Joe West: "Play Ball"

Major League umpire Joe West issued the following statement about the Yankees and the Red Sox: "They're the two clubs that don't try to pick up the pace. They're two of the best teams in baseball. Why are they playing the slowest? It's pathetic and embarrassing. They take too long to play." That's probably true. I don't find it hard to believe at all considering they are baseball's prima donna teams. What I don't get is an umpire complaining about the speed of a game. Doesn't the umpiring crew control the game? If so, then the umpires can also dictate the pace of the game between innings. If the home plate umpire puts a stopwatch on the teams and puts the ball in play when he deems appropriate, he most definitely can control how efficiently the two teams exchange the field. Once the pitcher throws a couple of quick strikes to an empty batter's box, there will no more worries concerning the pace of play. We'll all begin to see the Yankees and Red Sox "get the lead out" and play faster. Come on Joe West, make the call/