[simple simon]

seems in every sport some people say that the stars often get the call .... i was thinking about this last night watching baseball .... and it got me to thinking

ok .... Josh Beckett may get a close call for strike three .... Derek Jeter may get a close call for ball four ..... but who gets the call when they face each other ?

[Phils20]

I don't know about facing each other, but I felt that for years the Braves pitchers all got the benefit of the doubt. (Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux).

In a way, they earned it, but I still remember seeing a lot of borderline calls going thier way.

That should only work for pitchers though. I would be pretty PO'd seeing balls and strike calls depending on a hitters rep.

I do think the umps will put the squeeze on a pitcher if the catcher squawks too much, or starts holding that frame up there too long. The umps will also give a pitcher some close ones if the batter starts showing him up.

Most umpires seem to think that way, in my observation.