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MLB: Scouting the World Series Umpires

October 22, 2005
by Michael Murray

I guess Eric Gregg was unavailable.

Major League Baseball, apparently thrilled by the Doug Eddings and Phil Cuzzi debacles in the playoffs, has chosen a sextet of umpires that bring bad attitudes, bad strike zones, and bad judgment to its October showcase.

This World Series could be the lowest scoring Series since Babe Ruth was on the mound for the 1918 Red Sox. What this means is that the umpiring crew could play a much larger role in determining the champion than in previous years. A small play that adds or subtract a decisive run in a crucial moment can make the difference.  Unfortunately for both teams, the umpires making the key judgments will be, for the most part, second rate.

The crew chief for the World Series is Joe West, an umpire with 28 years under his belt. Other members of the crew are Derryl Cousins, Jerry Layne, Angel Hernandez, Gary Cederstrom, and Jeff Nelson. Layne, Cederstrom, and Nelson will be working their first World Series.

A quick scouting report on each umpire:

Joe West: West will work home plate for Game One and Game Seven if it goes that far.  He is a showman; a wanna-be country music star that has sung with Box Car Willie, Merle Haggard, Mickey Gilley and other big-time Nashville stars.  He also is a horrible umpire with an extremely inconsistent strike zone. West acts like he wants to be the center of attention in the game…not a good attribute in an umpire.  He was involved in two game-turning plays in this year's Yankee-Angels division series, and will likely create waves in the World Series as well.  In the past West has tended to be an Over umpire, but this year his games trended towards the Under (16 Over, 19 Under). 

Jeff Nelson: Nelson will be the first base umpire for Game One before moving behind the plate for Game Two.  Nelson is a pitcher's umpire; he has a large strike zone that leads to lower scoring games. Mark Buerhle and Andy Pettitte will have fun in Game Two; both are control pitchers that will take every inch Nelson gives them.  Pity the hitters, and look hard at the Under on Sunday.

Jerry Layne: Layne will handle second base in Game One, and take over home plate for Game Three.  Layne's strike zone is inconsistent, and his hot temper has a tendency to turn a bad situation into a disaster.

Derryl Cousins: Cousins became a MLB umpire as a replacement umpire for striking umps in 1979. Still ostracized by many fellow umpires, Cousins generally has a small strike zone. He'll be home plate umpire in Game Four.

Gary Cederstrom: Cederstrom was home plate umpire in Game Four of the Astros-Braves division series, a game that lasted 18 innings and ended with a series clinching home run by Chris Burke. Roger Clemens won the game in relief; he'll likely be on the mound again in Game Five when Cederstrom will work home plate.  Cederstrom is a pretty solid umpire with a consistent strike zone. This will likely be the only game in the World Series that won't feature constant harping from both dugouts about the home plate umpire's strike zone.

Angel Hernandez: Yuck…not a good umpire. His strike zone has the consistency of a pair of dice, and his bad attitude doesn't help matters. Nothing is more scary than betting a game where Angel is behind the plate. You simply have no idea what is going to happen when he calls balls and strikes. Hernandez is the first Cuban-born umpire in the majors, so he does have something going for him.  He'll handle Game Six behind the plate. Joe West will be the first base umpire for that game, so be prepared for some type of controversial play that will decide the game and the series.

© 2005 EOG.com