be willing to make a safe call there even if they thought the tag was missed given how much sooner the ball arrived before the baserunner.

[fondybrewfan]

I think it was an obvious missed call; if the PIT catcher had any thought that perhaps he missed the tag; he still would have had ample time to tag him again. That right there (and the fact the PIT catcher was sitting there waiting for him) should provided Meals a pretty good indication that Lugo was out.

 

Let just hope Pit ends up out of first place by more than one game, otherwise I might feel a little bad for them. Obviously they still could have lost anyways so you can't just say Meals cost them a division championship.

[bucks2281]

I think he made the tag, but the end of this video shows that the call wasn't as blatant as most think. Meals still should have erred on the safe side and called Lugo out:

 

http://atlanta.braves.mlb...lb_1&mode=recap&c_id=atl

 

However, this play is a brilliant example of why we need expanded replay.

[pitchleague]

I still say the best part of the whole play was the hitter (Scott Proctor, the final ATL reliever) fell on his face not more than 10 feet from home plate after making contact with the ball. He still made it to first, then proceeded to continue out into right field in a (futile) attempt to avoid getting jumped by his teammates.

[nate82]

If you would go by the instant replay rules of the NFL the call still would have stood this morning. In each replay it looked as though the tag may not have been made there really wasn't any evidence in the replay that it was an obvious miss call. Even with slow motion it is hard to tell if there was a tag or not even with expanded replay if you go by the NFL rule set for replay this wouldn't have been something that would have been overturned.

[razzzorsharp]

Now just one game over .500 and falling fast. I think the Reds are a bigger concern at this point.

[brwrsfan]

When you can't consistently score more than 3 runs a game and your entire starting rotation has an ERA almost a run or more better than their career averages, you're setup for a downfall at some point.

 

They made the moves to get Lee and Ludwick but that was more window dressing in my opinion. Neither is really all that great of an upgrade. It shows the fans that they're "going for it" but I just don't see it this year. In a couple years, when the young talent develops, then watch out. But this year I think they should just try to not finish below .500. I really can't see them passing both the Cardinals and Brewers at this point.

[StearnsFTW]

Now just one game over .500 and falling fast. I think the Reds are a bigger concern at this point.

I agree, but I don't think either one is a concern at all. The Reds are a mess (that sweep this weekend just makes me think the Giants aren't very good either) and the Pirates simply aren't good enough on offense.

 

Personally, I think the Brewers win the division by 6+ games, but the only team that scares me at all is St. Louis.

[brettac1]

This was bound to happen, and they have the nice excuse of blaming it all on one game.

[adamb100]

Cubs are rocking the Pirates 10-2 so far.

[ilovebeer]

Pittsburgh fans are really bitter toward us, I been reading other teams message boards and Pittsburgh fans are the only ones taking St Louis's side.

[theavrock]

That's what happens when you get beat time and time again by the same team. You start to become totally jaded.

 

Anyone taking St Louis' side isn't watching closely enough

[jjfanec]

Now have lost 8 of 9 and are 1 game under. It was nice was a nice story while it lasted but it seems like it has ran it course.

[brwrsfan]

Yeah, they have lost 6 in a row, are now a game under .500 and 6.5 back in the standings. That's a pretty fast fall from grace. Not saying they can't get back in it (we've been known to have similar streaks on the road), but it's sure looking like just finishing .500 would be a goal for them, not winning the division.

 

They're only a game ahead of the Reds at this point too, so they might have 3 teams to catch and pass pretty soon. It was a nice story while it lasted, but I think their season, at least in a sense of competing for a playoff spot, is pretty much over. As someone mentioned above, at least they have that horrible call to fall back on as an excuse.

[Invader3K]

Well, that one horrible call will be soon forgotten. I said all along they didn't have the pitching to sustain their run, and that seems to be the case right now.

[adamb100]

You'd think they could sweep the Cubs though at least. The Cubs are on the verge of sweeping today.

[Dragonbait]

I'd like to see the Pirates at least finish .500 (or one game better)

 

Just so we can stop hearing about the 18 years or whatever it is since they've been relevant.

[rluzinski]

I'd like to see the Pirates at least finish .500 (or one game better)

 

Just so we can stop hearing about the 18 years or whatever it is since they've been relevant.

I'd like them to finish in second place, one game behind the Brewers.

[ReverendBrewmeister]

I'd like to see the Pirates at least finish .500 (or one game better)

 

Just so we can stop hearing about the 18 years or whatever it is since they've been relevant.

I'd like them to finish in second place, one game behind the Brewers.

I'd love the Pirates to finish over .500, 10+ games behind the Brewers, and one game ahead of the third-place Cardinals.