Eric Gregg Dies

[samjjones]

I'll remember Eric Gregg for eating a cheeseburger that was placed on third base in the middle of an inning.

[Quadstriker]

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although the 1997 NLCS could be what he's most remembered for as a result.

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For what its worth, when someone says Eric Gregg I think "Fat guy with a strike zone as wide as Montana."

[Dids]

I know I'm repeating myself, but man- just how badass was it when Sandy Alderson was like "Oh really, so you guys quit then? Umm... Thanks?". And they're all like "Wait we showed the- ohh... hmm... crap, maybe we shouldn't have been totally horrible at our jobs for the past ten years and at least made some attempt to change when we were asked to change".

[BreakfastBurrito]

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I felt like an [censored], but this didn't make me sad.

It just reminded me of the hurbris involved in being publically horrible at your job, quitting to make a point and then getting outraged when your resignation was accepted.

Yeah, it's sad Greg died, but he was a [censored] umpire and that's really my only frame of reference for him.

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Wow Dids, this sums up EXACTLY how I feel. I also feel like a [censored], but a little less so now. Thanks.

[goodkarma]

This made me wonder whatever happened to Richie Phillips and the other umpires he convinced to resign? I remember a few making it back to the big leagues, but did the rest just end up bust until collecting that severance years ago? I really hope Phillips is out of baseball. I hate unions.

[Quadstriker]

[ QUOTE ]
I know I'm repeating myself, but man- just how badass was it when Sandy Alderson was like "Oh really, so you guys quit then? Umm... Thanks?". And they're all like "Wait we showed the- ohh... hmm... crap, maybe we shouldn't have been totally horrible at our jobs for the past ten years and at least made some attempt to change when we were asked to change".

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow... couldn't have put it any better. nh.

[Jack of Arcades]

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He was a good guy and a lot of fun if you ever spent any time in his bar. It is sad to see him die so young, but he was huge.

I think he got a bad rap as an umpire. He may not have had the "best" strike zone. But it was the same no matter who you were. I always laugh when Braves fans complain because Glavine and Maddux lived off of Gregg and guys with strike zones like his.

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Go re-watch the 1997 NLCS and watch Fred McGriff strike out on a pitch that's on the opposite batter's box.

[Sluss]

Go back and re-watch Tom Glavine pitch from 1991-98.

I'll never argue that there wasn't an unbelievably wide strike zone in that game and every other game Gregg umpired.

For Braves fans to whine about it is the ultimate irony to me. It's like Canseco talking about how the game has been sullied by steroids.

FWIW, I would prefer an umpire like Gregg who would treat every team the same. Have the same strike zone every game, for every pitcher. And would let you argue if you thought he was wrong. Better than guys like Dan Iassogna,Angel Hernandez,Derryl Cousins,Larry Vanover and Joe West. Who have never been wrong, just ask them and god for bid if you look unhappy at them. They'll squeaze you if your a pitcher they don't like and if your a hitter they don't like you best be swinging.

[Jack of Arcades]

Greg Maddux *did* pitch in that game. If he struck ouit 15 guys too, nobody would've complained.

[RacersEdge]

No, just the opposite. The whole thing about the 1997 NLCS fiasco was that it was such a shock how he was calling pitches. To be a pitcher's ump, to have that reputation, is one thing. But the thing that stands out to me was the disbelief in how pitches that were closer to pitch-outs were being called strikes. It was unreal. It caused MLB baseball to go with the pitch machines to evaluate pitchers a few years later. He deserved everything he got for that game.