Without mentioning names, another place where Ranger fans gather to share opinions and read stories are putting a lot of blame on how the game was called behind the plate.

I understand Dale Scott had a horrible time today, but I can never really get behind blaming umpiring/officiating on the outcome of a game. What about you, Joey? Guys? Ladies? What do you think about the rationale of blaming games on that?

Even in my darkest moments of the 2006 NBA Finals, I won't say the Maverick's lost because of the officiating. So if I can admit that, well then that's saying something. (I've punched my walls multiple times because of Maverick's games, so it's safe to say I'm passionate)

I guess that's just the way reacting to a horrible loss go.

I'll have to strongly disagree on the outcome of the 2006 NBA finals. However, I try to resist the urge to blame the umps/refs/officials at all costs. There have been a few instances when a call has affected the outcome of a game or series, but most times there were enough opportunities to overcome poor officiating.

I'll just say this isn't the place to bring up the Mavs 2006 team (I took my frustration out on a dumpster that's most likely still damaged [my hand healed]).

Basically, the best teams can overcome bad calls. Last minute calls that affect the final outcome can be a source for complaint. A walk-off HR that's called foul shouldn't happen anymore with instant replay. There's no excuse for ever bringing up the umpire after a 10-1 loss.

Bennett Salvatore needs to die in a fire. I hate the Heat so GD much. Games 5 and 6 are two of the worst officiated games I've ever witnessed.

Ya Tommy Hunter was not very good tonight. The umpire may not have been either, but that had little effect on the outcome of this game. HOWEVER, I cannot agree that the officials didn't cost the Mavericks the 2006 Finals. There are bad calls throughout the course of a game/series, then there is the 2006 NBA Finals. That was another level and directly effected that series. (Plus I think NBA officials have more control over a game than any other sport)

When an ump squeezes the strike zone either high or low. Where will your pitches be??? Middle of plate. The last 2 days the umps have been terrible, I have not seen to many of these guys being consistent. Garza was getting the low strike, Hunter and the others were not. All I ask is do our pitchers know the umps strike zone. That will help alot.

The score was 10-1, how is blaming the officiating remotely appropriate? That's like going outside and getting into 10 car wrecks only to blame the officers that stopped you for your going to jail.

There does seem to be too much blame going to the umpires on the inconsistency of the strikezone. Many thinkthe tracker is the strikezone. I have my doubts about how accurate it is. The horizontal direction of the zone if fixed and I agree the umpires could do a better job there. However, the vertical component of the zone changes each batter. Does the umpire change his zone? Does the tracker change?

@RangerMad: The tracker does change with the vertical component of the strike zone. The box on the screen doesn't change, but it does represent the strike zone edges of the particular batter at the plate. The umpire changes his strike zone too, but who knows if they each change the same as the next guy. The tracker isn't perfect, but it does a pretty good job; you'd probably feel it's more accurate if they hadn't scrapped the CF camera angle earlier this season.

@Dave H: From poking around the internet, about all I can find is that the tracker gets calibrated to the batter during BP or ST or something. I am not clear exactly how that is done either.

I never liked the CF camera. After years of watching baseball on TV from over the pitcher right shoulder, my eyes are calibrated to that view. The CF camera is fine for replays though.

I don't think the tracker is as accurate as one would believe and need to stop clamouring for robots, imho.

A few bad ball/strike calls may not have determined the outcome of the came, but the futility of anyone in Rangers' "blue" is disgusting. The blue uniforms have never represented anything but bad play, frustrating trades, losing seasons and lost hope. The team won three division championships in red and they better go to that as many times as possible the rest of the way. I was told on a recent tour of Rangers Ballpark that the starting pitcher picks the uniform color for that game. If that's true....blue should no longer be an option! New ownership please do what you can in this regard, following league rules and my superstitious methodology of course.

I would love to blame the refs for the Mavs collapse in 2006. The fact of the matter is when they were up 16 to begin the 4th quarter. Yes, the Heat (DWade) received many favorable calls, but the Mavs spent the 4th quarter jacking up 17 footers instead of taking the ball to the hoop.

As for last nights game... there was no way this lineup was going to score enough to win. So was there a concerted effort to help the Rays, or was it anti-Rangers? Over 162 games, the calls will even out.

How about that abortion of a play at 2nd base last night? Can we get any worse at that position?

Can we please never mention the 2006 Mavericks again?

This is the worst season I can remember in regards to balls and strikes behind the plate. There basically is no low or high strike anymore. It has to be down the middle, or in some cases, up to a foot outside the strike zone. You would hope that after this season MLB would recognize this and do something about it. I don't really care if the calls go against us or the opponent. This has always been a frustrating part of the game for me. Yeah, if it goes against us, then I'm more frustrated than if it goes against them. But this is something that needs to be addressed.