Andy Fletcher

Andy Fletcher is the name of the man who cost the Redbirds a victory last night. Fletcher, the home plate umpire for yesterday's game against the Braves, made a mockery of his profession as well as the game of baseball.

From the first inning it was apparent that the blue-clad bumbler had slept through Major League Baseball's training on exactly where the strike zone was. Pitch after pitch that was clearly a foot outside became strike three, and several players (on both teams) had gripes with Fletcher's cross-eyed pitch calling. He was so bad at the plate, the first base umpire actually had to overrule him, correcting a call on a pitch that was clearly fouled at the plate. (Matt Holliday was batting...)

Fletcher's worst transgression, however, came in a pivotal moment in the 6th inning with the Cardinals trailing 1-0. With one out, Colby Rasmus came to bat. Ryan Ludwick was on first, Holliday on second. Rasmus rapped a single through the right side of the infield, and Holliday was waved home by third base coach Jose Oquendo. A strong throw by Ryan Church arrived at home plate just late, as Holliday clearly slid around the tag. He looked safe from my seats at the game. He looked safe on live television. Instant replay confirmed that, not only was he safe, IT WASN'T EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE. Fletcher's call: Out. I can comfortably say without any reservation, this was the worst call I've ever seen in any baseball game ever.

Fletcher's horrendous umpiring in this game makes one wonder if he was drunk, stoned, or mentally handicapped. Sports should be decided by the play of the athletes on the field, not the ineptitude of one man whose incompetence was so clearly on display.

Andy Fletcher, please retire. The game of baseball would be better without you. You are an embarrassment to every honest, hardworking umpire in the league. You are an embarrassment to baseball itself.