Harvey Strikes Out With Attitude

Having been a basketball official, I have been supportive of all athletic officials, including major league umpires. I am particularly appalled at the constant replays of close or missed calls, with everyone seeming to forget that the officials have only a split second to decide.

However, Doug Harvey’s article of Oct. 21, where he commented that the World Series was “3-0 in favor of the umpires,” causes me to rethink my stand. This kind of smug arrogance is injuring a great game. I hope other umpires disavow the comment, but I’m afraid the dirty little secret is out. Umpires are more important than the game? Incredible.

DONALD A. LINDGREN, La Mesa

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Even in retirement, umpire Doug Harvey is as thin-skinned as ever. Apparently, his position, as expressed in Thursday’s paper, is that (1) umpires never are wrong, (2) their judgment never should ever be questioned, and (3) close calls should not be subjected to slow-motion examination. It is precisely because of this arrogance, Doug, that umpires are disliked. It’s not because of their calls.

I often have heard a player admit to making an error that cost his team. I never have heard an umpire acknowledge that he made a mistake.

TOM BARNIDGE, Redondo Beach

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If Doug Harvey had the courage to be an honest critic, his column could have had some value. Unfortunately, Harvey has been no less a shameless, partisan defender of Rich Garcia (Game 1 home umpire) than Alan “O.J. was innocent” Dershowitz has been of Bill Clinton.

Commenting on the 3-2 pitch that was delivered just after the 2-2 clear strike was called a ball in Game 1, Harvey says: “Why throw the ball belt-high down the middle of the plate to Tino Martinez?”

Answer: Because Garcia just demonstrated that that was the strike zone. If Mark Langston wanted to avoid walking Martinez, he had to deliver a whopper of a strike.

DAVID F. HUBBARD, Riverside

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Doug Harvey says Rich Garcia called a great game in Game 1, except for one pitch. Sure. And the captain of the Titanic had a great crossing, except for one iceberg.

JEFFREY R. THOMSON, Los Angeles