First things first, let me get this out of the way by saying I’m not blaming the Game 3 loss on the ump. I am so unbothered by the DBacks and their shitty, no-ticket selling fanbase that my eyes are focused more on the ALCS matchup.

Did the Phils squander an opportunity Thursday night? Sure. But imagine coming from one of the best atmospheres in sports to a morgue like Chase Field and having to play in the middle of the afternoon.

It was impossible for the Phillies to get up for that game. It also didn’t help that Dan Iassogna was behind the dish and had one of the most historically bad performances we’ve ever seen in postseason baseball:

Look at these two calls and explain to me again why we don’t have RoboUmps:

Aren’t the best graded umpires supposed to be calling balls and strikes in the postseason? Cause this guy blows. Like all season he’s blown:


The most consistent teams are in the playoffs for a reason. How do you end up getting the 79th-best ump in the league?

It’s because MLB likes to say they use the most consistent umpires, but they award jobs based on seniority and Iassogna has been sucking since 1999,  via Ben Lindbergh at Grantland:

MLB’s postseason umpire selection system is supposed to minimize those mistakes. “The main component in the selection of Umpires for Postseason assignments is performance during the season,” (MLB spokesman Mike) Teevan wrote. “We factor in results from the Zone Evaluation system for their plate assignments, accuracy on their calls and rulings, and observations of their work by our Supervisory staff. In addition, there is consideration given to an Umpire’s experience level (overall seniority and previous Postseasons), his proficiency at handling situations, health and time missed during the season, and a number of other administrative factors.”

It’s a tough look when you have a correct call rate lower than Angel Hernandez. Angel Hernandez is like the color red on Homeland Security’s terrorism chart:

Every time he’s behind the dish it’s a red alert.

I mean this was ruled a check swing… by TWO different umpires:

Again, unbothered. Phils in 5. I just felt it necessary to point out the clown show Rob Manfred continues to run behind the scenes.